The Cañon City woman who led police on a dangerous chase on Aug. 21 after she allegedly kidnapped a four-year-old child appeared in district court Wednesday to face charges.
Although Assistant District Attorney Wendy Owens requested an extension to file formal charges against 33-year-old Ashley Procter, the police department issued the following in connection with the arrest:
Criminal Attempt to Commit Second-Degree Murder, a Class 3 Felony; Criminal Attempt to Commit First-Degree Assault, a Class 4 Felony; Second-Degree Kidnapping, a Class 3 Felony; Second-Degree Assault, a Class 4 Felony; Child Abuse (Involving Bodily Injury), a Class 3 Felony; Reckless Endangerment, a Class 2 Misdemeanor; Fleeing with a Vehicle, a Class 4 Felony; Cruelty to Animals, a Class 1 Misdemeanor; Fleeing a Police Officer, a Class 2 Misdemeanor; Speeding Over 40 MPH, a Class 2 Misdemeanor; Reckless Driving, a Class 2 Misdemeanor; Careless Driving Involving Bodily Injury, a Class 1 Misdemeanor; Changing Lanes in an Unsafe Manner; Driver Allowing Passenger to Ride Unsafely; Passing on the Left in an Unsafe Manner; Improper Use of Child Restraint System for Children Ages 4-8; Operating Without a Seatbelt.
An affidavit from Cañon City police Officer Kassi Roquemore states that officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 4:16 p.m. on August 21 to assist with a kidnapping in progress that had just occurred in the 900 block of Orchard Ave.
The redacted affidavit states that Procter had appeared for a court-ordered, supervised visit with her four-year-old biological child when she allegedly “got into a physical altercation with the DHS employee … and then took the child victim with her.”
According to the affidavit, Procter contacted DHS on August 8 after inquiring about their services and subsequently made suicidal comments and “statements that she was going to pick up her child and drive her off a cliff.”
Custody of the child was awarded to DHS on August 12 and the trial is scheduled for October 18.
The unnamed DHS social worker stated in her affidavit that Procter “attempted to call several DHS supervisors because she wanted to change the supervised visit and get a different staff member,” and that when she was not allowed to move out of earshot of the social worker, she “dropped her phone, bags, and dog leash, immediately turned around, and lunged at (the social worker) and physically attacked.”
The social worker reported that she was scratched, hit, and strangled during the attack and that she was unable to breathe.
A news release from Cañon City police on Thursday said Procter refused to stop her vehicle when police asked her to do so after the abduction. The news release said she drove recklessly and at significantly excessive speeds through residential streets and onto U.S. 50.
“Procter attempted to enter Skyline Drive, at which point officers decided to conduct a pursuit and pushed the vehicle against the hillside to prevent Procter from continuing down the dangerous road with a child in the vehicle,” the press release states.
The press release states: “The officers’ decision to execute a maneuver to end a dangerous pursuit before the vehicle with a small child inside could be driven onto a dangerous road was calculated and deliberately executed to reduce the risk of serious injury or death to the occupants, which would likely have resulted had the pursuit continued.”
Police Chief John Schick praised the officers’ good judgment, saying a child’s life “was potentially in danger and he couldn’t be prouder of the consequences of their actions.”
The child, whose name and gender were redacted in the affidavit to protect his identity, was examined after the incident and was found to have visible redness and bruising on one shoulder, as well as on his face and legs.
After the incident, the child was returned to the Department of Human Services.
After being stopped by police, Procter spoke with Roquemore at St. Thomas More Hospital. While she did not admit to or discuss the physical altercation with the social worker, she did admit that she “took the child victim and ‘kidnapped’ her.”
Procter also stated that she “escaped the police because she assumed they would not follow her anymore.”
The affidavit goes on to say that Procter admitted she was in a “poor mental state” and that she should not have gone to the supervised visit. She also stated that she might have gotten help if she had driven off the cliff.
Roquemore also consulted with patrol officers involved in the chase and reviewed body camera footage, which showed that the speed limit was 88 miles per hour in areas with a 30 mph speed limit.
Roquemore was informed by both the caseworker and Procter that she (Procter) had recorded several encounters with the DHS caseworker on her phone that were never shared. The caseworker noted that “the child’s mother had videotaped the entire incident on a Facebook live feed.”
Roquemore recorded the video and noted that Procter was muttering throughout the video, “Where am I going? Where am I going?” and also stated that “she has done some crazy things (strong expression), that she will not let people take her child away, that the cops (strong expression) high.”
According to the affidavit, Procter also stated in the video: “Oh (strong expression), I don’t know why I did that” and “Okay, let’s go,” just before the car was stopped by the police.
Procter is scheduled to appear in District Court for a bail hearing on September 4.
