COLORADO MOURNS WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS AS BLAZE RAGES

UPDATE

Colorado is mourning the loss of a federal fire crew battling a blaze that has scorched almost 30,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service identified the three firefighters who died Saturday as Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, Nick Hutcherson, 27 of Glendale, Arizona, and Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama.

A procession carried the firefighters' bodies from Grand Junction Regional Airport to Community Hospital, the Grand Junction Fire Department said.

Two other firefighters were injured in the tragedy in Mesa County and evacuated by a Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control helicopter, Governor Jared Polis said. He also ordered all flags on state buildings to fly at half-staff.

"The Snyder Fire has merged with the Jones Fire and subsequently overtook the Knowles and Gore fires" the Wildland Fire Service said Monday. "All fire activity is now being managed and reported as the Snyder Fire."

[Photo: Grand Junction Fire, Utah Fire Info]

SMALL TOWN EVACUATED AS WILDFIRE ROARS

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office ordered the evacuation of the small town of Beulah on Monday as a wind-driven wildfires roared along the border with Custer County. Beulah is about 20 miles southwest of Pueblo. 

[Photo: Custer County Sheriff]

GOOD SAMARITAN HURT IN HIGHWAY 36 CRASH

A man who stopped to help a woman whose auto broke down in the center lane of Highway 36 was struck and seriously injured by a passing vehicle, the state patrol said. The accident occurred Saturday near Boulder in westbound traffic. 

9 SAFE AFTER BOAT SINKS AT CHATFIELD

Protected by life jackets, nine people were pulled from the water after a boat sank at Chatfield State Park, South Metro Fire said.

No one was injured in Sunday's mishap.
"A total of nine individuals were safely rescued by civilian boaters and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Rangers," officials said. "All nine occupants were wearing life jackets, which played a critical role in ensuring everyone made it out safely.

The boat was "resting in approximately 18 feet of water with only about four inches of the vessel remaining above the surface," officials said. Chatfield is located in Littleton. [Photo: South Metro Fire]

DRIVER DEAD IN WESTMINSTER CRASH

A motorist died Sunday in a two-vehicle crash at Highway 36 and Sheridan Boulevard in Westminster, police said. The other motorist was injured. The mishap occurred in the westbound lanes. No other details were provided.

DOUBLE SHOOTING AT 17TH & WAZEE IN DENVER

Two people were shot in the vicinity of 17th and Wazee streets in downtown Denver, police said Sunday.

They were transported to hospital as officers collected evidence.

Police also reported a person was shot in the vicinity of 19th and Little Raven streets in the Commons Park area while a person was stabbed in the 1000-block of 25th Street.
No other information was released.

TWO SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY IN DENVER'S EASTER PICNIC MURDER

UPDATE

Dazirius Wilford, 18, and a youth have been arrested as suspects in a deadly drive-by shooting at an Easter Sunday picnic in Denver, police said Friday.

Wilford and the youth face charges of first-degree in the slaying of Pharrow Ware, 18, an attendee of the April 5 family gathering at Russell Square Park.

Wilford was arrested Wednesday and the youth was arrested by "tactical teams" Thursday night, police said.

A second fatality, a woman, was accidentally struck by a bullet fired by a man attending the picnic during an exchange of gunfire with the assailants.

Prosecutors opted against filing charges in that death in April "due to no reasonable likelihood of conviction," police said. 

No other details were released. Wilford's arrest was first announced Thursday.

FIREFIGHTERS REVIVE PERSON PULLED FROM SOUTH PLATTE

Using CPR, firefighters revived a person pulled from the South Platte River in Adams County on Thursday afternoon. "The patient did not have a pulse," Adams County Fire said. "Firefighters immediately began CPR, and the patient ultimately regained a heartbeat." The victim was pulled from the river at East 78th Avenue and Steele Street and transported to hospital. Personnel from Engine Company 14 and Medic 14 made the rescue. Park rangers and sheriff's deputies also responded. [Photo: Adams County Fire]

ARREST IN FATAL, DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AT EASTER PICNIC

Dazirius Wilford, 18, was arrested as a suspect in one of two deaths during a drive-by shooting at an Easter Sunday picnic in Denver, police said Thursday.

