On June 10, 2025, detectives from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office were conducting operations in the downtown Colorado Springs area when they identified 47-year-old Michael Cates, a known repeat offender with a significant history of property crimes and multiple active felony warrants.
Detectives followed Cates to his vehicle and attempted to take him into custody. Cates refused to comply with commands and fled the scene in his vehicle, nearly striking detectives in the process.
Later, detectives located the vehicle at a hotel on Rusina Road. Surveillance efforts led to the identification of Cates’ room. With assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Property Crimes Unit and SWAT team, Cates was apprehended without issue.
At the time of arrest, Cates had five outstanding felony warrants comprising 39 charges, including Burglary, Theft, Identity Theft, Providing False Information to a Pawn Broker, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
He was booked into the El Paso County Jail on a $235,000 bond.
“I am extremely grateful this dangerous repeat criminal was taken off the streets of the Pikes Peak region,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “Thanks to the attentiveness of my detectives, and the assistance of our partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department, Cates will be held accountable for his many crimes."
On June 11, 2025, detectives filed additional charges against Cates, including:
- Money Laundering (Class 3 Felony)
- Money Laundering (Class 3 Felony)
- Second Degree Burglary (Four Counts, Class 4 Felony)
- Second Degree Motor Vehicle Theft (Two Counts, Class 4 Felony)
- Vehicular Eluding (Class 5 Felony)
- Theft (Class 6 Felony)
- Third Degree Criminal Trespass (Six Counts, Petty Offense)
Cates is now being held on an additional $250,000 bond. The investigation remains ongoing.
