FUGITIVE NABBED IN SHOOTING OF THORNTON COP; 911 CALLERS SPOTTED LUIS AREBALO

With the help of alert citizens, fugitive Luis Arebalo was tracked down and arrested in the weekend shooting of a Thornton police officer. Arebalo, 37, who was considered armed and dangerous, was spotted by 911 callers near Riverdale Road and 120th Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was on foot, taken into custody without incident and did not have any apparent injuries. The wounded officer is expected to make a full recovery. "We are grateful to the residents who recognized Arebalo and called 911," police said. "Those calls led directly to a safe arrest." The shooting occurred Sunday night after two police officers responded to a call for an unwanted visitor on Ulster Street. "Arebalo fired multiple rounds at officers, striking one officer," police said. "A second officer returned fire. Arebalo fled the scene." "In the hours after the shooting, SWAT, K9 teams and patrol officers searched the area within the perimeter, supported by drones, a Denver Police Department helicopter and a Colorado State Patrol airplane," police said. "Over the next two days, investigators searched Arebalo’s vehicle and the surrounding area, followed up on tips and worked with federal partners and neighboring jurisdictions to locate him," police said. [Photos: Thornton Police]