A Centennial man has been sentenced to five years in prison after leading Douglas County sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase through several south-metro Denver suburbs in January, a pursuit that ended with deputies finding him hiding under a porch in his underwear.
Zakary Dean Hirschfield, 24, pleaded guilty to felony eluding of a peace officer. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office released video of the incident, including body camera and thermal drone footage from the search that followed.
The chase began when a deputy stopped Hirschfield for speeding in Castle Pines. During the stop, Hirschfield accelerated toward the deputy, who had to jump clear to avoid being struck, authorities said. Radio traffic captured the deputy reporting that the driver had tried to hit him, while Hirschfield’s female passenger screamed as he sped off.
From there, Hirschfield drove through Highlands Ranch and Littleton at speeds over 100 mph, authorities said, crossing medians and driving into oncoming traffic before crashing into another vehicle. The passenger later told deputies she had repeatedly pleaded with him to stop. He left her with the wrecked car and fled on foot.
Dozens of deputies, along with specialized units, drones and a K9, searched a Littleton neighborhood for about an hour before finding Hirschfield hiding beneath a porch, wearing only his underwear. Body camera footage shows deputies restraining him on the ground as one orders, “Put your hands behind your back, behind your back.” A search of his vehicle turned up cocaine and drug paraphernalia, authorities said.
“Don’t run from our deputies. We will catch you and hold you accountable,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said. “This defendant learned that the hard way and is now headed to prison. Putting our deputies and the public at risk will not be tolerated in Douglas County.”
A record of releases before the chase
Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler said the case reflects a pattern of missed opportunities by other courts and agencies to hold Hirschfield before January’s pursuit.
“This case highlights the ripple effects of decisions made by other law enforcement agencies who had opportunities to lock this guy up before this dangerous episode,” Brauchler said.
In November 2024, an Arapahoe County judge sentenced Hirschfield to probation and community service under a plea deal on an attempted distribution of fentanyl conviction, according to prosecutors. His probation was revoked less than three months later, but a court placed him back on probation in June 2025.
Another motion to revoke that probation was filed Aug. 19, 2025 — the same day Hirschfield was released without cash bail in Jefferson County on a new felony robbery charge, prosecutors said. Five months after that release, he led deputies on the chase through Douglas County.
Deputy District Attorney Zach Idris said the sentence reflects the danger Hirschfield created that night. “This defendant put countless lives at risk that evening,” Idris said. “Thanks to the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office, Hirschfield will now spend several years in the Department of Corrections, where he will have plenty of time to think about his reckless actions that put him there.”
Brauchler offered a pointed closing warning. “Commit your crimes somewhere more forgiving, or heck, maybe don’t commit them at all,” he said.
