Details, photos and info saluting Brownlee below.
According to the Greeley Tribune, Reyes stole the car of a woman he knew mid-morning yesterday in Morgan County. Officers from Morgan County and the community of Wiggins gave chase for more than an hour, with Weld County joining in when Reyes passed into that jurisdiction. So, too, did the Colorado State Patrol, and while its use of stop-sticks near Kersey didn't disable Reyes's vehicle right away, the car eventually lost a tire in Greeley.Bystanders report that officers surrounded the car -- but then shots rang out, and Brownlee went down. At that point, the officers opened fire on Reyes, who reportedly went by the street names "Smiley" and "Demon." His rap sheet includes offenses for felony menacing and driving under the influence, as well as an assault beef that was subsequently dismissed.
Reyes had one child, while Brownlee left behind two children, two stepchildren and a wife who works for the Weld County District Attorney's Office. As noted by the Tribune, he was a training officer, charged with helping his peers survive dangerous situations.Brownlee's Facebook page is private, but it's said to be filling up with tributes from friends and family. So, too, is the comments section on the Tribune's main article, with one reader declaring, "The heart of my family goes out to the family of this most brave man. You are in our thoughts. Thank you to ALL law enforcement for keeping the life of my friends and family safe and putting your life on the line on a daily basis. ALL of your daily heroism does NOT go un-noticed!"
Below, see 9News' coverage about the incident and a larger photo of Brownlee:
