FBI JOINS HUNT FOR MISSING TEEN ERICA LONG

Photo: Aurora Police Department

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have joined the investigation into the disappearance of Aurora teen Erica Long, police said.

Long, 14, left her home near East Dry Creek Drive and South Gartrell Road at 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 15 and was last sighted in the vicinity of E-470 and Gartrell.

"Our detectives continue to work diligently, following up on every lead, but we still don’t know where she is," Aurora police said. The missing teen, who also goes by the name of Ember, is 5-foot-4, 130 pounds with shoulder-length brown hair and a Henna tattoo on her left forearm. Long's family is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to her safe return, police said.

POLICE SEEK CRAZED KNIFE-WIELDING MAN

Photo: Denver Police Department
Denver police are urgently seeking a knife-wielding man accused of menacing. No one was injured in the June 19's crazed confrontation in the 3100-block of South Tamarac Drive. The frightening scene was snapped at about 8 p.m., police said.

MAN CONVICTED IN HOT SAUCE SLAYING

Photo: Denver Police Department

UPDATE A jury Monday convicted George Vigil of manslaughter in the stabbing death of his uncle during an argument and scuffle over hot sauce. Vigil, 20, faces 2 to 6 years in state prison, according to the Denver DA's office. His sentencing is set for Aug. 22. The jury in the four-day trial deliberated for five hours. The fatal attack over the bottled condiment occurred Sept. 22, 1994, at a home on North Federal Boulevard near West 23rd Avenue. 
A police probable cause statement said Vigil was known to carry a switchblade.

DA John Walsh called the crime "senseless."

BLAZING BAHAMA

Photo: Aurora Fire-Rescue
Fire broke out Sunday night in a home near East 16th Place and North Bahama Street in Aurora. No injuries were reported.

RIDING DENVER'S RAILS IN HIGH VINYL

Photo: RTD
It's a case of going from "ick to slick" as Colorado Public Radio so aptly put it. RTD Light Rail is pressing on with replacement of ratty-looking fabric seats with easier-to-clean vinyl.

NEW ROUTE SET FOR DENVER PRIDE PARADE JUNE 29

This year's Denver Pride Parade will detour off its traditional route along East Colfax Avenue as construction proceeds on the Bus Rapid Transit project. Organizers say the step-off point will be at 17th Avenue and Franklin Street. The parade winds up at Lincoln Street. More than 100,000 people are expected on Sunday, June 29.

STANDING TALL AT DENVER'S ZOO

Photo: Denver Zoo Jasiri, BB, Dobby and baby Thorn are the Denver Zoo's "long-necked legends" - and do they have appetites! Reticulated giraffes "spend most of their day feeding, roughly 13 hours/day, eating up to 34 kilograms of food per day," according to Wikipedia.

POLIS: NOT AWARE OF THREATS TO INFRASTRUCTURE

In the aftermath of the U.S. attack on Iran, Colorado Governor Jared Polis directed officials to "remain vigilant against all threats" to public infrastructure and military assets. "The state is actively monitoring for any unusual or heightened activity and threats," Polis said. "We are not aware of any threats at this time."

HOUSE FIRE; 1 HURT

Photo: Aurora Fire-Rescue
One person suffered smoke inhalation in a house fire Saturday night near 17th Avenue and Argonne Street in Aurora, fire officials said.

COLD CASE: 1976 CABARET MURDERS

Photo: Denver Police Department files

After closing time on July 8, 1976, a band leader and a cocktail waitress died in an arson fire at a Denver cabaret.

The case has never been solved.

Flames jutted from the windows of The Connection at 2398 West Alameda Ave., near South Zuni Steet, when Denver firefighters arrived early that morning.

An accelerant, possibly gasoline, fueled the blaze near the dance floor, said fire department Lieutenant Jim Persichitte, quoted by the Rocky Mountain News.

Booths and tables were soaked in the stuff. 

After the blaze was out, firefighters discovered the bodies of musician Camilo Roys Jr., 28, of 6661 Green Court in Adams County and waitress Lillian J. Hurtado, 22, of 8331 Oakwood St., also in Adams County.

It appeared as if they were trying to escape the blaze.

Autopsies determined Roys and Hurtado succumbed to smoke inhalation, police said. 

