Escaped Pueblo Inmate Apprehended in Colorado Springs

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Colorado Springs police arrested a fugitive named Richard Capek, 37, after he walked away from an undisclosed community corrections facility in Pueblo. Capek had made threats to shoot law enforcement officers with an AR-15 rifle he was unlawfully possessing. Police located Capek in a vehicle at a Walmart parking lot, cleared the area, and used pepper powder to force him to surrender after he tried to escape.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the challenges of monitoring and apprehending escaped inmates, especially those with a history of violent crimes and access to firearms. It also raises questions about security protocols at community corrections facilities and the need for better coordination between local law enforcement agencies to quickly respond to such threats.

The details

According to the police blotter, numerous CSPD units, including K-9 and air units, responded to the Walmart parking lot after learning Capek was in the area. They positioned their vehicles to block Capek from leaving and used a public address system to announce he was under arrest. When Capek tried to escape, police deployed pepper powder into his vehicle, causing him to exit. K-9 Riggs then confronted Capek, who followed all commands. Police later recovered ammunition from Capek's vehicle that was "designed to defeat bulletproof vests."

• On Friday, police learned that Richard Capek, 37, was in the Colorado Springs area.
• Capek had walked away from an undisclosed community corrections facility in Pueblo.

What’s next

Capek will be transferred to the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections to face charges related to his escape and threats against law enforcement.