HUERFANO– A child abduction case that began in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Monday night ended in a ditch alongside I-25 Tuesday morning. Nineteen year old Ramiro Tirado pointed a gun at his girlfriend Bianca Martinez and told her she would never see their two-year old daughter again. He then fled with the toddler in a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, prompting a nationwide Amber Alert. On Tuesday morning, Tirado and his daughter Denise were spotted by a good Samaritan in Raton, NM, who contacted law enforcement. Trinidad police tried to stop Tirado, but he took off speeding, reaching speeds up to 106 miles per hour, before state troopers stopped him on I-25 by exit 42, by deploying stop sticks, which blew out Tirado’s tires. Both Tirado and Denise were ejected as the vehicle rolled. Colorado State Patrol spokesman Nate Reid said troopers decided to puncture the tires because Tirado was driving so erratically they felt it was safer than letting him continue. “This person was driving with such reckless behavior, he had an opportunity to pull over and he didn’t,” Reid said. “We only have so many tools in our toolbox. This wasn’t
the troopers who hurt this little girl.” Deputies from the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office and the Walsenburg Police Department were also there when the stop was made. Both passengers received moderate injuries from the crash, with Denise being airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Aurora, and Ramiro transported by ambulance to Parkview Hospital, where he was charged with aggravated assault and kidnapping, and may face additional charges. Walsenburg police captain Vince Suarez told the World Journal afterwards that “What I feared might happen, did happen.” When Suarez got to the accident scene, he said troopers were there and the child was lying in the grass unresponsive. He said the child suffered a severe head injury and remained unresponsive during rescue efforts. “She wasn’t even crying,” the veteran lawman said. It was later reported Denise was responsive and crying at the hospital. Suarez and Huerfano County Sheriff Bruce Newman turned their attention to the suspect, who fought with both lawmen despite his injuries. Suarez said Tirado continued to fight and was eventually strapped and secured to a backboard and then secured on the Huerfano Ambulance Service gurney but continued to struggle even while in the ambulance. Suarez said Tirado was drenched in blood suffering significant lacerations on his arms, torso and at least two large gashes on his head.
