A manhunt for a fourth suspect in a violent kidnapping and torture case has finally come to an end. 39-year-old Jimmy Ray Smith II was apprehended at a Denver pizza shop on September 30, following a collaborative effort by local law enforcement teams. Smith is suspected of attempted first-degree murder, among other charges, in connection with an incident in Jefferson County earlier last month.
The arrest was the result of a partnership between the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) Fugitive Team and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Fugitive Task Force. These teams had been to quickly close in on Smith after a high-risk operation was conducted by the Jefferson County Combined Regional SWAT Team. The SWAT initiative, which took place on September 16, led to the arrest of three other suspects at a residence on South Oak Court connected to the September 15 crime.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Denver Police managed to arrest Smith without any complications. While details of the operation are still under wraps, the news release confirmed the peaceful nature of the event - a slight yet noteworthy bit of calm in what has undoubtedly been a stormy case.
Pending his first court appearance scheduled for October 3, Smith is currently being detained on a $500,000 cash-only bond. His charges include Attempted 1st Degree Murder, 2nd Degree Kidnapping, 1st and 2nd Degree Assault, and Crime of Violence with a Weapon. These allegations paint a harrowing picture of the severity of the actions Smith is accused of having violently taken against his fellow housemate.
The community's response to the arrest has been one of relief, although there's an underlying tension as the case proceeds. The JCSO has been quick to offer reassurance that they have the situation well in hand and that justice is indeed being served. As the eyes of the court turn to the legal proceedings ahead, Denver and Jefferson County residents are left to grapple with the proximity of such violence in what many consider their peaceful neighborhoods.