ANOTHER DAY ON COLFAX AVENUE: COPS BUST BREAKAWAY BIG BIRD

Police and animal control officers apprehended a runaway emu that charged onto West Colfax Avenue at Quail Street in Lakewood on Monday. "We had a pretty emu-sing day," Lakewood police said on social media. RTD police provided tactical (and perhaps moral) support. [Photos: Lakewood Police Department]

DENVER CRASHES

A person was injured Monday night when an auto struck a bicycle at East Eighth Avenue and North Williams Street in Denver, police said. In a separate incident, a person was injured when an auto and motorcycle collided in the 5400-block of East Colfax Avenue, police said.

FEDS INDICT 30 SUSPECTED GANGBANGERS

Following a nine-month investigation, 30 suspects - including alleged leaders and members of the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang - have been indicted for a crime spree in Denver and Aurora, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday.

Federal agents "recovered 69 firearms through this operation, including automatic machineguns," officials said. "Many of these firearms have been linked to shootings in Denver and Aurora, including carjackings, robberies, and drive-by shootings."

Two suspects face charges of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. 

Others are accused of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and Tusi - a drug originating in Venezuela containing ketamine, methamphetamine and Ecstasy, officials said.

DENVER JOB CUTS

In an effort to fend off a huge budget shortfall, Denver's city government is cutting 928 jobs, officials said Monday.

Layoffs account for 171. Another 645 are vacant. The rest will be shifted to other funding sources. 

The city is facing an almost a $200 million deficit this year, reflecting - in part - falling sales tax revenue.

KIDS, CARS & HEAT

A total of 29 U.S. children left behind in hot cars died in 2023, the Denver Office of Emergency Management says. Always check the backseat and "use reminders if you're tired or on autopilot," OEM says. Ditto for pets. In Denver, the baking interior of a parked car can hit a smothering 125 degrees in 10 minutes, OEM says.

A TIMELESS MESSAGE

Caution school zone.

Denver police share this nifty photo from days gone by.

"Traffic safety is a shared responsibility and most of us learn the basics when we’re kids," they say. "The kindergartners from Columbian Elementary School in the mid 1930’s were no exception. "They are pictured here doing a dramatic play exercise on traffic safety, complete with a kid in a pretty sweet officer’s uniform." [Photo: Denver Police Department]

20 YEARS FOR DOPE DEALING

Dope peddler Rodrick Maye has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, Adams County prosectors said.

Thornton police arrested Maye, 45, on May 25, 2024. His vehicle was weaving into oncoming traffic on East 88th Avenue and he "displayed signs of impairment" and failed roadside sobriety tests, prosecutors said.

Police seized two clear plastic bags of blue M30 fentanyl pills weighing 211 grams and other contraband.

They also found a .45 caliber handgun loaded with a magazine and one round in the chamber, an additional fully loaded .45 magazine and a fully loaded black 9mm magazine, prosecutors said.

Said District Attorney Brian Mason: “By taking this armed drug dealer off the streets, we continue our efforts to protect this community from the devastating impact of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine.” 

HIT & RUN SUBARU ABANDONED AFTER FATAL CRASH

Police are seeking information on a car that was abandoned after fatally injuring a motorcycle rider at the intersection of Dayton Street and East 12th Avenue in Aurora.

It's a 2003 Subaru Forester and its driver "failed to stop at a stop sign," Aurora police said. "The vehicle was located abandoned a short distance from the crash and impounded." The accident occurred at 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 9 and there is no suspect information. The front passenger side and windshield were damaged.

The victim, Harvey Davis, 65, of Aurora, succumbed to his injuries Aug. 12, according to the Arapahoe County coroner. If you have information, call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867.

[Photos: Aurora Police Department]

HAT TRICK

Meet dapper "Joshua" the horse of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and his adoring, devoted human.
[Photo: Douglas County Sheriff's Office]

HIP-HOP GOLD AT DENVER'S ZOO

This is a Panamanian golden frog, a tiny resident of the Denver Zoo. Golden they are as these hoppers are thought to be extinct in the wild, the zoo says. "We maintain healthy assurance populations, ensuring that these golden treasures won’t vanish forever" in cooperation with other organizations, the zoo says. [Photo: Denver Zoo]

UFO: CONGRESS MEMBER'S 'CLOSE ENCOUNTER'

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) detailed a UFO close encounter while she was serving in the US Air Force, the authoritative (heh-heh) New York Post reports.

