Deputies shoot, kill woman

A Larimer County woman found guilty last summer of animal abuse was identified as the suspect who robbed a bank in Loveland and pointed a fake gun at law enforcement officials before she was shot and killed north of Longmont on Thursday.

Catherine Cariaso, 56, of Larimer County was identified as the deceased. She was accused of abandoning 84 dogs in July 2004. In August 2005, she was sentenced to 60 days in jail in the Larimer County Detention Facility and five years of supervised probation.

According to a press release from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Cariaso robbed the Chase Bank at 1905 W. Eisenhower in Loveland at 1:30 p.m.

Cariaso reportedly told bank employees that she was armed, and she was given an undisclosed amount of cash, according to the sheriff's office. Cariaso fled in a white minivan and was followed by witnesses.

A uniformed Larimer County Sheriff's deputy and a Berthoud police officer spotted the minivan west of Berthoud. Another Larimer deputy joined the pursuit.

The chase lasted a half hour before it crossed into Boulder County, and Cariaso stopped near the intersection of 83rd Street and Yellowstone Road, north of Longmont.

Cariaso reportedly got out of the minivan and pointed a fake gun at officials. Both the Larimer deputies shot her. Officials then requested emergency medical assistance, but she died at the scene.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting, and the Loveland Police Department is investigating the bank robbery.

In June 2005, Cariaso tried to withdraw her guilty plea to 20 counts of cruelty to animals. She was convicted of abandoning 84 Labrador retrievers without food and water for several days near Berthoud. Fifty-four of the dogs were euthanized and three died. Twenty-seven were adopted.

Associated Press contributed to this story.