Police detained a man in Denver after he escaped arrest in Douglas County more than a week ago, potentially ending a spree of theft, drug possession and evading police officers that began in Kansas in 2021. 

Alexander Reighart, 29, was arrested at a gas station in Denver earlier this week on outstanding felony warrants for financial crimes, drug violations and escape, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The search, which began on Feb. 20, ended with the help of the Denver Police Department and Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.

Reighart was originally arrested near Highway 85 and Town Center Drive in unincorporated Douglas County near Highlands Ranch around 9 p.m. Feb. 20.

Following the report of a suspicious vehicle in a gas station parking lot, deputies found Reighart and discovered that he had two felony warrants for his arrest — a drug possession warrant issued by the Grand Junction Police Department and a criminal possession of two-or-more financial transaction devices warrant by Douglas County.

The suspect was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle. He then escaped through the partition between the back and front seats, climbing out of the driver’s side door while deputies searched his vehicle.

The department searched for Reighart in the area for over a week. 

“Although we know this manhunt should not have been necessary, I applaud the perseverance of our detectives and our partners at the Denver Police Department and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Fugitive Task Force to get Reighart back into custody where he belongs,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said in a news release.

During his Feb. 20 arrest, deputies found 12 grams of Methamphetamine, 29 Home Depot gift cards, five temporary Arizona ID cards, one Kansas driver’s license and two Alaska licenses in his vehicle. 

Prior to his escape in Douglas County, Reighart was wanted in Mesa County after allegedly being pulled over with 10.2 pounds of meth on April 7, 2022. 

He was also wanted in Kansas for drug possession charges from an arrest on Aug. 3, 2021.

The suspect failed to appear at his sentencing in both Mesa County and Kansas. 

Since his arrest, Reighart has “gone in front of the judge and his bond was raised to $1,000,000,” the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. 

The office declined to release arrest records regarding the most recent arrest, citing the ongoing investigations. 

He is due in court for his preliminary hearing on March 29.