Media Release Title Page

Sheriff’s Deputies Foil Early Morning Crime Spree

Around 6:00 A.M this morning, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a convenience store in the 1500 block of Meadowbrook Parkway, located in unincorporated El Paso County. The caller reported an adult male outside the store acting erratically while in possession of a rifle.

As deputies approached, the suspect was standing next to a vehicle, upon seeing deputies he fled on foot.

A perimeter was established, and deputies began searching the surrounding area. During the search, the suspect attempted to steal another vehicle on Woolsey Heights. As deputies closed in, he fled through a creek bed toward the Claremont Ranch neighborhood.

Deputies apprehended the suspect on Dewhirst Drive and took him into custody without further incident.

Deputies discovered the male had been in possession of realistic-looking replicas of a rifle and a handgun.  The vehicle was determined to be a stolen vehicle from Lincoln County.

Through ongoing investigation, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Nathaniel Strawder, was found to be connected to multiple vehicle break-ins and burglaries which occurred overnight in Lincoln County and eastern El Paso County.

Strawder was charged with Motor Vehicle Theft, 2nd Degree Burglary, 3 counts of Criminal Trespass Auto, Theft, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.  He is currently being held in the El Paso County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.

This remains an active investigation. Detectives with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office are working to identify the rightful owners of the recovered stolen property.

Anyone with information related to this case or who believes they may have been a victim in El Paso County is asked to contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at (719) 390-5555. If you reside in Lincoln County, please contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at (719) 743-2846.

###

Recent News Articles

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Assault of a Child

On July 25, 2025, a representative from the Department of Human Services contacted detectives with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division regarding a report of sexual assault on a child. Detectives from the Special Victims Unit launched an investigation into 63-year-old Richard Vasquez. The allegations involve incidents that occurred in the 7000 block of Notre Way in unincorporated

Read More »

Narcotics Arrest and Firearm Seizure Following K9 Alert

On October 22, 2025, at approximately 4:15 PM, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit was requested to conduct an exterior open-air sniff of a vehicle suspected of containing narcotics. Deputy Richardson and partner K9 Mako—our newest certified canine partner—arrived on scene and conducted the sniff. K9 Mako gave a positive alert on the vehicle, prompting a search that

Read More »

El Paso County Deputies Recover Stolen Vehicle and Seize Over 1,000 Fentanyl Pills

Yesterday, at approximately 3:20 AM, a patrol sergeant with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office observed a stolen vehicle traveling east on Highway 24 near Peterson Road. The vehicle was followed, and other units were asked to assist in making contact. In the area of Boulder Street and Union Blvd., deputies strategically positioned their patrol vehicles around the stolen vehicle,

Read More »

Contact Information

Phone
(719) 520-7100

Address
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
27 East Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Office hours
8:00 am – 4:30 pm