Douglas County Sheriff’s commander Andrew Sanders was arrested on Feb. 7 after Parker police stopped him for allegedly erratic driving, and he now faces a stack of misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence and third-degree assault for allegedly spitting on an officer. According to court documents and investigators, officers reported seeing Sanders’ pickup weaving before the stop, said he resisted roadside sobriety tests, and later took him to a medical facility where he allegedly refused a blood draw. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office first put Sanders on unpaid administrative leave and, following an internal affairs review, has since fired him.
Parker police say the stop happened near Bradbury Parkway and Hitching Post Circle after Sanders’ truck swerved between lanes. An arrest affidavit reviewed by Denver7 states that Sanders’ speech was slurred, his eyes looked “glassy,” and he refused field sobriety tests. At the medical facility, the affidavit says he called a female officer a “b**ch” and spat at her.
Prosecutors And Department Response
Court filings list five misdemeanor counts: obstructing a peace officer, driving under the influence, assault, careless driving, and a lane-change violation. Sanders posted a $1,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 24. District Attorney George Brauchler told Denver7, “In our community, nobody is above the law.” The sheriff’s office says command staff launched an internal affairs investigation that resulted in Sanders being placed on administrative leave and, once that probe wrapped up, his termination.
Hospital Confrontation And Officer Safety
Court records indicate the alleged spitting happened during efforts to obtain a blood sample from Sanders at a medical facility. Prosecutors have charged that allegation as third-degree assault, which in Colorado includes intentionally causing contact with a peace officer by expelling bodily fluids. Under state law, third-degree assault is a class 1 misdemeanor that can bring jail time and fines, and the state Peace Officer Standards and Training board treats such offenses as disqualifying incidents for law enforcement certification. The statute and POST materials outline that framework. See C.R.S. 18-3-204 on Justia and the Colorado POST guidance.
Blood Draws And Expressed Consent
Colorado’s expressed-consent law requires drivers who are arrested on suspicion of DUI to submit to a chemical test, and the Department of Motor Vehicles can impose administrative penalties when they refuse. Criminal procedures can also allow officers to seek a compelled sample under certain circumstances. If officers have probable cause or a court finds there is a public-health risk after an assault involving bodily fluids, authorities can pursue a court-ordered test. The DUI statute and consent rules describe how those processes work. See C.R.S. 42-4-1301 on Justia, C.R.S. 42-4-1301.1 on Justia, and C.R.S. 16-3-303.8 on FindLaw.
County officials say Sanders was hired in January 2019 and had been serving as a commander in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. He is due back in court on Feb. 24, and we will continue to track court filings and any further statements from prosecutors and the sheriff’s office as the case moves ahead.
