ORGANIZED CRIME RING BROKEN WITH 18 ARRESTS

A regional task force arrested 18 people - including four youths - suspected of "organized and violent criminal activity throughout the state," Aurora police announced Monday. The 13-month investigation targeted a ring responsible for more than 20 "criminal episodes" in Aurora, Bennett, Commerce City, Denver, Frederick, Firestone, Greeley and Parker as well as Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Weld counties.

The task force seized 31 firearms and filed 166 felony charges, including violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. With the help of SWAT teams, the suspects were taken into custody in Aurora, Bennett, Commerce City, Denver and Greeley on Sept. 15 and Oct. 7. One person was arrested in Wichita, Kansas. [Photo: Aurora Police]

HUNDREDS RALLY IN DENVER TO DEFEND VOTING

By Colorado Newsline

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied and marched near the Colorado Capitol on Saturday in the largest of dozens of planned No Kings events across the state, part of a nationwide day of action that organizers hope will encourage participants to vote and help protect the November election.

It was the latest in a series of No Kings events since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. Protesters say the Trump administration has pursued authoritarian policies, such as disregard for the rule of law, abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and attempts to meddle in elections.

Nita Gonzales, daughter of Denver Chicano activist Corky Gonzales and a longtime activist herself, addressed a crowd of hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the Capitol grounds and across Civic Center Park.

“Does this look like hopelessness? This looks like courage,” Gonzales said from the Capitol steps. “This looks like democracy. This looks like people reclaiming their voice and their power.”

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[Photo: Colorado Newsline]

SUSPECTED ORDNANCE FOUND AT LOVELAND FIRE

Firefighters discovered suspected ordnance at a house fire in Loveland.

The material was "secured and removed," police said. No injuries were reported.

Neighbors were ordered to shelter in place during the incident near North Lincoln Avenue and East 8th Street.  

STABBING SUSPECT SURRENDERS AFTER STANDOFF IN THORNTON

A stabbing suspect was arrested after a standoff with police at an apartment complex in Thornton.

The incident occurred Saturday night in the 10200-block of Ura Lane. "While officers were on their way, they learned one person had reportedly been stabbed," police said. "Officers contacted the victim, an adult male, who had non-life-threatening injuries. Officers learned the suspect had gone inside an apartment. "The suspect refused to come out. While officers were ordering him to surrender, a shot was fired from inside the apartment. No one was hit. SWAT responded, and the 37-year-old suspect surrendered," police said. Residents were ordered to shelter in place during the incident.

DOUBLE DUTY: BLAZE WRECKS 2 HOMES IN AURORA

A two-alarm fire wrecked two homes in Aurora over the weekend.

No one was injured during the blaze in the 2000-block of Espana Way on Saturday night, according to Aurora Fire. "As firefighters approached the neighborhood, a bright orange glow was visible in the distance," officials said. "Firefighters entered both homes with hose lines, encountering extreme heat." The fire was under control in 20 minutes.

[Photos: Aurora Fire]

INMATE FLEES TRANSPORT VEHICLE ON I-76

A community corrections resident ran from a transport vehicle after feigning illness along I-76 in Morgan County.

Bryon Roth, 33, was in the custody of the staff of Advantage Treatment Facility of Sterling on Friday. "Roth was not handcuffed or shackled during the transport," the Morgan County Sheriff's Office said. He was enroute to Weld County where he where he was due to be booked on felony robbery charges. Roth was wearing a gray shirt and blue sweatpants. [Photo: Morgan County Sheriff]

PUEBLO COPS WOUNDED BY 'FRIENDLY FIRE'

Two Pueblo police officers wounded during an exchange of gunfire with an armed suspect were accidentally shot by other officers, an investigation determined.

The suspect was killed during the Oct. 10 incident at the Regency Park Apartments on Regency Boulevard. Officer Jonathon Woehler suffered wounds to both legs and Officer Justin Ortiz sustained a graze wound to an ankle.

Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller said: "As the facts are established, we will examine the incident carefully, including tactics, positioning, communication and decision making. Then this will determine how we improve our training, equipment and procedure."

DRIVER, 88, CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE, ASSAULT AT 'TOUR DE FAT' IN FORT COLLINS

Van Lemaster, 88, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and reckless endangerment in a crash at the popular Tour de Fat bicycle festival downtown in Fort Collins, police said Friday.

The accident occurred when a Chevrolet pickup truck reversing from a parking spot hit an auto, jumped a sidewalk and slammed into a tree on Aug. 29 - killing pedestrian Joshua Robert Douglass, 33, and injuring five others. 

"This was an incredibly tragic crash that affected many in our community," Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said.
Investigators ruled out driver-impairment in the crash in the 100-block of West Mountain Avenue, police said.
[Photo: Bike Law Facebook page]

'DARK MOMENT': FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS CRIPPLE COLORADO'S FOOD BANKS

By Colorado Newsline

Fueled by the rising cost of living and cuts to federal benefits, food assistance programs from around the Denver metro area have seen growing demand and an influx of new, first-time families in need of support this year.

Leaders with local food pantries and other nutritional aid groups highlighted the need for expanded funding for federal benefits like the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as broader reforms to make it more effective for the people it benefits, at a roundtable Wednesday hosted by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet at the Food Bank of the Rockies. 

In the last year, about 40,000 Coloradans have lost access to SNAP benefits amid changes to program requirements, according to Ron Meehan, government relations manager for Feeding Colorado. Food pantries have seen growing demand as costs for regular families tightened, increasing the number of people who need their services on top of the low-income families who already relied on them. 

“This has been a dark moment for our network in terms of need and in terms of significant cuts to a lot of these federal programs,” Meehan said. “At the same time, I think we have a real opportunity moving forward to not just undo damage, but really work together to improve programs and strengthen them more than where they were.”

The Adams County Emergency Food Bank has seen 3,400 new people come through its doors since January, executive director Steph Wayne said. People have started to treat food banks, which are meant to be supplemental, as their primary grocery stores, asking for personal and healthcare products they don’t have the capacity to provide, she said. 

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ANCIENT WIRING BLAMED IN FIRE AT 19th CENTURY HOME

"Old wiring and excessive use of electricity" caused a house fire in La Junta early Thursday, the fire department said. The blaze broke out in the attic of 14 West 7th Street. A city electric crew disconnected power to the dwelling.

The house was built in 1888, according to Zillow. Firefighters "found smoke and a smoldering fire from two roof trusses and insulation," officials said. "There was old knob and tubing wiring running across the trusses." No injuries were reported. La Junta is located in Otero County in southern Colorado. [Photo: La Junta Fire]

COPS ARREST YOUTH IN CHURCH ARSON PROBE IN PUEBLO

Police arrested a youth as a suspect in an arson fire at a Roman Catholic church in Pueblo.

The Sept. 5 blaze damaged Christ the King Parish at 1708 Horseshoe Drive.

Police said the youth is a suspect in other incidents on church property, including tampering with security cameras on July 18 and burglaries on Sept. 11 and Oct. 3.

The youth is also a suspect in an auto theft outside of Pueblo, police said.

OFF-DUTY DEPUTY SAVES DRIVER FROM BURNING AUTO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY

A heroic off-duty Jefferson County deputy pulled a driver from a wrecked SUV moments before it erupted in flames.

The SUV collided with a traffic signal pole on Oct. 8 near Columbine High School.

"The driver was unconscious inside," the sheriff's office said. "Deputy Dobson rushed to assist – he pulled the man from the vehicle as smoke and fire billowed out."

A second deputy who was on patrol checked the auto for other victims before the fire engulfed the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

South Metro firefighters extinguished the blaze.

[Photos: Jefferson County Sheriff]

I-70 MAYHEM: TEEN DIES AS TRUCK HITS STATE PATROL CAR, SEMI EAST OF BYERS

A Ford F-150 smashed into a state patrol car and a semi on I-70 east of Byers early Wednesday, killing a teenage passenger in the pickup truck.

The pickup driver was seriously injured in the accident about 50 miles east of Denver.

The state trooper - who was parked and investigating an earlier wreck involving a semi-truck - was transported to hospital as a precaution.

Initial reports show the trooper's patrol car was partially blocking the left lane of westbound I-70 while tow trucks worked to remove the semi from the center median.

"The driver of the F-150 lost control, striking the patrol vehicle and sideswiping the passenger side," the patrol said. "The F-150 continued westbound, entering the center median, striking the guardrail, and then striking the rear driver's side of the semi-trailer."

The dead passenger was a male, aged 19. The injured diver is a male, aged 18.

[Photos: Colorado State Patrol]

DIVERS SEARCH BOWLES LAKE AFTER CAR CRASH

Fire department divers searched Bowles Lake in Bow Mar after a car crashed into the water on Wednesday.

There were no casualties.

The "unoccupied" and partially submerged vehicle was fished out of the lake by a tow truck, according to South Metro Fire.

West Metro Fire provided assistance.

Bow Mar is about 12 miles southwest of Denver. The body of water is located along Lakeshore Drive.

[Photo: South Metro Fire]

FUGITIVE NABBED IN SHOOTING OF THORNTON COP; 911 CALLERS SPOTTED LUIS AREBALO

With the help of alert citizens, fugitive Luis Arebalo was tracked down and arrested in the weekend shooting of a Thornton police officer. Arebalo, 37, who was considered armed and dangerous, was spotted by 911 callers near Riverdale Road and 120th Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was on foot, taken into custody without incident and did not have any apparent injuries. The wounded officer is expected to make a full recovery. "We are grateful to the residents who recognized Arebalo and called 911," police said. "Those calls led directly to a safe arrest." The shooting occurred Sunday night after two police officers responded to a call for an unwanted visitor on Ulster Street. "Arebalo fired multiple rounds at officers, striking one officer," police said. "A second officer returned fire. Arebalo fled the scene." "In the hours after the shooting, SWAT, K9 teams and patrol officers searched the area within the perimeter, supported by drones, a Denver Police Department helicopter and a Colorado State Patrol airplane," police said. "Over the next two days, investigators searched Arebalo’s vehicle and the surrounding area, followed up on tips and worked with federal partners and neighboring jurisdictions to locate him," police said. [Photos: Thornton Police]

ARREST IN THEFT OF CAMPAIGN SIGNS IN VAIL

Police arrested Cody Jamison Boyles, 38, as a suspect in the theft of campaign signs in Vail, officials said. The suspect was arrested Monday and booked into the Eagle County Jail.

MOTORCYCLIST KILLED IN LOVELAND

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into a GMC truck turning left in Loveland killing the biker, a 65-year-old man from Wyoming.

The accident occurred Monday at East 29th Street and North Garfield Avenue.

"Preliminary findings indicate the driver of the truck failed to yield the right-of-way, resulting in the fatal collision," police said. "Speed and impairment involving drugs or alcohol do not appear to have contributed to the crash," police said. "The driver of the truck was charged accordingly."
The truck driver is from Loveland.

ALL SAFE AFTER CHILD REPORTED TRAPPED BY FIRE IN AURORA

Fire and parental fright erupted at an apartment building in Aurora on Tuesday.
"A second alarm was initially called due to reports of a child trapped," Aurora Fire said. Thankfully, "everyone safely evacuated, no injuries occurred" and the second alarm was cancelled, officials said. The apartment building is located at 1076 South Elkhart Way. [Photo: Aurora Fire]

GREELEY BICYCLE RIDER RUNS STOP SIGN, DIES

A bicycle rider who "failed to stop at a posted stop sign" was struck and killed by a Ford Explorer in Greeley on Monday night, police said.

The accident occurred at 7:50 p.m. at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 4th Street. The bicycle was eastbound on 4th Street.

The rider, an adult male aged 53, was traveling "without operational headlights or tail lamps," police said. He was pronounced dead at hospital.