Denver police case #76-308583

TOXIC ALGAE INVADE BERKELEY LAKE

Denver Public Health & Environment reports testing found blue-green algae may be present at toxic levels along the shoreline at Berkeley Lake at 4601 West 46th Ave. The algae "can make people and pets sick," the agency warns.

AIR QUALITY ALERT!

UPDATE

At 10 a.m., Denver was No. 101 on today's global list of cities with the worst air quality, according to IQ Air. The National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert for the metropolitan area. People with chronic respiratory issues, such as asthma, are at risk. 

CRIME STOPPERS: MERCEDES BENZ MOWED DOWN PEDESTRIAN

EARLY MORNING SHOOTING ON EAST COLFAX; 1 HURT

A person was seriously injured early Saturday in a shooting in the vicinity of East Colfax Avenue and Race Street, according to Denver police. 

SATURDAY HOT

The National Weather Service has issued a Saturday heat advisory for the Denver area, with a high of 98 degrees.

POLICE HUNT FUGITIVE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AFTER SHOOTING

There's a police dragnet out for tow truck jockey Juan Carlos Rivera Garcia, 42, accused of shooting his wife Monday - and fleeing in a flatbed wrecker.

His wife is expected to survive after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in a violent attack inside a home in the 11500-block of East Virginia Place in Aurora. Garcia faces charges of attempted murder, assault, child abuse and domestic violence. He fled in a black, white and gray 2000 flatbed tow truck with a Colorado temporary tag of 7353534 in the rear window, according to the Aurora Police Department. Consider him armed and dangerous.

AURORA TEEN MISSING FOR WEEK; POLICE FEAR FOR HER SAFETY

Photos: Aurora police, CBI Have you seen Erica Long, 14, of Aurora? She was last sighted Sunday night (June 15) in the vicinity of E-470 and Gartrell Road in Aurora. The missing 5-foot-4 teen also goes by the name of Ember and sports a brown tattoo on her left arm. On Friday, the Aurora Police Department issued new photos of Long, including what she was last seen wearing, and said: "We are even more concerned for her safety."

AUTO COLLIDES WITH WHEELCHAIR

An auto collided with a wheelchair Friday near West 50th Avenue and North Federal Boulevard in Denver. "The person in the wheelchair was transported to the hospital serious injuries," police said.

CRIME STOPPERS: COLD CASE I-25 FATAL SHOOTING

MOZZARELLA CHEESE KING JIM LEPRINO DIES AT 88

Jim Leprino

Photo: Leprino Foods Company

James "Jim" G. Leprino, 88, chairman of Denver's Leprino Foods Company - the world’s largest mozzarella cheese manufacturer - died Thursday, the company announced. The global food and diary business sprouted from a small grocery store, opened by Leprino's father, Mike, at 38th and Shoshone Street, where the family began making ricotta and scamorza cheese by hand. 

SIZZLING FRIDAY: DENVER'S TEMPERATURE COULD HIT 100 DEGREES

UPDATE

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for a "hot and breezy day" Friday - with the thermometer bubbling up to 100 degrees in the Denver area.

Wing gusts could be as high as 28 mph. 

"Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioned rooms," the weather service said. "Stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors."

The heat advisory will remain in effect into the weekend. Saturday's temperature could hit 98 degrees along the I-25 corridor, the weather service said. Sunday's high could reach 95 degrees.

Looking ahead to next week, moisture is expected to return to the Denver area, with temperatures at or below seasonal norms.

RAGING EARLY MORNING BLAZE GUTS HOME

UPDATE

Firefighters battled a raging blaze that roared through a home early Friday at Eastman Avenue and Bannock Street on Denver's southside. Flames leapt through the roof of the brick dwelling. "Crews arrived on scene with heavy fire and smoke showing," the Denver Fire Department reported. The structure was a total loss. There was no word on injuries.

PEDESTRIAN KILLED ON 6TH AVE; MOTORCYCLIST HURT IN I-25 HIT AND RUN

A pedestrian was struck and killed early Friday on the westbound 6th Avenue highway at North Sheridan Boulevard in Denver. The driver remained on the scene, police said. 

In separate incidents:

A hit-and-run driver injured a motorcyclist Thursday on I-25 at Louisiana Avenue.