Luna told podcaster Joe Rogan: “There had been an airspace incursion that had taken place when I was still at the Guard, and I remember talking to some of the pilots about it, and I was like, ‘What was that?'”

"They’re like, ‘Eh, we can’t really talk about it.’ And no one really wanted to address it.” 

“From what I gathered, he didn’t want to get taken off flight status, and was like, ‘I really can’t discuss it.'”

“Based on the photos that I’ve seen, I’m very confident that there’s things out there that have not been created by mankind.”

MONDAY'S PRESS REVIEW

The Denver Post reports Denver's municipal government is set to start layoffs Monday.

The city is facing an almost a $200 million budget deficit this year, due in part to a drop in sales tax revenue, the Post reports, and worker morale has hit rock bottom.
 
The Denver Gazette reports Dr. Anne Flower, of Colorado Springs, broke a 31-year record at the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run - finishing Saturday's race at 17:58:19.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ, HONEY? BEE-LATED HOLIDAY GREETINGS

"A single bee can produce 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime (about 6 weeks) and with a colony consisting of thousands of bees, that can add up quickly," The Old Farmer's Almanac says.  

6 DIED IN 'TUNNEL OF LOVE' TRAGEDY

On July 16, 1944, fire roared through a "tunnel of love" boat ride at Denver's famed Elitch Gardens amusement park.

A locked gate delayed fire engines from reaching the blaze.

Smoke blackened the "Old Mill" boat ride, which featured colorful vessels and oil-painted canvas scenes. Six people died. Four of the dead were soldiers and their wives. Two worked at the park and rushed into the doom to save the others.

"Flames were still at their height when firemen crashed through the walls of the Old Mill with axes," the Associated Press reported.

The International News Service reported: "For nearly an hour firemen feared the entire million dollar park would be burned down."

William Kilbourne, a soldier from Louisville, Kentucky, was credited with saving lives by pushing boats out of the tunnel. "I heard a scream and looked back over my shoulder," Kilbourne said. "I saw a flash of flame in other boat or beside it."

The tragedy led to reforms in Denver's fire code.

[Photo: Private Collection]

OLD COWBOY'S LAMENT

I used to be the best they say
At riding young wild horses for my pay
But now I'm much too old it seems
I only ride wild horses in my dreams ...

Old Midnight was a champion
He's the only bronc I couldn't ride
But now I hear old Midnight's blind
And rides the little children for a dime ...

- From "Ride 'Em Cowboy" by Paul Davis; Art by Ace Reid

FIRE DEPT. SAVES AURORA HOME

Chalk up a save for Aurora's firefighters.

An auto fire scorched a home Sunday and "firefighters prevented the flames from extending inside," the Aurora Fire Department said. There were no injuries. The occupants weren't displaced. The home is located in the 1300-block of North Helena Street, fire officials said. [Photo: Aurora Fire Department]

ARREST SUSPECT IN QUEBEC ST. HIT & RUN

A suspect identified as Calisto Ortega-Uribe, 49, is being held for investigation of vehicular homicide in an accident that killed a pedestrian Saturday night in the 3600-block of North Quebec Street in Denver, police said Sunday.

SUNDAY'S PRESS REVIEW

State lawmakers are expressing concern landlords are failing to follow a new law protecting tenants from eviction, the Denver Post reports.

The Denver Gazette, meantime, says businesses along East Colfax Avenue are losing customers as construction of a bus rapid transit line disrupts traffic.

One Colfax restaurant has seen a 20% drop in revenue, the Gazette reports. Construction of the $280 million project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

MAYHEM AS TRUCK SLAMS INTO SPORTS BAR; 3 HURT, DRIVER IN CUSTODY

UPDATE

A pickup truck slammed into the patio of a popular sports bar, injuring three people, the Adams County Sheriff's office said early Sunday, and the driver was taken into custody.

