(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released information about three arrests that were made after an investigation into a stolen car.

On Thursday, Sept. 4, officers with CSPD’s Downtown Area Response Team (DART) told the Motor Vehicle Theft (MVT) Unit that they had found a red 2004 Hyundai Elantra, which had allegedly been stolen from the 1200 block of Idylwood Drive, in the Stratmoor Hills neighborhood near South Academy Boulevard and I-25.

Detectives with the MVT team conducted surveillance on the Elantra near East Costilla Street and South Nevada Avenue. They identified the driver as Steven Russel, 39, who was found to have two previous convictions for car theft in 2019 and 2022. Police also observed a passenger, 39-year-old Lee Gilbert.

After the two left a business in the 200 block of North Chelton Road, officers said that Gilbert was seen driving the stolen vehicle. The MVT Unit tried to stop the car in a marked unit near Pikes Peak Avenue and North Circle Drive, but Gilbert drove away from the police.

While officers continued their surveillance, they saw the suspects park the stolen vehicle behind a business in the 1500 block of South Nevada Avenue.

When Russel and Gilbert left the car, they were stopped by officers and arrested. CSPD also saw 33-year-old Rachael Bruno-Watts getting out of the rear passenger seat before she also tried to run away, but was promptly detained as well.

All three were brought into CSPD custody; Russel is facing a charge of Prolific Motor Vehicle Theft Offender, while Gilbert faces charges of Motor Vehicle Theft and Eluding, and Bruno-Watts is facing an Obstruction charge.