(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) took in three alleged car thieves as part of a joint task force operation.

As part of the Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement (BATTLE) task force, officers were able to locate three people, 29-year-old Jesus Madrid, 25-year-old Lexus Banovich, and 39-year-old Albert Blackburn, along with seven allegedly stolen vehicles.

EPSO deputies tried to block off the suspects’ vehicle, but Madrid allegedly rammed into the blockade, damaging multiple EPSO cars, and sped away from the scene. Detectives monitoring the area were able to find Madrid and Banovich on Mazatlan Circle, off of East Fountain Boulevard, where they were arrested and brought to the Criminal Justice Center.

Blackburn was arrested later by a BATTLE detective in the immediate area after an alleged altercation at a convenience store on West Garden of the Gods, near Interstate 25. According to a CSPD release, Blackburn allegedly was armed with an axe when police arrived.

Madrid and Banovich were charged with Motor Vehicle Theft and Obstruction. Madrid already had charges for Felony Eluding and Felony Criminal Mischief. Blackburn was charged with Felony Menacing.

BATTLE is a statewide multi-agency task force that links Colorado law enforcement agencies to identify vehicle crimes and collaborates with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) metropolitan auto theft task force.