'Dougherty Gang' Arrested in Colorado After High-Speed Car Chase

They fired at a Florida police officer on Aug.2, robbed a bank in Georgia five hours later and were in FBI's "Most Wanted Fugitive" list. Yes, we are talking about the "Dougherty Gang" of Florida arrested in Colorado on Wednesday after a high-speed car chase and shootout.

The gang comprised three siblings, also known as "Dougherty Siblings". They were Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, Dylan Dougherty, 26, and Ryan Dougherty, 21.

All three were arrested after their white, four-door Subaru Impreza hit tire-puncturing police "stop sticks," rolled over and crashed into a guardrail south of Colorado Springs.

On Aug.10, about 9.02 a.m, the Colorado State Troopers received a tip from a citizen that the three sibling fugitives from Florida were in the area of Colorado City. Their Subaru Impreza was spotted at a camp ground on Hwy 165 near Colorado City.

When the Deputies arrived the vehicle had left the camp ground. A Pueblo County Sheriff's Deputy spotted the vehicle at a gas station near exit 74 on I25. The Colorado State Patrol attempted to initiate a traffic stop at this location. However, the suspected vehicle failed to yield to law enforcement and a pursuit ensued.

Preliminary investigation determined that shots were fired from the suspect's vehicle at troopers during the pursuit. The vehicle crashed shortly after Colorado State Troopers deployed stop sticks on southbound I25 at mile marker 52, near Walsenburg.

Two suspects, one male and one female were apprehended by Huerfano County Sheriff's Deputies and Walsenburg Police Department Officers shortly after the crash. One of the brothers fled on foot and was apprehended by officials a short time later in Walsenburg.

No officers were injured during this incident, which involved a vehicle-chase for 20 miles at speeds that at times exceeded 100 miles per hour.

Meanwhile, the arrests came a day after the FBI said the trio was probably spotted buying camping gear in Colorado Springs.

"Ladies and gentleman, I'm proud to say we won,'' said Sheriff Chris Nocco of Pasco County, Florida., in a press conference. "We continuously said that if these three fugitives wanted a battle with law enforcement, we would win that battle. And that's what happened today.''

On Aug.2, a patrol officer for Zephyrhills, Florida, was in pursuit of a four-door white Subaryu bearing a New York license plate FBE5900. The suspects, who were said to be the Doughterty Gang, in the vehicle began to shoot at the patrol officer and subsequently disabled the patrol vehicle. Multiple calibers were used in that shooting.

Then at approximately 12:24 p.m. on Aug.2, the Valdosta Police Dept. along with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office and the Remerton Police Department, responded to an armed robbery at Certus Bank, 460 Norman Drive. Officers arrived on scene and were advised that three individuals, dressed in black with masks, entered the bank through the front entrance. The suspects are believed to be two white males and one white female. As the robbers entered the bank, shots were fired towards the ceiling and everyone in the bank was instructed to get down. At least two of the robbers brandished weapons, one described as being an AK-47 type assault rifle and the other appearing to be a machine pistol, while other robber obtained an undisclosed amount of money.

Now, the arrest of "Dougherty Gang" has brought a sense of relief to the police department. Nocco called the Doughertys "very, very dangerous people'' and their capture a tremendous relief.

The three siblings would now face trial, including charges for suspected shooting at a police officer in Florida, robbing a bank in Georgia and whatever other charges might arise from their sojourn in Colorado.