Suspected Car Thief Rams Two Cars During Escape

A suspected car thief, who rammed two Pueblo County sheriff’s cars on Friday, was last seen on foot on Pueblo’s south side.

Authorities warned the public to be on the lookout for Nicholas Byard, 23. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said Byard faces charges of felony menacing and vehicular eluding once he’s caught. A $50,000 warrant has been issued for Byard’s arrest.

Byard is on parole and is accused of stealing a truck in Fountain Thursday night. On Friday morning, he was found at a car wash on Pueblo Boulevard by sheriff’s deputies. They quickly surrounded Byard and thought they had him boxed in at the car wash. Instead, Byard and another person in the car rammed two squad cars and were able to get out of the parking lot. Deputies said the truck sped off and ran through a stop light.

The stolen truck was found a few blocks away on Lake Avenue. Detectives believe Byard stole that a truck from a Fort Carson soldier and some of his gear.

“When the vehicle was reported stolen, the bullet proof vest was in there and now it’s not,” said Capt. Leid DeFusco with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

A spokesperson for the Fountain Police Department said the truck was stolen from the Interstate 25 and Santa Fe Avenue area.

Byard is on probation for previous convictions of auto theft and possession of a weapon.