A person was seriously hurt when a motorcycle and auto crashed Thursday at South Bellaire Street and E Louisiana Avenue. A collision between a semi-truck and an auto Thursday resulted in a serious injury in the vicinity of East Northfield Boulevard and North Quebec Street.

A person was seriously injured Thursday when a bicycle collided with an auto at 7th Avenue and Emerson Street.

ONE COOL CAT

Photo: Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo tiger chilling out in the heat of the Mile High City. The heatwave is forecast to extend into the weekend.

SEMI-TRUCK WRECK NEAR I-70

One person was seriously injured in a collision between a semi-truck and an auto Thursday in the vicinity of East Northfield Boulevard and North Quebec Street, Denver police reported.  The accident scene is on the eastside of the city, near I-70.

COLD CASE FILE: BLUE BIRD MYSTERY

Daniel Linn - a carpenter said to be a regular at Denver's old Blue Bird Cocktail Lounge - suffered a fatal gunshot wound early on the morning of Oct. 15, 1975.

The case remains open after 50 years.

Linn, 24, of 4926 Adams St., was found near the intersection of East 41st Avenue and Josephine Street, a few miles from the lounge, which was located at 3416 East Colfax Ave.

Linn died two days later at Denver General Hospital, The Rocky Mountain News reported. He was shot in the head. Police were unable to interview him.

Linn was buried at the Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge. Today, the site of the Blue Bird Cocktail Lounge is occupied by the PS Lounge. The cocktail sign remains.

Denver police case #75-259381

BICYCLE AND AUTO COLLIDE; 1 INJURED

A person was seriously injured Thursday when a bicycle collided with an auto at 7th Avenue and Emerson Street, according to Denver police. 

POLICE NAB MAN IN YOSEMITE ST. STABBING

Police arrested a man in Wednesday's stabbing on North Yosemite Street in Denver. The suspect, age 28, is being held for investigation of first-degree assault and burglary, police said. The crime scene, the 1300-block of Yosemite, is near the Denver-Aurora city line.

LET THERE BE ROCK: REBIRTH FOR RUNDOWN FEDERAL THEATRE

Denver's decaying Federal Theatre, which screened its last film in the 1970s, is being transformed into a modern music venue by the operators of the Oriental Theater. The century-old building is located on Federal Boulevard at 38th. It was last used as a church. The opening date is set for autumn, perhaps by late September.

MERCURY POISED TO SPRINT ACROSS DENVER

The National Weather Service forecasts scorching heat will sizzle Denver through the weekend, running as high at 100 degrees on Saturday alone. 

STABBING NEAR CITY LINE

Police said a person was injured in a stabbing Wednesday night in the 1300-block of North Yosemite Street, near the Denver-Aurora city line.

GOVERNOR PARDONS 'MAGIC MUSHROOM' BUNCH

Colorado Governor Jared Police pardoned four people Wednesday convicted of possession of psychedelic magic mushrooms. Colorado voters legalized Psilocybin in 2002.

BE BABY SAFE: NEVER LEAVE KIDS ALONE IN CAR

Photo: Colorado State Patrol
The Colorado State Patrol warns: "On a sunny day, your car turns into an oven faster than you can say, 'I'll be right back!' Cracked windows won't stop deadly heat. Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. One moment can cost a life."

EAST COLFAX STABBING

A person was injured in a stabbing Tuesday in the 600-block of East Colfax Avenue, between Pearl and Washington streets, according to Denver police. They were expected to survive.

ARREST SUSPECT IN BLAKE ST. HOMICIDE

Police arrested a suspect in Saturday night's deadly shooting at 22nd and Blake Streets, near Coors Field. The male suspect, age 34, is being held for investigation of first-degree murder. The shooting stemmed from an argument, police said.

INJURIES IN AIRPORT BUS ROLLOVER

A shuttle bus rolled on its side Tuesday in a two-vehicle accident at Denver International Airport, officials said. Five people were transported to hospital from the wreck near 71st Avenue and Jackson Gap Street, which is on airport property.

DENVER DA SETS UP NEW FAMILY VIOLENCE UNITS; CASES UP

The Denver DA’s Office reorganized its family violence division into two new units - domestic violence and child victims - amid an increase in alleged crimes. 2024 domestic violence cases rose 12 percent from a year earlier. The upward trend continues. Denver DA John Walsh said: "The ultimate goal is to better serve survivors of these terrible crimes."

