People v. Vanpelt.

2026 CO 66. No. 26SA142. Suppression of Evidence—Voluntary Statements.

October 12, 2026

The supreme court held that the district court erred when it suppressed evidence of the gun taken from Vanpelt prior to his arrest. The officers had reasonable suspicion that Vanpelt had committed the crime of driving under the influence, and they did not violate the Fourth Amendment or the Colorado Constitution when, out of concern for officer safety, they seized Vanpelt’s firearm while he was unconscious. The court further held that Vanpelt’s statements to the officers were voluntary because the officers’ conduct did not overbear Vanpelt’s will. The court declined to exercise jurisdiction over the issue of the precluded in-court identification because Vanpelt did not properly raise this issue.