A 72-year-old former neurosurgeon wanted for sexual assault charges in Colorado ended up in a shootout on Florida’s Treasure Coast with the U.S. Marshals Service that left one marshal and the wanted man wounded, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s detectives from both Martin and Indian River counties were assisting with U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force to serve a warrant for the arrest of Thomas Earl Steffens in Indian River County on Monday that led to the gunfight, according to a Facebook update from the sheriff’s office.
The suspect “was wanted out of Colorado on charges alleging he drugged a victim with prescription medications he obtained and then sexually assaulted her,” the post stated.
The task force had information that Steffens was traveling by bus to the Treasure Coast and “had reportedly stated he would not be taken into custody alive.”
The task force located a vehicle he was traveling in as a passenger and conducted a traffic stop, the post stated.
It said Steffens refused to exit the vehicle and then opened fire on the five members of the task force from inside the car.
They returned fire and struck Steffens multiple times. An image posted by the sheriff’s office showed the vehicle with nearly 30 large-caliber bullet holes.
“During the exchange of gunfire, one U.S. marshal was shot in the leg and was treated for his injuries and released,” the post stated. “Steffens was transported to a local hospital. Despite being struck multiple times by Task Force members, he is expected to survive.”
Steffens faces the pending sexual assault charges out of Colorado and now attempted murder charges related to the shooting, the post stated.