GOVERNOR ATTACKS MEDICAID REFORM BILL AS SHAM

Photo: Governor's website

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said Tuesday proposed cuts in Medicaid funding threaten "to cut people off from needed health care and drive costs up for everyone." Medicaid reform promoted by congressional Republicans "drains health care to fund bureaucrats," said Polis, a Democrat. "We don't need more bureaucrats, we need more nurses, doctors and caregivers. "And this bill is the exact opposite. It'll shift resources away from actually providing health care into the bureaucracy," Polis said.

POLICE NAB MAN IN BROADWAY SHOOTING THAT HURT TWO

Denver police arrested a man in a shooting that injured two people early Saturday in the vicinity of West 10th Avenue and Broadway.

The suspect, age 21, faces charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, police said Monday.

Officers found a woman with multiple gunshot wounds at the scene of the crime. The other victim, also suffering multiple gunshot wounds, sought treatment at a hospital.

Police said at least two weapons were fired.

ARREST TWO IN PARK AVENUE SHOOTOUT

Police arrested two men, ages 20 and 21, as suspects in Friday night's wild shootout near downtown Denver.

Bullets flew after a large gathering devolved into violence in the 500-block of Park Avene West. Three people exchanged the gunfire, officials disclosed Monday.

Police found blood and shell cases when they arrived. The victim had been taken to hospital by a private auto and is expected to survive.

The suspects face charges of attempted first-degree murder. They were taken into custody shortly after the shooting.

KILLER HEAT: DEATH IN MINUTES

Denver Public Health & Environment warns: "NEVER leave children or pets alone in hot vehicles! Heat can rise in a car, up to 20 degrees in just 10 minutes!"

ORANGU-DAD

Photo: Denver Zoo
Berani, the Denver Zoo's Sumatran orangutan, is a very special father. He stepped in to care for his young after his mate passed away - behavior not seen in the wild, the zoo said.

DOG'S DAY ADVICE

 

"Fans alone aren’t enough to stay cool in extreme heat. Get inside in A/C or go to a public place like the library, museum, or shopping mall" - Denver Public Health & Environment

SWELTER IN PLACE

The National Weather Service is forecasting more heat for Denver on Monday, with the temperature reaching 94 degrees.  The broiling is likely return late in the week, running in the upper 90s from Thursday through Saturday.

ARRESTS IN MAYHEM FOLLOWING PEACEFUL 'NO KINGS' MARCH

Reports say police arrested more than a dozen people in scattered Saturday night disturbances in and around downtown Denver following a peaceful "No Kings" demonstration earlier in the day at the state capitol. Police fired smoke bombs and pepper balls to disperse the rock-and-bottle throwing crowds blocking roads.

FATAL SHOOTING NEAR COORS FIELD

UPDATE

Denver police report a person was fatally shot early Sunday at 22nd and Blake streets, near Coors Field. There have been no arrests. Anyone with information is urged to call the confidential Metro Denver Crimes Stoppers line at 720-913-7867.

POLICE FIRE SMOKE BOMBS; ARREST 5 ON WEST COLFAX

Reports say five people were arrested Saturday night after police fired smoke bombs to disperse a crowd interfering with traffic on West Colfax Avenue near the state capitol following the day's peaceful "No Kings" protest against President Trump and authoritarianism.   

SAFEWAY WORKERS SET TO STRIKE IN DENVER SUNDAY

Striking Safeway and Alberson workers plan to picket selected locations Sunday, including the supermarket chain's distribution center in Denver, barring a surprise agreement. "It’s too bad that things have come to this " said Safeway worker Monique Trujillo. Workers will also picket stores in Estes Park, Fountain and Pueblo.

DENVER POLICE TO ICE: NO WAY!

UPDATE

In the build-up to Saturday's anti-Trump "No Kings" march, the Denver Police Department issued crystal-clear guidelines reinforcing the mayor's defiant stance on federal immigration raids in the city limits.

"DPD does not cooperate with ICE on federal civil immigration enforcement," the guidelines said. "Denver Police do not call on ICE or any federal enforcement to support with protests."   

Earlier this year, Mayor Mike Johnston drew a line in the sand, saying City Hall won't support Washington's cruel and combative efforts to "bring terror to communities."

COOL IT

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment warns: "High heat causes the body to work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Young children and older adults have a higher risk of overheating."