Wilford faces a charge of first-degree in the slaying of Pharrow Ware, 18, an attendee of the April 5 family gathering at Russell Square Park. Wilford was arrested Wednesday. 

The other fatality, a woman, was accidentally struck by a bullet fired by a man attending the picnic during an exchange of gunfire with the assailant.

Prosecutors opted against filing charges in that death in April "due to no reasonable likelihood of conviction," police said. 

KNIFEMAN ARRESTED AFTER RAMPAGE IN DOWNTOWN BOULDER

Marcus Ariel Valles, 35, of Lakewood, was charged with attempted murder after a knife-wielding rampage Thursday along Boulder's popular Pearl Street Mall. "Detectives believe he targeted strangers who were walking alone and that he was the only suspect," police said. They noted: "The suspect said he came to Boulder to hurt people." A woman, age 44, suffered bruises and cuts to her hand and a man, age 50, threw hot coffee at the suspect as he approached. He wasn't hurt. "Within 10 seconds, officers in the city’s Public Safety Information Center found the suspect via surveillance camera," police said. "At 7:56 a.m., officers took the suspect into custody at gunpoint." Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said: "I’m proud of the swift response by both our Public Safety Information Center operators and our Patrol officers who were able to find this man within seconds and arrest him within two minutes of the call coming out.” The Pearl Street Mall was the scene of a terrorist firebomb and flamethrower attack on June 1, 2025, that killed an 82-year-old woman and injured several others, including the assailant. [Photo: Boulder Police]

ZOO ADOPTS ORPHANED GRIZZLY CUBS

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo adopted two orphaned grizzly bear cubs from Montana. They are six months old and arrived on June 7, weighing about 30 pounds each - with "some of the fluffiest ears on record," the zoo said. [Photo: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo]

ELECTROCUTION AT JEWELL SQUARE IN LAKEWOOD

In Lakewood, a person was electrocuted Thursday at the Jewell Square shopping center at Wadsworth Boulevard and Jewell Avenue. "When crews arrived, they found one person with serious injuries," West Metro said. The victim was transported to hospital. [Photo: West Metro Fire]

COPS ARREST OWNERS OF PUEBLO'S HORROR MORTUARY

UPDATE

Brothers Brian Lee Cotter, 64, and Christopher Aaron Cotter, 60, owners of Pueblo's notorious Davis Mortuary - where investigators found decaying bodies in a secret room - were arrested Thursday after a lengthy investigation.

The Colorado of Bureau of Investigation said they face 125 counts of corpse abuse and a variety of other charges. 

Authorities have identified 19 of the 24 bodies recovered in August 2025. Two more people were identified based on testing of human tissue discovered in jars.

Brian Cottter was serving as coronor of Pueblo County at the time.

DRONE LEADS COPS TO SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT IN ARVADA

A first responder drone led police to a shoplifting suspect fleeing from a Target store in Arvada.

"Officers discovered the suspect had an active arrest warrant and was allegedly responsible for stealing more than $340 worth of merchandise from the store," police said. The Target store is located at 78th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard and the suspect was arrested at an Arby's Restaurant at 80th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. The incident occurred June 17.

[Photos: Arvada Police]

CUDDLY PUP WITH NO MICROCHIP FOUND IN ERIE

This cuddly pup with no microchip was found near Erie Parkway and Montgomery Drive in Erie at 7 a.m. Thursday, police said. [Photo: Erie Police]

ATTEMPTED 1ST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN PUEBLO

Corey Bratina, 30, was arrested on charges of attempted 1st degree homicide in a shooting Wednesday in 1200-block of Claremont Avenue in Pueblo, police said. The victim was transported to hospital. Bratina was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center. No other information was released. [Photo: Pueblo Police]

SHOOTING ON GIRARD AVE. IN DENVER

A person was shot early Thursday in the 9800-block of East Girard Avenue in Denver. Police were gathering evidence. No other information was released.