"Video evidence of the collision was obtained, and based on the physical evidence and footage, investigators determined the bicyclist to be at fault for the collision," police said.

No charges are pending against the Ford Explorer driver.

If you have additional information on the crash, contact Edward.Kubala@greeleypd.com

COLD CASE: SUSPECT IN GIRL SCOUT MURDER NAMED, NEVER FOUND

Using DNA evidence and genetic genealogy, authorities named a prime suspect in the murder of Peggy Beck, 16, who was strangled in her tent at the Flying G Girl Scout Ranch in Jefferson County on Aug. 8, 1963.

Investigators, however, have yet to locate James Raymond Taylor since they revealed their findings in April 2020. Taylor, a television repairman, was last seen in Las Vegas in 1976. Today, he would be in his late 80s.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office interviewed hundreds of people in the months following the slaying.

The press labeled the killer a "phantom strangler."  

A year after the murder, Sheriff Harold Bray told the Rocky Mountain News: "This case will never be allowed to gather dust in an unsolved file."

In 2007, detectives created a DNA profile using evidence from the Flying G. Through additional testing, a comprehensive profile of the killer was created in 2019 - and within a matter of months all signs pointed toward Taylor. Beck and Taylor both hailed from the Denver suburb of Edgewater. Beck attended Denver North High School. Taylor had a criminal record. If you have information on James Raymond Taylor, contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers (720) 913-7867 and reference case 63-10335. It's never too late.

James Raymond Taylor in 1961

[Photos: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office]

BULLETS FLY AS COP FACES GUNMAN ON CSU CAMPUS

Shooting erupted as a campus police officer confronted a man armed with a gun Monday at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

The gunman was wounded. "Police received a report of a person acting erratically near Newton Plaza," school officials said. "An officer responded and located a man, who was armed with a handgun and advanced toward the officer. "Gunfire occurred and the suspect was shot." The incident occurred at about 5:35 p.m. "The officer immediately rendered first aid, and the suspect was transported to an area hospital for care," officials said. "No other injuries have been reported. This was not an active shooter incident." Student Nathanael Degefe told Fox 31: “I heard, I think it was like two shots. So I thought it was fireworks. I didn’t think it was anything serious, and I heard like maybe three more. I saw a bunch of students running down this way, just running away.”

Fort Collins police are leading the investigation. Reports said the shooting occurred near the university's Chemistry Building.

SEMI BURNS ON I-70 NEAR GEORGETOWN

A semi-truck erupted in flames Monday on I-70 between Georgetown and Empire.

Minor injuries were reported, according to Clear Creek Fire. The semi's trailer was sheared open.

The blaze shut down eastbound lanes of the busy interstate about 45 miles west of Denver in Clear Creek County.

[Photo: Clear Creek Fire]

BEARS ATTEND TRINIDAD STATE COLLEGE

A mother bear and her cubs visited the campus of Trinidad State College last week, "taking naps, wrestling and living their best life in one of our grand pine trees," the college said. [Photo: Trinidad State College]

ALL ESCAPE AS HOME GOES UP IN SMOKE IN CARBONDALE

 

Towering flames devoured a rural home Monday on Highway 82 in the Western Slope community of Carbondale.

"The home was occupied when the fire started, but all residents escaped safely," according to Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District. No injuries were reported.
Incident Commander Ashley Buss Greene said: "The surrounding vegetation created the potential for a wildfire, so our priority was to contain the fire to the structure and protect the surrounding area." Roaring Fork, Glenwood Springs and Aspen firefighters also responded to the blaze.
[Photo: Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District]

TRUE CRIME: JILTED ARVADA BARTENDER KILLED LAWMAN IN 1940

A jilted Arvada bartender gunned down Clarence "C.B." Fugate, popular undersheriff of Jefferson County, on Oct. 12, 1940.