'OLD GLORY'

"Today we honor the American flag, a symbol of our nation's history, resilience, and the freedoms we hold dear. May we always remember the sacrifices made by so many to protect what it stands for." - Colorado State Patrol

FLAP ABOUT IT: SMILING ABOUT THEIR NEW HOME

Photo: Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo announced its new sea lion pavilion will officially Saturday, June 20. Denver sea lions Maverick, Gunni, Luci and Ady "are loving their upgraded home and we can't wait to share it with you," the zoo said. Sea lions are related to walruses and seals.

BROADWAY SHOOTING

Police Saturday reported a shooting in the vicinity of 10th Avenue and Broadway in Denver. One person was transported to hospital. The shooting scene is near the historic Sports Castle building.

SUNNY WEEKEND, HIGH IN 90s IN DENVER

The National Weather Service is forecasting mostly sunny skies Saturday and Sunday, with highs both days around 93 degrees. Lows are expected to hover around 60. 

POLICE DETAIN SUSPECT IN PARK AVE. SHOOTING

Police detained a suspect in a shooting Friday night in the 500-block of Park Avenue West, a residential neighborhood of new apartments near downtown Denver. The victim sustained an "unknown extent of injuries," police said.

'99 YEARS YOUNG'

Photo: Denver Fire Department
The Denver Fire Department honored retired Captain Joe Stonebraker, who turned 99, according to a fire department social media post.

WHO'S THE SUCKER NOW? VACUUM CLEANER THIEF SWEPT OFF TO PRISION

Christian and Dillan Head

Vacuum cleaner thief Dillan Head has been sentenced to six years in prison for stealing high-end machines and unloading them for money or drugs, the Denver DA said. Head, 33, and his brother, Christian, 26 led a gang that swept up more than $26,000 of vacuums from 15 Target stores - including Dyson, Shark and iRoomba brands. The appliance-acquiring siblings peddled the stolen goods on Facebook Marketplace. “Retail theft is not a victimless crime – and particularly systematic, organized theft," DA John Walsh said. "It has far-reaching effects on countless Denver consumers, can force stores to raise prices and even to close."

Christian Head was sentenced to four years in prison earlier. The brothers have also been ordered to pay restitution.

HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAM ALERT

Photo: Denver DA
The Denver DA's Office warns: "Warmer weather brings home improvement projects and contractor scammers. They might appear as legitimate contractors offering quick, inexpensive home repairs. Beware of false promises. Don’t accept a 'deal' unless you research it first."

BIKE VS AUTO CRASH; SERIOUS INJURIES

A collision Friday between a bicyclist and an auto in the vicinity of 13th & Umatilla Street in Denver resulted in serious injuries, police said.

BODY FOUND ALONG INTERSTATE

Denver police Friday investigated the death of a person found in the vicinity of northbound I-25 and Yale Avenue. The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy.

GAMBLING WITH DEATH: RIDING E-SCOOTERS ON DENVER'S STREETS

Riding an electric scooter without a helmet is gambling with the Grim Reaper.

Injuries involving e-scooters are often moderate or severe, the Journal of the American College of Surgeons warns.

One in three injured riders go to the emergency room or trauma center, national safety data show. Head injuries account for almost half of scooter injuries.

Scooter riders are risking fractured skulls, cerebral bleeds and brain damage without proper head gear.

UGLY REALITY OF TRUMP'S 'BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL' FOR COLORADO'S HEALTH

An estimated 110,000 Coloradans could lose Obamacare health care coverage as soon as next year under President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill Act" domestic policy, Governor Jared Polis said Thursday. The bill passed the House by a single vote. Its fate rests with the Senate.

COULD IT HAPPEN HERE? COLORADO JOINS SUIT AGAINST TRUMP TROOP SCHEME

Colorado is joining 20 states in a suit arguing President Trump's deployment of military forces to quell Los Angeles' immigration protests violates the U.S. Constitution, Attorney General Phil Weiser said Thursday.
“Governors command the National Guard in their states and local law enforcement protects communities and keeps the peace," Weiser said.

"To federalize the National Guard in Los Angeles or anywhere else in the country, the president must have a legal reason—he can’t just make up an emergency out of thin air," he said.