MAN ON LUNCH BREAK CRUSHED BY BOULDER IN BUENA VISTA

Paul Frasch, 59, a mover from Silverthorne, was crushed to death by a boulder weighing at least a half ton on a trail near the Arkansas River in Buena Vista. The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office said the accident occurred Tuesday when rocks along the trail dislodged. The pair were on a lunch break at the Rapid 5 ½ Pullover - a popular camping site - along County Road 371. The co-worker and another person were injured trying to free him from beneath the boulder. Frasch and the co-worker had stopped at the pullover several times before to eat lunch. The county coroner took possession of Frasch's body. [Photo: Chafee County Sheriff]

CINDER BLOCK BOOT SLOWS 'LEROY' THE HORSE

In Teller County, an animal control officer encountered a horse named "Leroy" struggling to walk with his hoof jammed in cinder block footwear. The officer broke the block with a couple of hammer blows. Leroy is free again following Tuesday's mishap.

[Photo: Teller County Sheriff]

K-9 'CHIEF' DISCOVERS METH IN ELBERT DRUG BUST

Sheriff's K9 "Chief" and his handler discovered 19 grams of meth, a scale, pipes and paraphernalia during a drug bust in Elbert County, the sheriff's office said Wednesday. [Photo: Elbert County Sheriff]

FIRE HITS TOWNHOME IN ARVADA; NO INJURIES

Fire broke out Tuesday in a townhome in the 9400-block of West 47th Avenue in Arvada. No one was home. Firefighters from Engine Company 51 "encountered heavy black smoke on the first floor," Arvada Fire said. West Metro Fire also responded. [Photo: Arvada Fire]

COLD CASE: INFANT FOUND CLUTCHING MURDERED MOM IN WELD COUNTY

Marjorie Sue Fithian and her 18-month-old son, Dylan, were due to catch a bus from Denver to Greeley on June 24, 1975. They never made it home. Fithian, 23, was found dead on a desolate gravel road in Weld County. She had been shot in the head. "Her young son, uninjured, but sitting amidst broken glass, was found clutching her hand by ranch hand Terry Furnish," the Weld County Sheriff's Office said. The case has never been solved. Her son has no memory of the murder. "Theories have ranged from serial killers to drug conspiracies," the sheriff's office said. "Investigators also considered the possibility of her hitchhiking or being targeted by an unknown assailant." If you have information, contact the Weld County Sheriff’s Office (970) 350-9600, the tip line (970) 304-6464 or email Crimetips@weld.gov. [Photo: Weld County Sheriff]

FIREFIGHTER PEDDLES PATIENT'S BIKE TO FIREHOUSE

 

In Adams County, a firefighter rode a patient's electric bicycle to the firehouse for safe keeping while medics transported the patient to the hospital. "The bike didn't work, so the firefighter had to pedal 10 blocks back," Adams County Fire said.

[Photo: Adams County Fire]

MAN DEAD IN OVERNIGHT SHOOTING IN DENVER'S MONTBELLO

UPDATE A man was shot and killed overnight in the Montbello section of Denver, police said. The incident occurred in the 15000-block of East Olmstead Place, near the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Reserve. The victim was transported to hospital and pronounced dead. Detectives were seeking to identify a suspect in the shooting. No other information was released. If you have information, call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers (720) 913-7867.

COPS SEEK SUSPECT IN EAST COLFAX ROBBERY

Who is he? Police are seeking a suspect in a robbery in the 700-block of East Colfax Avenue in Denver on June 18.

MISSY WOODS PLEADS GUILTY IN CRIME LAB SCANDAL

In a plea agreement, Yvonne “Missy” Woods, 65, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation crime lab scientist, admitted guilt Tuesday to mishandling DNA evidence in more than 1,000 criminal cases - to speed up test results.

Woods - who worked for the agency for almost 30 years - faces up to 16 years in prison when she is sentenced by a Jefferson County judge in September. 

