A pair of teenage Colorado carjackers led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a ball of fire — and a pair of mugshots that also went down in flames.
Police arrested 19-year-olds Michael Howell-McGlynn and Kristine Elisabeth Romero Thursday after pulling them from the burning wreck of a 2015 Subaru Forrester — which was previously reported stolen in an armed carjacking.
Officers with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office spotted the SUV idling in a parking lot in Berthoud just after 4 a.m. that morning, but when they attempted to stop it at an intersection the teens sped off.
The dynamic duo quickly accelerated speeds in excess of 100 mph, and the police followed in hot pursuit, per a statement from sheriff’s office.
When the suspects slowed down at the approach of another intersection, officers rammed their car in an attempt to stop them. The Subaru hit a curb, then landed on a nearby tree and burst into flames.
Officers rushed to pull Howell-McGlynn and Romero from the car, also recovering a rifle from the burning wreck.
They were taken to the hospital and treated for injuries, and after being released a short time later were booked at the Larimer County Jail.
Both suspects appeared wholly defeated and down on their luck in their mug shots, with the tattooed and mustachioed Howell-McGlynn looking drearily into the camera with his head wrapped forehead-to-chin in bandages, and a thick drop of blood fresh on his chest.
But Romero stole the show, modeling a mop of two-toned, frizzed-out hair with bangs coming down past her eyes, metallic silver eye shadow, and a busted fat-lip with a bloodied chin while she glared up at the ceiling.
Commenters on Larimer County’s Facebook page panned the teens for their unruly appearances.
“Did y’all also find 101 Dalmatians in the trunk?!” wrote one.
“Halloween was over two weeks ago,” said another.
Cops charged Howell-McGlynn, the driver of the stolen car, with reckless driving, obstructing a peace officer, and vehicular eluding resulting in bodily injury to another.
His pal Romero was booked for conspiracy to commit a class 4 felony — reserved for crimes of violence or extraordinary risk of harm — and for an outstanding warrant for assault on a peace officer.
“This driver’s reckless behavior shows a disturbing disregard for the safety of others,” Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said.
“Our deputies will continue to protect this community and apprehend dangerous criminals who threaten lives and property in Northern Colorado.”
