Helicopter crew monitoring wildfire spots fugitives

A pair of fugitives hiding out in the Beulah area were spotted Monday by crews flying over a wildfire.

The fire broke out in a remote area of Pueblo Mountain Park, west of Beulah.

According to a news release from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office late Monday, a helicopter crew doing surveillance over the wildland fire spotted the couple among trees in close proximity to where the ½-acre fire was burning.

Deputies then climbed steep terrain to reach 34 year old Dustin Aker and 24 year old Tiffany Schaack, both of South Dakota.

Deputies had been on the lookout for Aker in the Beulah Valley area after a car was found abandoned Sunday evening in the driveway of a nearby residence.

A backpack was found near the door of the residence, which contained items belonging to Schaack and Aker, along with drugs.

Aker was wanted out of South Dakota on a parole violation.

Both are also charged with drug possession and trespassing.

At this time, there’s no indication that either Aker or Shaack were involved with starting the fire.

It was 100% contained by around 6 p.m., with no structures ever threatened.