Criminal investigations and convictions across the state have been called into question in the aftermath of the shocking revelations.

Woods' actions "constituted intentional criminal fraud," a CBI statement said, noting that the agency has "undertaken reforms that go beyond routine compliance and reflect a commitment to national best practices in forensic science."

“This moment is not about moving on, for CBI it’s about moving forward,” CBI Director Armando Saldate said. “Today’s guilty plea is an important moment of accountability.”

[Photo: First Judicial District]

CHA-CHING! CASH DRAWER BURGLARY SUSPECT INDICTED - ON 82 COUNTS

Show me the money!

Adrian Grigg, 36, has been indicted on 82 counts of burglary and theft for break-ins at small businesses along 120th Avenue, 136th Avenue, and 144th Avenue in Westminster, Broomfield, Arvada, Thornton and nearby communities.

"He allegedly entered multiple small businesses by breaking windows or doors or by accessing lock boxes, then stole cash from safes or registers," the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday. "These incidents typically occurred during overnight or closed-business hours." 

The cash-to-go scheme occurred between February and November 2024.

Police from Westminster, Broomfield, Thornton, Erie, Arvada, Northglenn, Lafayette and Brighton participated in the investigation.

[Photo: 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office] 

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SUSPECTED IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS FIRE

A discarded lithium-ion battery is suspected of causing a fire at the Apex Twin Enviro landfill in Steamboat Springs. "Incidents like this are becoming more common and many people don't realize that everyday items like batteries and vape pens can become serious fire hazards when thrown in the trash," fire officials said. There were no injuries [Photo: Steamboat Springs Fire]

COLD CASE FILE: MOM OF THREE MISSING SINCE JULY 1967

On the evening of July 24, 1967, Elaine Fauver, 38, left her home on Corona Street in Denver to visit a friend, who later told police she departed his residence in the company of another man.

Fauver has been missing ever since. 

Her son located his mother's Chevrolet days later parked on East 17th Avenue, between Emerson and Ogden streets, as well as her purse and keys.

The divorced mother of three was employed by the Mountain States Telephone Company, according to a missing person database, the Charley Project.

Fauver was 5-foot-3, with brown eyes and hair and weighed 125 pounds, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. She was born on April 9, 1929.

[Photo: CBI]

Originally published July 1, 2025

5 DUCKLINGS RESCUED IN FORT COLLINS

Firefighters rescued five ducklings from a storm drain in Fort Collins.
The crew of Engine 1 "found mother duck desperately trying to reach her babies," Poudre Fire Authority said. They were "able to remove the drain covers and successfully rescue all ducklings and reunite them with their mother."  

The incident occurred on the corner of Olive Street and South College Avenue on June 19. [Photo: Poudre Fire]

FIRE AUTHORITY SAYS 'THIS IS ONLY A TEST'

Smyrna Ready Mix donated a concrete truck to Poudre Fire Authority for a training exercise set for July 10-11. It will provide firefighters with "a realistic opportunity to practice stabilization, lifting, access, and rescue techniques involving heavy commercial vehicles," the fire authority said. "It may have arrived on wheels, but there is no guarantee it will leave that way." [Photo: Poudre Fire Authority]

LAST STOP LOVELAND: BUS RIDE ENDS IN FLAMES

A charter bus burst into flames Monday on I-25 in Loveland due to a mechanical problem.

"All passengers safely exited the bus, and firefighters quickly extinguished the fire," Loveland Fire said. "Passengers were transferred to another bus and continued on their way to their destination." No injuries were reported.
[Photo: Loveland Fire]

COPS ARREST TORTOISE KIDNAP SUSPECT

Police arrested Justin Edwards, 37, accused of kidnapping a tortoise named "Howard" from a pet shop in Colorado Springs. Edwards was tracked down and busted at a hotel - but there was no sign of the tortoise. "Detectives continued their investigation, conducted additional interviews, and developed information that led them to Howard's whereabouts," police said. The tortoise is safe and back at the shop - but perhaps a little shell-shocked after last week's drama. [Photo: Colorado Springs Police]