On Friday, July 19, 2024, around 6:20 a.m., a Deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 near mile marker 23. Upon the Deputy exiting his patrol car, the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed. The Deputy pursued the vehicle as it continued eastbound, eventually taking Exit 26 and immediately getting back on I70 headed westbound. The Deputy ended the pursuit a short time later for safety reasons. 

A Trooper with the Colorado State Patrol deployed stop sticks near mile marker 22 on Interstate 70 in an attempt to disable the vehicle. Despite tires on the car being flattened, the vehicle continued down Interstate 70 at a high rate of speed before exiting into Fruita (Exit 19). The vehicle continued northbound into town on North Cherry Street before stopping near the intersection of West Pabor Avenue. 

The suspect fled the vehicle on foot before peacefully surrendering to Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputies, Colorado State Patrol Troopers, and Fruita Police Department Officers a short distance later.

Upon searching the vehicle, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Deputies discovered 48-pounds of fentanyl pills. This equates to about 220,000 pills.

The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Levyn Angulo-Ayala, who is charged with:

• Vehicular eluding

• Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute

• Special offender importation

Following his arrest, Angulo-Ayala was remanded to the Mesa County Detention Facility.

We extend our gratitude to our law enforcement partners at the Colorado State Patrol and Fruita Police Department for their help during this call.