Aurora officer injured, suspect dead after police cruiser stolen during early morning Monday snowstorm

AURORA | A man shot to death by Aurora police attacked an officer with a sharp object — leaving a massive cut on the officer’s head — stole a police cruiser and led officers on a high-speed chase through an early-morning snowstorm before officers killed him, police said.

The identity of the man killed in the early Monday morning incident has not been released, but Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz said the attack on the officer amounted to an attempted murder.

Much of Alameda Avenue near I-225 was closed for hours as police investigated the incident.

Several details still have not been released, including the identities of the man killed, the wounded officer, or the other person in the car who was detained. Police have not said what charges that man could face.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Metz said.

LISTEN TO THE POLICE RADIO TRANSMISSION OF THE INCIDENT HERE

The incident started around 3:45 a.m. when an officer stopped what he thought was a stalled car on on exit ramp from I-225 to Alameda.

Metz said after the officer spoke to the driver of the Honda Civic, another man in the car climbed out and attacked the officer while the officer was walking back to his patrol unit.

The man sliced the officer’s head, Metz said. The officer is expected to survive his injuries and Metz said he fired at the man before the man fled in the police cruiser.

Despite his injuries, the man was able to give other officers a description of where the man went, Metz said.

Other officers chased the stolen police cruiser east on Alameda and the chase reached speeds of about 65 mph, Metz said.

An officer eventually caught up to the stolen cruiser near East Kentucky Avenue and rammed it, causing it to come to a stop.

Officers confronted the man, who police said had a dark object in his hand, and when the man refused to comply with officers’ demands they shot him.

Aurora police Lt. Scott Torpen said police don’t think there was a confrontation or anything between the officer and his attacker before the man cut the officer.

“Honestly we have no idea why this attack took place,” he said.

The other person in the Honda was detained but police have not said what charges he could face.

The officer who was hurt is a three-year veteran of the force, Metz said. The officers who shot the man are three-year and 13-year veterans of the force, respectively, and have been reassigned to non-patrol duties as the investigation continues.