MARTIN COUNTY — Two Indian River County sheriff’s detectives and two Martin County sheriff’s detectives working with the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force exchanged gunfire with a 72-year-old fugitive Monday night as they tried to serve a warrant on him in Indian River County.
Thomas Steffens, a former neurosurgeon wanted in Colorado on charges that he drugged a victim with prescription medication and sexually assaulted her, was seated in the passenger seat of a vehicle when task force members stopped it, authorities said.
Investigators had learned Steffens was heading to the Treasure Coast by bus and had told someone he would not be taken into custody alive, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
During the traffic stop, Steffens refused repeated commands to get out of the vehicle and opened fire on the five task force members from inside the car, the sheriff’s office said. Officers returned fire, striking him multiple times.
One U.S. marshal was shot in the leg during the exchange. He was treated at a hospital and released. The two Indian River County detectives were not injured.
Steffens was taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to survive, authorities said.
In addition to the Colorado sexual assault case, he now faces attempted murder charges in connection with the shooting, the sheriff’s office said.
