A Colorado sheriff’s deputy who was pulled over by state troopers while driving three prisoners in a transport van has been charged with traffic offenses including reckless endangerment, authorities said Monday.
Denver Sheriff Department Deputy James Grimes was charged following an investigation into the alleged aggressive driving incident, the Colorado State Patrol said.
Grimes and the driver of a second vehicle were allegedly racing in and out of traffic as they traveled northbound on Interstate 25 on January 16 while under observation by a state patrol aircraft.
Grimes faces additional charges of reckless driving and speeding in a construction zone.
Grimes and another deputy who was with him in the prisoner van have been reassigned and placed on leave pending an internal investigation, the Denver Sheriff Department said in a statement.
The driver of the second vehicle was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, reckless driving and other offences.
Grimes could not be located for comment and it was not clear if he had a lawyer. A message left for the sheriff’s department union was not immediately returned Monday.
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