Police K-9 finds home invasion suspect as homeowners hid, armed with guns in their basement

Police K-9 finds home invasion suspect as homeowners hid, armed with guns in their basement
Yellow law enforcement tape isolating crime scene. Blurred view of city, toned in red and blue police car lights

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO – At 3:08 a.m. on January 20, 2022, the Jefferson County Communications Center received a 911 call of a home invasion burglary at the 5500 block of S. Eldridge St. The homeowner reported that someone had broken down the front door and was wandering around inside the home. Two adults within the home armed themselves with a handgun and were hiding in the basement.

The two victims eventually crawled out of an egress window and were waiting outside of the home when deputies arrived on scene. A K9 officer and his K9 partner Geist responded to the scene and made several announcements inside of the residence requesting that the suspect show themselves to deputies. The suspect failed to comply with deputy’s commands.

During the K9 team search of the residence, the suspect was located hiding behind a couch. K9 Geist apprehended the suspect who was identified as Aris Ashford (DOB 011683). The suspect sustained superficial bite wounds and was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital where he was treated and released back to deputies. The suspect was booked into the Jeffco Detentions Facility for suspicion of 2nd degree burglary, felony criminal mischief and theft. The suspect is not known to the victims.