Fugate, 53, was attempting to arrest Jack Carleton, 48, the "250-pound proprietor" of the Columbine Cafe after Carleton shot a former employee during a domestic dispute, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Fugate - the favored candidate for county sheriff in that's year's election - was struck in the heart when Carleton pulled a .38-caliber revolver from his hip pocket. Fugate had been hunting for the gun in the cafe kitchen where Carleton said it had been stashed. Other lawmen returned fire, wounding Carleton in the chest, right arm and abdomen. He survived.
William Benson, 60, night marshal of Arvada, was shot in the hand during the exchange.
The former employee wounded in the initial shooting, Arthur "Red" Marcum, 32, was hit in the left shoulder, neck and left hand.
A deputy quoted Careton as saying: "Red had been getting too friendly with my wife lately, and he started making advances. He told me he was going to take her away, and I told him that I wouldn’t stand for it.”
Carleton, whose business was located on Grandview Avenue near Wadsworth Avenue, was sentenced to life in prison after attempting to make an insanity plea. [Photo: Jefferson County Sheriff]

SEMI HAULING JUNK FLIPS IN ENGLEWOOD

A semi-truck hauling junk flipped over Monday on South Santa Fe Drive at Dartmouth Avenue in Englewood, police said. No injuries were reported. Traffic was detoured. [Photo: Englewood Police]

ADAMS DEPUTY WOUNDS MAN NEAR I-76 IN COMMERCE CITY

A deputy shot a man carrying a knife in Commerce City on Monday, the Adams County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident - tied to a possible arson fire - occurred near 96th Avenue and the I-76 Frontage Road at about 7 a.m. The suspect was transported to hospital. No one else was hurt. The deputy was placed on administrative leave, according to the sheriff's office.

COLD CASE: ALTHEA CAPPS VANISHED IN DECEMBER 1955; FRIEND FAILED POLYGRAPH

Divorcee Aletha Capps, 33, of Castle Rock, was last seen at the Gold Coin Cafe in the mining town of Victor on Dec. 17, 1955, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

She was accompanied by a man named Alva C. Quillin Jr. and they were refused service because they were intoxicated. The pair had also been in Cripple Creek.

Capps' disappearance is one of the oldest in CBI's cold case files. She had a heart condition and wouldn't have survived for long without her medication.

According to the Charley Project crime database, Quillin said "he and Capps went for a drive and their car skidded off the road and got stuck in a snowbank on the Rampart Range Road near Castle Rock. The pair stayed in the car overnight, and the next day Quillin hiked over a mountain to Palmer Lake to get help. When he returned to the vehicle, he said, Capps was gone. She has never been heard from again and an extensive search turned up no indication of her whereabouts.

"Quillin failed a polygraph about Capps's disappearance and authorities stated they believed he knew where she was. Quillin subsequently changed his story slightly, saying Capps had had a heart attack after their car got stuck, and she disappeared when he went to get help."

Capps' maiden name was Snodgrass. Quillin died in Texas in February 1992. He was 61.
If you have information, contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. It's never too late.

[Photo: CBI]

WRONG WAY DRIVER HITS AUTOS ON I-76

A drunken driver traveling in the wrong direction on I-76 slammed head-on into several autos and fled into a field on foot - "easily disappearing in the dark," police said.

The episode occurred in Commerce City and a drone launched from police headquarters - equipped with infrared imaging - led officers to the suspect, who was arrested.
The "terrifying" incident occurred Saturday night, police said. No serious injuries were reported.

MOTORIST DIES AFTER HITTING TREE IN DENVER

A motorist died after crashing into a tree in Denver.

The accident occurred at East Alameda Avenue and South Jasmine Street, police said Sunday. In another incident, a pedestrian was killed by an auto in the 4600-block North Peoria Street in Denver.

SCOOTER RIDER COLLIDES WITH DEER IN FORT COLLINS

A scooter rider was critically injured after colliding with a deer Sunday night in Fort Collins, police said.

The rider's injuries are considered life-threatening. 

"This is an incredibly tragic case," Police Sergeant Chris Bland said.

The crash occurred in the 2000-block of Centre Avenue. The victim is a man.

"The area was searched by a drone to try and locate the deer to check on its injuries, but no injured deer was located in the area," police said.