The shocking crash occurred at the Ugly Dog Sports Cafe at 1345 Cortez Street in Federal Height. The injured were taken to North Suburban Hospital. The pickup truck landed on a row of guest tables in a fenced, streetside patio. Its windshield was smashed and front-end damaged, and the patio's fixed metal tables sat crumpled. The metal fence was also damaged. 9News reported " alcohol is suspected to be a factor."
The Colorado State Patrol is leading the investigation, according to the sheriff's office. [Photos: Adams County Sheriff's Office]

OVERNIGHT DENVER POLICE BLOTTER

UPDATE

A pedestrian was struck and killed by an auto Saturday night in the 3600-block of North Quebec Street in Denver, police said.

In separate overnight incidents:

A person was shot in the 4400-block of Durham Court, police said. An auto and a bicycle collided in the vicinity of East Florida Avenue and South Dahlia Street. The bicyclist was injured, police said.

READY TO ROAR!

Say hello to one of four lion cubs born Wednesday at the Denver Zoo. First-time mother Araali and her litter "are thriving" and she's "showing excellent maternal instincts," zoo officials say. [Photo: Denver Zoo]

FIGHT LARGE BRUSH FIRE NEAR AIRPORT

Aurora firefighters extinguished a brush fire that scorched three acres of parched land Saturday at North Monaghan Road and East 24th Avenue, near the perimeter of Denver International Airport. There were no injuries, officials said.

POLICE LOCATE HIT & RUN CAMRY

Police located a Toyota Camry wanted in a hit-and-run accident that injured a person Thursday night on South Broadway in Denver, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said Saturday. Officials provided no further details.

AUTO & SCOOTER COLLIDE

A person was injured when an auto and stand-up scooter collided Saturday in the vicinity of West Kenyon Avenue and South Sheridan Boulevard in Denver, police said.

'SAY IT AIN'T SO!'

A startled-looking tamarin at the Denver Zoo. The pocket-sized primates - with "some seriously fabulous hair" - are an endangered species, the zoo says.

[Photo: Denver Zoo]

SATURDAY'S PRESS REVIEW

The Denver Post reports ICE plans to add three more immigrant detention facilities in Colorado, citing a Washington Post story.

The facilities will be in Hudson, Walsenburg and Ignacio, the report says. There's already an ICE facility in Aurora.

Walsenburg's mayor said an ICE detention center would help boost the local economy, which has been struggling after a state prison closed 15 years ago, the Denver Gazette reports.

GOOD GRIEF! HARVARD RESEARCH ON ... UFOs

Newsweek says Harvard University researchers suspect aliens could be living underground.

Yes, beneath us. Or on the moon. They also postulate UFO sightings suggest aliens are taking in the sights of Plant Earth from above, Newsweek says.

The Harvard research has yet to be peer reviewed. The Daily Sketch asks: "Will it ever be?"

[Photo: Wikipedia]

FRIDAY NIGHT STABBINGS; SATURDAY STABBING & SHOOTING, TOO

UPDATE

Violent crime visited the streets of Denver overnight. 

Police reported stabbings Friday night in the 1400-block of North Pennsylvania Street and the 9800-block of East Iliff Avenue. There was a third stabbing early Saturday in the 1300-block of Lowell Boulevard - and a shooting in the 18400-block of East Elmendorf Drive, police said.

POLICE NAB SUSPECTED AUTO THIEF AFTER CHASE, CRASH

Aurora police captured a suspected car thief after a high-speed chase and crash Friday on Tower Road. 
Rodolfo Castillo Najera, 34, was charged with motor vehicle theft and felony eluding, police said. "Najera has a lengthy criminal history to include arrests for motor vehicle theft, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, narcotics-related offenses, assault and domestic violence," police said. The crash occurred in the Gateway Park area, at Tower Road and 40th Avenue. [Photos: Aurora Police Department]

HOLY VISITOR: FRANCIS SCHLATTER, DENVER'S CHRIST-LIKE 'HEALER'

With his long hair, beard and gentle manner, Francis Schlatter resembled portraits of Jesus Christ.

A cobbler (Jesus was said to be a carpenter), Schlatter visited Denver in 1895 and bestowed miraculous cures upon the infirm from the yard of a bungalow owned by ex-alderman E. D. Fox at "625 Witter (cq) Street" in North Denver, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Schlatter possessed a "strange light in the eye" and "a directness and earnestness" in his speech, the News said. The public hailed him as "The Healer."

