Former Colorado doctor wanted on sex assault charge injured in Florida shootout

VERO BEACH, Florida — A former Colorado neurosurgeon accused of drugging after which sexually assaulting a girl was shot and wounded following a shootout with legislation enforcement close to Vero Beach, Florida earlier this week.

According to Grand Junction Policeofficers responded to a reported sexual assault on Jan. 28. Thomas Steffens, 72, was recognized as a suspect and a warrant was issued for his arrest, police mentioned.

According to an arrest affidavit from Grand Junction Police, the sufferer reported that she went to a restaurant to look at a Broncos recreation the earlier Sunday, and had a beer whereas speaking to a mom and daughter close to the bar. She mentioned, in accordance with the doc, that she acquired up to make use of the restroom, and when she returned the mom and daughter have been gone. She mentioned she completed her beer and after that she had no reminiscence of what occurred, till she awakened in somebody’s mattress.

She mentioned, in accordance with the affidavit, there was a person there, that she didn’t acknowledge. She mentioned as a result of she had no concept the place she was, she agreed to let him drive her dwelling. As they parted methods, she reported, in accordance with the affidavit, that the person made her name his telephone so he had her telephone quantity.

That quantity was later linked to Steffens, the doc says. Investigators later reviewed video from the bar, displaying the sufferer leaving with Steffens. According to the doc, the sufferer “stumbled” and at occasions it appeared she was “not in full control of her own body.”

On Monday, members of a United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force obtained data that Steffens was touring by bus to the Treasure Coast of Florida. They have been additionally informed that he had made statements indicating that he wouldn’t be taken into custody alive.

According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Officeactivity pressure members later positioned a automobile Steffens was in and tried to drag the motive force over. Steffens, who was in the passenger seat, refused to adjust to instructions to exit the automobile after which shot on the 5 members of the duty pressure, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.

Task pressure members returned fireplace, placing Steffens a number of occasions.

“When we finally did take him into custody, he was still defiant. He was still raising his middle finger at our deputies. He was still actively working against us, even though he had been shot four times,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers told NBC affiliate WPTV.

He is predicted to outlive, in accordance with the sheriff’s workplace. During the alternate of gunfire, a US Marshal was shot in the leg. He was handled for his harm and launched from the hospital.

Detectives with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office who have been assigned to the duty pressure have been concerned in the taking pictures, which stays below investigation. None of them have been injured.

In Colorado, Steffens faces a number of fees together with sexual assault, third-degree assault, and second-degree assault – strangulation.

twenty first Judicial District Attorney Dan Rubinstein mentioned they plan to deliver Steffens again to Colorado to hunt justice right here, however it could take time.

“We will ultimately extradite him. However, the way that functions practically is he needs to face his charges in Florida first,” Rubinstein mentioned. “So I do not anticipate we will be able to extradite him for quite a while.”

The affidavit signifies there have been two prior studies in 2024 of Steffens drugging and sexually assaulting somebody. In these incidents, it was reported, in accordance with the affidavit, that Steffens wrote prescriptions for somebody after which put these medicines in alcohol. The one that the prescriptions have been written for informed investigators they acquired a name to choose up the medicines, though they weren’t presently taking any medicines. Ultimately, the sufferer in each investigations was “uncooperative.”

In addition to the sexual assault fees in Colorado, Steffens now faces fees of tried homicide associated to the taking pictures.

State data present that Steffens nonetheless has an energetic medical license in Colorado, however it’s listed as “restricted.” In September, the state reached a mutual settlement that Steffens would cease working towards medication.

That adopted a previous restriction from March of final 12 months the place Steffens agreed to cease prescribing any managed substances. The settlement between Steffens and the state additionally signifies there have been issues that Steffens might need a bodily or psychological situation or sickness that made it unsafe for him to observe medication “with reasonable skill and safety to patients.”