PUEBLO – Pueblo Police arrested an armed robbery suspect after a chase, vehicle fire, and a standoff early Thursday morning.
Police arrested 33-year-old Julian Archuleta, who was out on bond and wanted for several outstanding warrants prior to Wednesday night and Thursday morning’s events.
Police said Archuleta was released on bond from a previous robbery case.
Police said it all started when a man drew a handgun and robbed the Subway restaurant off of Northern Avenue near the state fairgrounds around 8:33 p.m.
About 40 minutes later, officers spotted a truck similar in description to Archuleta’s green Dodge pickup near Constitution and Horseshoe Drive. The man in the truck led officers on a chase, and he was able to get away from Pueblo Police.
Several hours later, Pueblo firefighters responded to a call about a vehicle fire that had spread to an outbuilding on Pueblo’s east side off of E. 12th Street around 12:30 a.m. Officers determined the burned pickup truck was likely the same vehicle officers chased earlier that night.
Pueblo Police said they tracked the suspect to a home off of N. LaCrosse Avenue. That’s where the man barricaded himself inside, causing a lengthy standoff. Police said he called 911 to say he and his girlfriend were in a bathroom in the basement of the home.
According to police, he threatened to kill the woman if officers entered the home. After two hours of negotiations, he let the woman leave the room.
When the woman came out, she told officers that he had cut himself with a knife. Shortly afterward, tactical officers broke down the door and arrested him without further incident. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Archuleta will be booked into the Pueblo County jail when he is released from the hospital.
No one was injured in the fire, but it caused damage to the outbuilding. That fire remains under investigation.
