Denver Sheriff’s deputy cited after ‘aggressive’ driving incident while transporting prisoners

Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado State Patrol has cited a Denver Sheriff Department deputy with reckless driving and three counts of reckless endangerment after he was found 'aggressively' driving a prisoner transport van with three prisoners inside on I-25 near Monument.

On Jan. 16 at 12:05 pm, CSP received a report of two vehicles "possibly racing" and "weaving in and out of traffic" on northbound I-25, according to a release from CSP Monday.

The two vehicles were spotted by CSP Aircraft Pilots, who saw them traveling at a high rate of speed as they drove "aggressively around other vehicles," says CSP.

The pilots guided troopers on the ground to stop the vehicles. Troopers arrested the driver of a 1999 red Chevrolet pickup, 27-year-old Daniel Franklin, who is suspected of driving under the influence. He was taken into custody near Castle Rock.

The driver of the van made it further north along I-25 before it was stopped by CSP. Troopers determined that it was a prisoner transport van -- with three prisoners inside at the time -- being driven by Deputy James Grimes of the Denver Sheriff's Department.

Troopers allowed the van to continue to transport the prisoners north while they investigated.

Deputy Grimes was charged with reckless driving, three counts of reckless endangerment, and speeding 40 mph or more over the posted limit in a construction zone.

Franklin, the driver of the pickup truck, was charged with the following:

• Drove a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol
• Drove a Vehicle with BAC .08 or More
• Speeding 40 MPH or more Over Posted Limit in Construction Zone
• Reckless Driving
• Failed to Present Evidence of Insurance Upon Request

The Denver Sheriff Department provided the following statement Tuesday:

Both deputies were immediately reassigned and the driver then placed on administrative leave. Due to the ongoing criminal process and subsequent internal investigation, we are not able to provide additional information at this time.