News of his cures drew thousands. Lines stretched around the block daily. Schlatter claimed his powers were a gift from the "Father" and faith was all that was necessary for a cure, according to contemporary accounts.

He refused money - and one night vanished from Denver, leaving a note saying his mission here was complete.

Schlatter walked "with a dignified air that commanded a certain respect," the Rocky Mountain News said on Aug. 23, 1895. "His whole demeanor is of one who believes thoroughly in himself, no matter what any others may say." 

The next day, Aug. 24, the News reported: "To the direct question, `Are you the Christ?' he answers 'I am.' Without the question, he makes no pretense as to who or what he is."

[Photos: Public Domain]

54 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STAR WARS 'VIGILANTE'

An Adams County judge sentenced a former U.S. Space Force technical sergeant to 54 years in prison in the shooting death of a teenager and the wounding of another youth he accused of setting off his car alarm. 

Forensic testing determined Orest Schur, 29, fired 11 shots on July 5, 2023, according to prosecutors. Schur claimed self-defense. A jury convicted him of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder June 16.

"This was vigilante violence at its worst,” said District Attorney Brian Mason. The dead youth was 14. The other, 13, was driving.

Prosecutors provided this account:

"Suspecting someone was attempting to steal his Hyundai Elantra, Schur armed himself with a pistol and began driving around the block in the Elantra. While circling the neighborhood, he saw a vehicle he believed was involved in the attempted theft. 

"Rather than calling police, Schur pursued the fleeing vehicle and fired multiple gunshots into its rear. Aurora Police officers later found the vehicle the victims had been driving crashed into the backyard fence of a home along East 58th Circle. 

"The trunk, roof, and rear windshield were damaged by gunfire, and investigators determined that one bullet had passed through the driver’s seat and into the driver’s back. The two juvenile occupants fled the vehicle after the crash as Schur continued firing at them."

The Space Force man resided in the 19000-block of East 59th Place, court records show.

[Photo: Aurora Police Department]

FIREFIGHTERS HAIL GARDEN HOSE HERO

A hero neighbor wielding a garden hose Friday helped stop a house fire from spreading, South Metro Fire Rescue said. There were no injuries, however, dwelling damage displaced three adults, three children, two cats and a dog, officials said. The blaze broke out at 7918 Berkshire Lane in Castle Pines North just before 8 a.m. "A special thank you to a neighbor that pulled a garden hose and help stopped the spread of this fire while SMFR was dispatched," officials said on social media. [Photos: South Metro Fire Rescue]

CITED IN AUTO DEATH

A motorist has been cited for careless driving resulting in death following a pedestrian accident, Denver police said Friday. The accident occurred at 17th Avenue and Milwaukee Street, near City Park and Denver East High School, on Aug. 13.

BEYOND RETIREMENT AGE: SOCIAL SECURITY TURNS 90

Social Security is 90 years old - and ailing.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Depression-era Social Security Act into law on Aug 14, 1935.

Now, the "Big Beautiful" tax bill signed by President Donald Trump will accelerate the woes of the financial lifeline, Brendan Duke, a federal budget expert, says.

The Associated Press reports: "The so-called go-broke date — or the date at which Social Security will no longer have enough funds to pay full benefits — has been moved up to 2034, instead of last year’s estimate of 2035. After that point, Social Security would only be able to pay 81% of benefits." 

LADDER UP AT HOUSE FIRE

 
Aerial ladder in operation Thursday night at house fire at 9828 Florence Place in Douglas County. [Photo: South Metro Fire Rescue]

A BALL OF ARMOR

The Denver Zoo is home to Willow and Chaco, three-banded armadillos - and they can teach Broncos a thing or two about defense. "Three-banded armadillos are the only armadillo species that can roll up into a complete ball, tucking in their head, tail, and legs to create a perfect armored sphere!" the zoo says. "This clever defense keeps them safe from predators in the wild." The zoo is also home to Dillon, a nine-banded armadillo. [Photo: Denver Zoo]

FRIDAY'S PRESS REVIEW

The Salvation Army will cease managing three of Denver's hotel-turned-homeless shelters, citing the need to ensure “financial stability,” the Denver Gazette reports.

