Following a vehicle pursuit and a coordinated multi-agency operation, a notorious repeat offender was apprehended on several counts of property crime-related charges. Michael Cates, 47, a resident of the downtown Colorado Springs area, was identified by detectives from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, resulting in his subsequent arrest on 44 charges. Cates' criminal history includes a gamut of property crimes, supported by multiple active felony warrants.
In an attempt to take Cates into custody after trailing him to his vehicle, detectives were met with resistance. Cates refused to heed their commands, instead opting to flee the scene and nearly hitting officers during his escape. The pursuit concluded at a hotel on Rusina Road, where determined surveillance work pinpointed Cates' exact location. His capture was made possible with the support of the Colorado Springs Police Department's Property Crimes Unit and SWAT team, ensuring the arrest was executed without further incident.
Cates had been sought on five outstanding felony warrants covering 39 charges at the time of his detention. Among these charges are burglary, theft, identity theft, providing false information to a pawnbroker, and possession of a controlled substance. He faced a significant $235,000 bond upon booking into the El Paso County Jail.
The list of charges against Cates expanded the following day, as detectives filed additional accusations, including money laundering, second-degree burglary, second-degree motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, theft, and multiple counts of third-degree criminal trespass. The updated charges led to an additional $250,000 bond for Cates. "I am extremely grateful this dangerous repeat criminal was taken off the streets of the Pikes Peak region." El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal expressed, as obtained by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Roybal commended the diligent efforts of his detectives and the collaborative work of the Colorado Springs Police Department in this operation.