The president's order federalizing the California National Guard isn't limited to Los Angeles alone, the AG's office said. For now, though, troops are protecting ICE personnel and not policing the streets of Los Angeles. 

RAINBOW ARCHING OVER PRAIRIE

Photo: DIA
Spectacular view of prairie rainbow from Denver International Airport tarmac on June 5. 

SUPERMARKET WORKERS SET TO STRIKE OVER WEEKEND

Labor talks with Safeway/Albertson's broke down Wednesday and union workers are set to strike as early as Sunday, UFCW Local 7 said. Safeway worker Ivan Lopez said: "We’d been clear since last fall that we needed them to address staffing, poverty-level wages, and ensure that workers health and pension benefits remain fully funded."

BODY FOUND IN LODO DISTRICT

Denver police Thursday reported an "outdoor death" in the vicinity of 19th and Lawrence streets in Lodo. The medical examiner will determine the cause.

EASY DOES IT DOC: VETS PULL BIG CAT'S ACHING TOOTH

Photo: Denver Zoo
That's a gentle touch. Nikita, the Denver Zoo's 14-year-old Amur tiger, recently paid a visit to the dentist for a toothache and vets carefully extracted a molar while she was under anesthesia, of course.

CRIME STOPPERS: POLICE SEEK NEW CLUES IN 2002 CHUBBY'S KILLING

 

Was the April 28, 2002 shooting death of James Pappas, 27, a targeted slaying?

Denver police issued a new alert today, almost a quarter century after the cold-blooded murder in the parking lot of The Original Chubby's, a popular Mexican eatery at 1238 West 38th Avenue.

Pappas and a companion were socializing with others when one or more assailants emerged from an alley, opened fire in Pappas' direction and fled north in the alley, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Cold Case file.

His companion was wounded.

Pappas, of Arvada, was survived by his father, Jimmy Saavedra, and mother, Betty Gabaldon-Pappas, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, according to an obituary posted on Legacy.com. 

POLICE SMOKE BOMB ICE PROTEST ON BROADWAY; AT LEAST 17 ARRESTS

UPDATE

Denver police resorted to smoke bombs and pepper balls on Broadway in a confrontation with marchers taking part in nationwide protests against harsh White House immigration policies and ICE raids.

Police said protestors pelted officers with rocks and bottles and at least 17 people were arrested on a variety of charges ranging from assaulting a police officer to graffiti.

Scenes broadcast by local media Tuesday evening show smoke rising over a crowd near the I-25 interchange. Police warned protestors that they would use “chemical munitions” to clear Broadway, Colorado Newsline reported. CBS 4 reported there was also activity at Market and 20th streets in Lodo.

Denver's march followed a rally at the state capitol in solidarity with protests in Los Angeles against ICE raids. Denver is a sanctuary city.

“It’s not just happening in Los Angeles,” a protestor identified as a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation told Fox 31. “It’s happening across the country, it’s happening here, so people are coming out and showing they are willing to defend their rights.”

Another protestor told ABC 7: "We will stand with our immigrant community."

RTD rerouted downtown bus and light rail lines during the protests. The Colorado State Patrol cautioned motorists about "unlawful road closures." Protests were also reported in Dallas, Houston, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and other major U.S. cities, in addition to the initial site, Los Angeles, where the military was deployed to protect ICE agents.

Photos: Twitter/Mile High Minute; Colorado Newsline; Twitter/Do Better Denver

AUTO VS SCOOTER AT 18TH & WELTON

Police said a person suffered injuries Tuesday in a collision involving a stand-up scooter rider and an auto at 18th and Welton streets in downtown Denver. 

COLD CASE: WOOLWORTH BABY JOHN DOE TRAGEDY

Photo: Denver Public Library

One of the oldest homicides in Denver's cold case file is that of Baby John Doe, whose body was found in a ladies' lavatory at the F.W. Woolworth & Co. variety store in downtown Denver on Dec. 10, 1970.

The caucasian newborn, with hazel eyes and brown hair, weighed 7 pounds, according to police homicide records.  

The sprawling Woolworth's store was located at 820 16th St. at Champa Street. It was considered one of the retailer's largest - a place where one could go unnoticed.

Denver police case #70-450596.

FEWER LIVING ON DENVER'S STREETS, MAYOR SAYS

Street homelessness across Denver is down 45% since 2023, leading all major US cities, Mayor Mike Johnston said. "Denver is showing homelessness is solvable with compassion and real action," Johnston said. City officials have moved 7,000 people indoors through family shelters and other services. 

