News Flash

Runs Consecutive to Nine-Year Sentence in Chaffee County

CASTLE ROCK – April 23, 2015, a Douglas County judge sentenced Justin Wayne Lamb, 30 of Salida, to 38 years in the Department of Corrections for 11 convictions related to an attempted assault on Parker Police Officer Glenna Villers on May 1, 2014 (2014CR272 - Douglas).

At approximately 1:23 a.m. on the day of the incident, two Parker Police officers pulled over a gold-colored 1997 Toyota Avalon for expired tags near Parker Road and Crown Crest Boulevard in Parker. The driver of the vehicle, Kent Scott Williams, 50 of Englewood, was eventually arrested for driving without a license.

Lexi Amanda Erwin, 19 of Poncha Springs, sat in the passenger seat. While Officer Villers spoke to her, the Officer noticed that there was an individual in the backseat, trying to conceal himself under layers of miscellaneous items. Officer Villers ordered the individual to remove the debris off of him and he was eventually identified as the defendant, Justin Lamb.

As the defendant began to sit upright, he jumped into the driver’s seat. In an attempt to stop the defendant from driving off, Officer Villers attempted to pull the keys out of the ignition. As she was doing this, the defendant began to drive the car and headed northbound on Parker Road. Officer Villers hung onto the steering wheel as the defendant swerved through all lanes of traffic and over a median. She ordered him to stop the vehicle numerous times but the defendant continued to peel her hands from the steering wheel. The defendant is estimated to have driven up to 30 miles per hour for approximately a quarter of a mile.

The vehicle stopped after driving off road, down an embankment, and through a fence when a piece of wood pierced the car’s engine disabling it. The defendant then fled from the scene and hid from police for over two hours until he was found hiding in a tree approximately 100 yards from the car. Officer Villers suffered numerous bruises and swellings all over her body.

When apprehended, the defendant was also found with a fake ID and a credit card that did not belong to him. He stated that he fled because he had numerous felony warrants out for his arrest.

One of the identifying features of the defendant was a tattoo on the back of his head that mocked all law enforcement with profanity.
On January 7, 2015, after a two-day trial, a Douglas County jury convicted the defendant of eleven counts: Attempted First Degree Assault; Second Degree Assault on a Peace Officer; Vehicular Eluding with Injury; Attempted Second Degree Assault; Possession of a Forged Instrument; Criminal Possession of a Financial Device; Obstructing a Peace Officer; Resisting Arrest; Leaving the Scene of an Accident; Careless Driving; Eluding or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.

In 2014, the defendant pled guilty to two felony counts related to an escape charge in Chaffee County. He was sentenced to nine years in the Department of Corrections. The sentence imposed by the judge in the Douglas County case runs consecutive to the Chaffee County one.

At the sentencing, the defendant blamed the officer for the incident, stating she should have let go as he was driving.

District Attorney George Brauchler stated, “In his efforts to flee from justice, Justin Lamb nearly took the life of a police officer who dedicates her life to keeping our communities safe from dangerous criminals like him. He has earned every second of this prison sentence. His statements blaming the injured officer and the message he proudly inscribed on his head for all to see should be interpreted as “don’t let me be amongst you.’ The court obliged him.”

Deputy District Attorney Brian Eckhardt represented the People: “Officer Villers survived due to her determination not to die at the hands of this defendant. The sentence the judge imposed recognizes the serious nature of the defendant’s actions.”

Parker Police Chief David King stated: “This case most certainly made an impact on the Parker Police Department and our officers that were involved. We are satisfied with the jury’s verdict and comfortable in the fact the Mr. Lamb will be incarcerated for many years to come.”

The Honorable Richard Caschette presided over this case.

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