COP SHOT ON ULSTER STREET IN THORNTON

A Thornton police officer was shot and wounded late Sunday and the suspect fled.

The officer is expected to survive the shooting in the 12800-block of Ulster Street, which stemmed from a call about an "unwanted person," police said.

Police identified the suspect as Luis Arebalo, 37. He is considered armed and dangerous. Another police officer returned fire, however, it wasn't known whether Arbalo was wounded.

Arebalo stands 5-foot-9, weighs 180 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. He was wearing a black short sleeve shirt and dark pants.

If you have information, call 911. Do not approach Arebalo.

[Photo: Thornton Police]

1 PERSON SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AURORA BLAZE

Fast-spreading flames destroyed a home in Aurora, seriously injuring a resident, the fire department said.

The blaze broke out early Saturday in the 20000-block of East Vassar Avenue. "Engine 9 arrived first on scene and found a fully involved garage fire with a vehicle inside," fire officials said. "The fire had spread to the second level of the home, with heavy fire from the front of the residence extending into the attic space." Four people, including the seriously injured victim, exited the dwelling before firefighters arrived. [Photos: Aurora Fire]

2 COPS HURT, SUSPECT DEAD IN PUEBLO SHOOTING

A suspect fleeing a home invasion was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police following an auto chase and foot pursuit in Pueblo. Two officers were wounded.

The shooting occurred Saturday night after the suspect abandoned his vehicle in the unit block of Regency Boulevard and ran to an apartment complex. "Officers followed the suspect to an upstairs apartment and began knocking on the door, announcing themselves as police," police said. "The suspect opened the door, and an exchange of gunfire occurred." The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. One of the wounded officers was transported to hospital "for non-life-threatening injuries." The home invasion occurred in 1600-block of Gaylord Avenue.

NO GARDEN PARTY: DRIVER OF STOLEN TRUCK NABBED AFTER CHASE, CRASH IN AURORA

A stolen pickup truck plowed into a church garden after leading police on a wild chase in Aurora, officials disclosed Thursday.

The driver and a passenger were arrested following early Tuesday's mayhem, which began near East Colfax Avenue at North Havana Street when the pair spotted police cars and sped off.   The chase ended at Del Mar Circle when the vehicle rammed into a pergola, "got stuck on a high-centered garden bed" - and almost stuck two officers while attempting to back out of the mess, officials said. The truck was taken from Denver. Officers seized two firearms inside the vehicle, one of which was reported stolen. "Multiple attempts were made to safely stop the eluding suspects, including stop sticks," officials said. [Photo: Aurora Police]

2 WRONGS: BIKER FLEEING COPS STRUCK BY HIT & RUN DRIVER IN DENVER

A Kawasaki motorcycle fleeing sheriff's deputies was struck by a hit-and-run Chevrolet - and the state patrol is seeking witnesses to help solve the summertime crime.

The bizarre "two wrongs don't make a right" incident occurred at 11:12 p.m. on July 25 at Rosemary Street and East Iliff Avenue in Denver.

The Kawasaki ran a red light on southbound Iliff as it attempted to outrun Arapahoe County deputies on another matter. The light-colored Chevrolet was westbound on Rosemary.

The biker and a passenger were hurt. "The Chevrolet did not stop and continued traveling westbound on Rosemary Street," the patrol said.

If you have information, contact the state patrol (303) 239-4501 and reference case number VC260250.

BEAR CUB RESCUES RISE AS FOOD SUPPLY DWINDLES ACROSS COLORADO

By Colorado Newsline

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is rescuing more abandoned black bear cubs this year after environmental conditions strained food sources that bears rely on to fatten up before winter.

“Extreme drought conditions have limited natural forage in the higher elevations,” said Rachael Gonzales, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northwest Region spokesperson, in an email to Colorado Newsline. “Low mountain snowpack and wildfires have added to the reduced availability of natural foods such as berries, fruits, nuts, plants and grasses across Colorado. A starving mother bear’s milk can dry up, forcing her to abandon her cubs, leaving them to search for food on their own.”

