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A Colorado police officer died just over a week after he was seriously injured when he fell off a 40-foot bridge while chasing carjacking suspects, the Fountain Police Department said.
Officer Julián Becerra, 35, was placed on life support, CBS Colorado reported, and died Saturday night at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, officials said. Beccera, who worked in the patrol division as a K9 officer, leaves a wife and two children.
A procession was held late Saturday to move his body from the hospital to the El Paso County coroner’s office, also in Colorado Springs, the department said.
Fountain Police Station
“We appreciate the public’s support this past week for Officer Becerra, his family and the Fountain Police Department,” police spokeswoman Lisa Schneider said in a statement.
Officers were asked to help the Department of Corrections find a carjacking suspect around 4 pm on February 2. bridge south of Colorado Springs, said Fountain Police Commander Mark Cristiani.
The driver got out of the car and Becerra followed. He fell off the bridge, landed in a riverbed and was seriously injured, Cristiani said.
The driver and two passengers in the stolen car were arrested on warrants and on suspicion of crimes that occurred during the chase, authorities said.
These suspects have been identified as Devon Bobian, Danisha Pacheco and Anthony Vallejos, CBS Colorado reported.
The driver tried to jump off the bridge, but officers caught him, pulled him to safety and took him into custody, police said.
On Friday, Fountain police said Becerra was placed on life support and was surrounded by family and friends, The Gazette in Colorado Springs reported.
Family, friends and police placed candles, flowers and notes in Becerra’s police car, which is parked in front of the Fountain Police Department, KRDO-TV reported.
Becerra had been with the department for over four years and previously served in the United States Air Force. Funeral plans have not been announced.
