Man Allegedly On Drugs Arrested For Crime Spree

A wild West Side crime spree keeps Colorado Springs Police busy. They say that one man is behind a series of crimes. It took a total of twenty police officers, hospital workers, and jail personnel to get that man captured, processed, and behind bars.

“A couple was waiting for the restaurant. A man came up and tried to steal their cell phone,” said Benjamin Detert who saw the beginning of a mini-crime wave go down on West Colorado Avenue.” He went up to the medical marijuana store. When he found out that it was closed, he started banging on the door,” said Detert.

What at first seemed minor, quickly turned into a more serious situation. “He jumped in this big Ford truck. He pulled out and hit a minivan. He moved the minivan and hit another vehicle. Instead of stopping, he just kept going.” said Detert.

The situation then became life-threatening as the truck actually hit a car waiting at a stoplight. “We start screaming at him to stop, and he just ignored us,” said Detert.

Colorado Springs Police say the driver of the truck, 29-year-old Samuel Schoonyoung, was on drugs at the time the crimes were committed. Detert says that Shoonyoung’s condition was obvious. “He was emotionless, just emotionless. His eyes didn’t light up when he hit any of the vehicles. He just looked oblivious,” said Detert.

The crime spree, however, wasn’t finished. “He ripped a mirror off an individual’s car, then attempted to get into the vehicle. At that point, he got into an altercation with the owner of that vehicle,” said Sgt. Rick Bubacz of the Colorado Spring Police Department.

For Detert, it was an eye-opening experience. “It makes you think about who else is out there, driving around, jacked up on that stuff. Next thing you know, you get plowed over by some huge truck like the one that did it in our parking lot yesterday,” said Detert.

Colorado Springs Police say that Schoonyoung tested positive for drugs, but they do not know exactly what he was using at the time. Police recommend that if you see someone driving recklessly you should call 9-1-1 or if it is not an emergency you should call Colorado Springs Police at 719-444-7000.