Each year orphaned cubs are brought to one of two CPW-licensed wildlife rehabilitation centers where the bears are fed natural foods such as fish and berries, as well as donated peaches from Colorado orchards. Once they’ve reached 60-70 pounds and start to display denning behavior the bears are released back into the wild.

By late September, CPW’s Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte had taken in 41 cubs — significantly more than the 29 rescued bears brought to the center last year, said John Livingston, CPW Southwest Region spokesperson. In a typical year, the center cares for roughly 20 bears, he said.

The other CPW-licensed wildlife rehabilitation center is the nonprofit Pauline Schneegas Wildlife Foundation, in Silt. This year it took in more than 30 bear cubs versus the three cubs it cared for last year, said the foundation’s executive director and founder, Nanci Limbach. The center, which is not funded by CPW, averages five to 10 cubs yearly, she noted.

[Photo: Colorado Newsline]

LINK

COP WITH TASER ZAPS YOUTH WITH GUN AND 30 ROUNDS OF AMMO IN PUEBLO

A police officer armed with a taser zapped a youth armed with an illegally modified firearm and more than 30 rounds of ammunition in Pueblo. The incident occurred Tuesday at Ray Aguilara Park at 715 McCulley Avenue, officials said. Patrol cars were dispatched after city-owned surveillance cameras spotted a group of people consuming alcohol - including the youth with the firearm in his waistband. When police arrived, the youth "began reaching for his waistband before attempting to run," officials said. When he ignored police commands, an officer "effectively deployed his taser."

The youth was taken into custody and booked into Pueblo Youth Services Center.

FLAMING WHIRL: BLAZE SPAWNS 'FIRE TORNADO' IN MORGAN COUNTY

Flaming brush spawned a rare and raging "fire tornado" in Morgan County in northeastern Colorado - endangering fire crews.

The unusual phenomenon - also known as a "fire whirl" or a "fire devil" - was photographed crossing Highway 71 between County Road H and County Road I as firefighters battled the blaze on Monday. The remarkable image shows "shows how quickly fire and wind can combine to create extreme, unpredictable conditions," according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office said. No one was injured. No structures were lost. "Whirls are capable of wind damage similar to weak or moderate tornadoes," according to the U.S. Agriculture Department Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Montana. "Uprooting and breaking of large trees, tipping of automobiles, and tearing off roofs of houses have all been documented."

Burn rates also increase - by up to seven times, based on scientific studies.

Major fire whirls fueled the Missionary Ridge conflagration near Durango in July 2002. A falling tree fatally injured a wildland firefighter, Alan Wayne Wyatt, during that 73,000-acre blaze, according to Colorado Encyclopedia.

Acknowledging the tremendous risk, the Moran County Sheriff's Office saluted emergency personnel "who worked to protect our community" from Monday's blaze. [Photo: Morgan County Sheriff]

GUNMAN NABBED IN NEBRASKA SLAPPED WITH 76-YEAR SENTENCE FOR DENVER MURDER

Deadly gunman Augustine Vega was sentenced to 76 years in prison for second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and burglary, Denver District Attorney John Walsh.

Vega, 37, of Colorado Springs, shot David Maffet on South Vine Street on March 8, 2025, after robbing a convenience store on South Colorado Boulevard. The men were reported to be acquainted. Vega, accompanied by a female passenger, was arrested in Dawson County, Nebraska, after a high-speed chase and crash into a ditch. The two were found to be unresponsive and were treated for drug overdoses. His passenger died. Walsh applauded "the bravery of the Nebraska State Patrol troopers who brought Vega into custody without incident.” Maffet was 35. Vega was convicted in March. [Photo: Dawson County Sheriff]

1909 POWER PLANT BLAST KILLED 4, BLACKED OUT DENVER

At 6:05 p.m. on June 15, 1909, Denver was plunged into darkness when a 10-ton boiler exploded and took flight at the Denver Gas and Electric Co. plant at Sixth and Curtis streets. 

