Suspended neurosurgeon involved in Florida shootout after alleged sexual assault in Colorado
By Angela Rozier
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MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — Law enforcement officials have reported that Thomas Steffens, a suspended neurosurgeon accused of sexual assault in Colorado, was involved in a shootout with law enforcement in Vero Beach.
According to a statement from the Grand Junction Police Department in Colorado, officers were dispatched on Jan. 28 at about 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time to investigate a suspected sexual assault.
“Law enforcement shows up there, they see she’s been battered significantly, she had strangulation marks around her neck, she got bruising in her inner thighs,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Former neurosurgeon wanted for sexual assault and drugging woman injured in Vero Beach shootout After an investigation, a warrant was issued on Feb. 25 for Steffens, who is 72 years old.
“He had prescribed, or they believe had prescribed, medication and did essentially the date rape routine, putting drugs in her drink, sedating her raping her,” Budensiek said.
On March 2, Steffens was located in Vero Beach, where he was involved in a shootout with law enforcement officers. According to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Professions and Occupations, Steffens was issued a medical license in August 1982. Officials say that changed last year.
“Our suspect worked as a neurosurgeon at the VA hospital but was suspended in 2025 for some of his inappropriate activities, so he was no longer actively functioning as a doctor,” Budensiek said.
The Grand Junction Police Department is working with the district attorney’s office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and law enforcement in Martin and Indian River County as the investigation continues. Officials say Steffens remains in custody, with no word yet on when he will face attempted murder charges.
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