20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DOPE DEALER

Convicted drug Derian Acosta has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, the Denver DA said. Acosta, 22, was in possession of 474 fentanyl pills, 31 grams of powder fentanyl and 15 grams of meth when he was apprehended. The DA said Acosta pleaded guilty in another case to distribution of fentanyl. He was in possession of more than 800 fentanyl tablets.

SEA LIONS RETURN TO LAND-LOCKED MILE HIGH CITY

Photo: Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo is welcoming home its sealions. They've been out of town for a couple of years while workers constructed a new habitat.

18 MONTHS IN COOLER FOR MONSTER MORTICIAN

Photo: Arapahoe County Sheriff Felonious funeral director Miles Harford was sentenced Monday to 18 months in state prison for abuse of a corpse and theft, the Denver DA said. The former owner of Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services was accused of storing a woman's body in a hearse for more than a year and mishandling cremated remains of at least 30 other people.

Police made the gruesome discoveries during a home eviction on Quitman Street on Feb. 6, 2024.

POLICE NAB LOGAN STREET SHOOTING SUSPECT

Denver police Monday said they arrested a man in connection with a June 6 shooting in the 1100-block of South Logan Street.

The shooting stemmed from an altercation.

The suspect, who was apprehended the same day, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, first degree assault and false imprisonment, police said.

The shooting victim is expected to survive, police said.

DENVER FBI WARNS OF 'GO TO JAIL' PHONE SCAM

POLICE ARREST WEST WARREN STABBING SUSPECT

Denver police arrested a woman Monday in connection with a stabbing in the 5400-block of West Warren Avenue. The suspect was being held for investigation of second-degree assault.

HOP ON AN RTD BUS OR TRAIN - AND GO!

WRONGWAY DRIVER KILLED IN I-25 CRASH ELUDED TROOPERS

Reports say a van driver killed in Sunday's collision on I-25 near downtown Denver was traveling in the wrong direction and had eluded state troopers north of the city limits.

Four people in another vehicle were injured, three seriously, in the pre-dawn crash in the northbound lanes of the interstate highway near the 20th Street exit, according to Denver police.

The Colorado State Patrol initiated the pursuit in the Weld County community of Mead, about 36 miles north of Denver, and alerted law enforcement agencies along the I-25 corridor.

VERY CLOSE CALL: FIREFIGHTERS SAVE HOME FROM RUIN

Photo: Denver Fire Department
Denver firefighters saved a family's home from a car fire in their garage. The blaze at 36th and Utica broke out June 5. There were no injuries. The flames didn't extend into the home, officials said.

MISSING DENVER STYLIST JAX GRATTON FOUND DEAD IN ALLEY

Reports say the body of missing Denver hair stylist Jax Gratton, 34, was found in a Lakewood alley.

Gratton, who was transgender, went missing April 15 and her remains were located at about 5 p.m. Friday in the 9600-block of West Colfax Avenue, which is just east of Kippling Street. 

Lakewood Police labeled the case "a suspicious death." Gratton was last seen alive on East Iliff Avenue in Denver.

On Facebook Gratton's mother, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, addressed Jax's friends, writing:

"This has opened my eyes in ways I can’t ignore. It’s not just about Jax — it’s about all of you in the LGBTQIA+ community who face the world every day with courage, just wanting to live, love, and exist safely and equally. That should never be a fight. And yet it is."

1 DEAD, 4 INJURED IN I-25 CRASH

A collision on I-25 in Denver killed one person and injured four others - three seriously, police said.

The accident occurred early Sunday on the northbound side of the interstate near the 20th Street exit leading toward downtown.

Police closed I-25 at 35th Street to conduct their investigation.

COLORADO BLVD: CAR VS. SCOOTER; SERIOUS INJURY

Police report a Saturday night traffic accident involving a scooter and an auto resulted in serious injury in the 600-block of South Colorado Boulevard in Denver.

IGNORE IT! DMV SCAM ALERT

The Denver's DA Office asks: "Did you get a message from the Colorado DMV claiming you have unpaid tickets and threatening prosecution, suspension of vehicle registration, and revocation of driving privileges? It's a scam. Ignore it."