It's under contract with the city to manage the Aspen and Stone Creek shelters on Quebec Steet and the Tamarac Family Shelter at Hampden Avenue and I-25 through Dec. 31, the Gazette said.

A new operator will be hired. Other Salvation Army facilities will remain.

Meantime, the Denver Post reports Water World will close its popular Calypso Cove on Aug. 25, for rebuilding.

HUNT GOLD TOYOTA CAMRY IN SOUTH BROADWAY HIT & RUN

UPDATE

Denver police issued an alert for a hit-an-run driver who seriously injured a motorcyclist Thursday night on South Broadway. The accident occurred at 9:22 p.m. near 28th Street, police said The vehicle - which was running southbound - is believed to be a gold 2007 Toyota Camry with Colorado license plate DJSU29. It has front-end damage on the passenger side, police said. Call 911 if you have any information.

WEEKEND HIGHS SEEN IN 90s

There's a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms across the Denver area Friday, mainly after 3 p.m., the National Weather Service says. Temperatures will run in the mid-to-high 90s through Sunday.

STABBING DOWNTOWN

A person was stabbed Thursday night in the vicinity of 18th and Lawrence streets in downtown Denver and transported to hospital, police said.

LIFE IN PRISON FOR MAN, 66, IN MOSIER PLACE MURDER

A Denver jury Thursday convicted Anthony Huff , 66, of first-degree murder in a 2023 shooting death and a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole, the DA's office said. Huff shot Anthony Mingo, 46, in the 1700-block of West Mosier Place during an argument on July 12, 2023, the DA's office said. [Photo: Denver Police Department]

GRATITUDE: 9NEWS VETERAN KYLE CLARK'S THANKFUL POST

Denver 9News TV trailblazer Kyle Clark posted a kind, thoughtful and thankful note on LinkedIn celebrating his 18 years on the job.

Here it is in its entirety:

Eighteen years ago today, I walked into KUSA-TV, 9NEWS in Denver, eager to learn from the best in the business. I knew a bit about journalism, thought I knew a whole lot more, and never imagined I would spend nearly half my life in this newsroom and community.

I'll compose more thoughts at the right time, but I didn't want to let today pass without expressing my gratitude.

I'm grateful for the mentors and role models who became friends. Encouraging other journalists to grow and succeed has been a joy.

I'm filled with appreciation for the trust of leadership at 9NEWS and TEGNA who allowed our Next team to do local news differently. They encouraged smart risk-taking in a risk-averse industry and had the courage to serve the community in innovative ways despite criticism and doubt.

Journalism is a business full of people with strong convictions. But I think employees in most industries will ultimately share their employer's values, by choice or by dictate, for better or for worse. I am beyond grateful to have spent the last 18 years working for and with people whose values I admire: speaking truth to power, respecting the intelligence of our community, and understanding that integrity cannot be repurchased once it's sold.

The future of broadcasting and journalism is uncertain. But of this I am certain: no day spent in pursuit of the truth and in service of the community is a day wasted. I'm grateful for 18 years worth of days well-spent at 9NEWS. And grateful to do it again tomorrow.

[Photo: Kyle Clark on LinkedIn]

WE CAN'T RESIST COLORADO UFO STORIES!

Two people reported seeing "5 round dots" over a Denver park on May 11, according to the National UFO Reporting Center Online Database.

They said: "We were laying in Cuernavaca Park at around 4 pm enjoying the beautiful day. Looking at the sky saw 5 round dots very high. There were planes taking off and landing at Denver airport and these were much higher.

"They were hovering and rearranging their formation for 10—15 minutes before they disappeared behind the clouds. They moved steadily and smoothly. Not symmetrically but moved in unison. They were easy to see against the blue sky."

The park is located at 3500 Rockmount Drive near downtown Denver.

[Photo: Wikipedia]

ROARING GOOD NEWS! ZOO LION GIVES BIRTH

African lion "Araali" - a resident of the Denver Zoo - gave birth to "four feisty cubs" Wednesday, zoo officials said. "Mom and babies are bonding well behind-the-scenes, where they will remain for at least six weeks pending vaccinations and neo-natal examinations," officials said. The pregnancy last 115 days. [Photo: Denver Zoo]