By Shannon Lukens.
UPDATE Sunday afternoon
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following:
Anyone that purchased tools or had any interactions with Ms. Alexis Lanier on January 17, 2025, is encouraged to call the Grand County Sheriff’s Office at 970-725-3343 and speak with a Detective to determine any relevance with this case.
Ms. Lanier was booked into the Grand County Jail on January 18, 2025, for violations of Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 18-9-116.5 Vehicular Eluding (Felony); CRS 18-3-208 Reckless Endangerment; CRS 42-4-1401 Reckless Driving; CRS 42-4-1301 Drove Vehicle While Under the Influence of Drugs (DUI); CRS 42-2-101 Drove Vehicle Without a Valid Driver’s License; CRS 42-4-1409 Failed to Present Proof of Insurance Upon Request; CRS 42-3-121 Vehicle Registration Violation; CRS 42-4-227 Window Tint Violation; and CRS 18-18-428 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
ORIGINAL STORY
A high-speed chase started in Kremmling and ended up with a crash at Mile Post 145 on Rabbit Ears Pass Friday afternoon.
At 2:20 p.m., the Grand County Sheriff’s Office says a tip from a resident in Kremmling that led them to a suspect who the person thought may be trying to sell stolen tools and may be under the influence of an unknown substance.
Grand County Sheriff’s officers and Kremmling Police attempted to contact the woman in the car and she fled. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office reports she ran through a stop sign in Kremmling and then ran through the red light at Highway 40 and Highway 9.
The suspect headed west out of Kremmling on Hwy 40, reaching speeds up to 90 miles per hour, according to a press release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.
As the vehicle headed up Rabbit Ears Pass, more law enforcement was notified including Colorado State Patrol, the Routt County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Routt County Sheriff’s officers set up tire deflation devices to try to stop the car before it got into the city limits of Steamboat Springs. That was at Mile Post 138 and 139.
Before the vehicle could get there, though, the press release says the driver tried to take a corner at a high rate of speed on bald tires near Mile Post 145, lost control and landed in a snow bank.
A drug detection canine with the Grand County Sheriff’s office was called into action and alerted to the vehicle, “where a subsequent search resulted in evidence of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroine usage.”
The driver of the car is 35-year-old Alexis Lanier from Denver. She was taken to the hospital to be evaluated and was released tonight back to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office where she is on her way to be booked in the Grand County Jail in Hot Sulphur Springs.
Charges will be filed and a mug shot will be released on Sunday.
The suspect’s vehicle was towed from the scene to a local tow yard.
Press Release from Grand County Sheriff’s Office; Jan. 18, 2025.
CITIZENS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING TOGETHER TO DETER CRIME IN GRAND COUNTY
GRAND COUNTY, CO- On January 17, 2025, at approximately 2:20 p.m. the Grand County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from a long-time local resident and general contractor who reported that he had been working on a job site in the Kremmling area when he was approached by a white female who was driving a blue/light green Honda Accord or similar make vehicle. This female attempted to sell him what he believed to be stolen tools and was also believed to be under the influence of an unknown substance. The resident also provided an associated license plate of the female’s vehicle that had since left the area.
The suspect’s vehicle was located shortly after this in the Dollar General parking lot in Kremmling. Grand County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and a Kremmling Police Officer attempted to contact the female occupant. The female driver fled in the vehicle through the parking lot and onto 11th Street nearly striking a Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. The female then accelerated at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the stop sign at 11th Street and Highway 40, completely disregarding the safety for any oncoming traffic.
Despite law enforcement’s emergency lights and sirens, the female occupant continued west bound through Kremmling on Highway 40 also running a red light at the intersection of Highway 40 and Highway 9.
A vehicle pursuit continued westbound on Highway 40 where the suspect had varying speeds from approximately 75 – 90 miles per hour. Sheriff’s Office personnel attempted tactical vehicle intervention techniques and the utilization of tire deflation devices in an attempt to safely end the pursuit, however, these attempts were ineffective. As the pursuit continued westbound the Colorado State Patrol, Routt County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office were notified. The Routt County Sheriff’s Office established additional tire deflation devices on Highway 40 near Mile Post 138 and 139 in an effort to stop the pursuit before it entered the Steamboat Springs area.
At approximately Mile Post 145 the driver attempted to take a curve at a high rate of speed and due to the vehicle’s bald tires, she lost control and subsequently struck a snow bank. No other vehicles were involved in this collision. The female occupant was taken into custody without incident and secured in a Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. The female was then precautionarily evaluated by Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue and then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
The female was identified as Alexis Lanier, age 35 from Denver. An Arrest Warrant is pending for Ms. Lanier for this incident. While on scene of the accident, a Grand County Sheriff’s Office drug detection canine was utilized and alerted to the vehicle where a subsequent search resulted in evidence of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroine usage.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin emphasized, “All too common in today’s society, the rule of law is questioned, which ultimately puts our communities at risk from those who choose to put their own agendas at the forefront over the safety of other citizens. Had Ms. Lanier simply cooperated with deputies in the Dollar General parking lot, this incident would never have impacted our roadways and put our citizens in danger.”
These charges are only accusations based on probable cause, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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