Four people were killed immediately. Many others were injured, including a 12-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl struck by debris.

"People tottered, windows crashed and rattled and chimneys swayed when the boiler exploded," the Rocky Mountain News reported. "Few realized what had happened, even when the stray blocks of masonry and heavy pieces of iron flew through the air and crashed through walls, burying themselves in the ground."

Ill-fated Boiler No. 17 was located on the Curtis street side of the plant. It was estimated to have been airborne for 20 seconds, rocketing to an altitude of 1,659 feet, coming to rest 175 feet from its base, according to The Locomotive, trade publication of Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co.

"Denver was without lights, without power, and helpless the instant of the explosion, but the company rushed every available man to the plants and lines, and in four and one-half hours was serving every light actually needed," the News said.

Boiler explosions were once a common occurrence in the U.S. 

Denver's deadliest disaster was a boiler blast at the Gumry Hotel, which killed 22 people on Aug. 19, 1895. The hotel was located on Lawrence Street between 17th and 18th streets.

Across the nation, there were 499 boiler explosions reported in 1911 alone, accounting for 222 deaths and 416 injuries, according to the Journal of The Cleveland Engineering Society.

The boiler that exploded at the Denver Gas and Electric plant in 1909 provided 400-horsepower, was of water-tube construction and designated a "safety boiler."

[Photos: The Locomotive; Rocky Mountain News, June 16, 1909]

LITTLETON COPS LOCATE WANTED TRUCK DRIVER

Police in Littleton identified and charged a truck driver sought in a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian near a King Soopers supermarket. "Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined the driver was unaware that the collision had occurred and was not intentionally attempting to leave the scene," police said. "The driver has been fully cooperative with investigators." The driver was charged with Careless Driving Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in the Sept. 28 accident at 100 West Littleton Boulevard, police said.

TINA PETERS TALKS 'ELECTION INTERGRITY' WITH TRUMP, ATTORNEY SAYS

By Colorado Newsline

A former U.S. Department of Justice attorney said Monday that former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters met with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss “election integrity” and plans for upcoming elections. 

Ed Martin, who left his position with the Justice Department to take on legal work related to upcoming elections, told Real America’s Voice that Peters, a Republican who was convicted of multiple felonies for her role in a security breach of her office’s election equipment, met with Trump to talk about federal involvement in the November midterm elections.

“It is a local election … there is local control. However, the laws that govern the system, like safety and national security, are federal laws,” Martin said. “And so, when Tina Peters, you know, famous Colorado clerk, was in the Oval Office today just two hours ago talking about this question, the president’s taking it seriously.”

LINK

JAIL DEPUTY DISMISSED

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office dismissed a deputy for alleged inappropriate conduct with a female inmate at the county jail.

The deputy was arrested and the case was referred to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the sheriff's office said. The inmate was transferred to another jurisdiction.

The sheriff's office identified the deputy as Kevin Lacy.

COLD CASE: MURDERED IN WYOMING, FOUND IN COLORADO

The bullet-riddled body of drifter Jerry Mikkelson, 24, was discovered on a remote forest service road 15 miles north of Walden, Colorado, near the Wyoming state line, on Oct. 18, 1987.

His remains were positively identified after more than three decades through genetic genealogy and advanced technology.

The killing has never been solved.

Soil samples from Mikkelson's hair signaled he was murdered in Wyoming and deposited in Colorado, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The nearest settlement was Cowdrey, Colorado.

Mikkelson was shot several times and had been dead for only a day or two, based on the state of his remains. Jackson County deputies discovered the initials "L.B.L." written on a tag inside a vest he was wearing. 

His family said Mikkelson left his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Aug. 8, 1983, and he was believed to have spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Olathe, Kansas; Wyoming - and perhaps Colorado, investigators determined.

Mikkelson stood 5-foot-9 inches tall and weighed about 160 pounds when he left home with brown eyes and naturally wavy brown hair. He was born Aug. 12, 1963. 

If you have information, contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in Walden.

[Photo: CBI]