Crime
New year ushers in new consequences for hit-and-run drivers in Colorado
DENVER – The new year will usher in new consequences for drivers who leave the scene of crashes involving injuries or death in Colorado.
The new rules come as a result of a law passed by the Legislature this past session aimed at clamping down on hit-and-run drivers. Continue reading
10 Sweet Leaf marijuana dispensary employees formally charged in ‘looping’ scheme
DENVER – Ten employees arrested earlier this month in a sweep of Sweet Leaf marijuana dispensaries in Denver and Aurora have been formally charged with varying degrees of marijuana distribution.
Five of those charged face felony charges of marijuana distribution of more than four ounces, while the other five face misdemeanor charges for distribution of more than one ounce. Continue reading
Independent probe shows standard procedures violated in warrantless Longmont K-9 apartment searches
LONGMONT, Colo. – An independent investigation into the warrantless police K-9 searches done earlier this year at a Longmont subsidized housing unit found the two K-9 handlers and their superior violated standard procedures in getting consent to enter eight apartments.
The independent investigation was done by the Weld County Sheriff’s Office and was released Wednesday as part of a settlement between the city of Longmont and the ACLU of Colorado, which was announced mid-November.
Denver7 broke the story about allegations that Longmont officers and their K-9s had gone along with Longmont Housing Authority workers during a May inspection at The Suites, and entered people’s apartments without a warrant. Continue reading
Denver man sentenced to life plus 128 years for murder, shooting at police
DENVER – A Denver man will spend the rest of his life in prison for a November 2015 murder at a house party and for shooting at police officers six months later, and he still faces further felony charges in other cases.
Darius Ratcliff, 21, was earlier this month to life in prison without parole, plus 48 years, after he was convicted earlier this month of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder stemming from the 2015 party shooting. Continue reading
Lakewood man arrested on suspicion of child abuse that led to infant daughter’s death
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Police arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of child abuse five months after his 3-month-old daughter died with unexplained injuries.
Kelly Ray Kerr, 38, was arrested by authorities at his Lakewood home and is being held on suspicion of child abuse resulting in the death of his infant daughter, Olivia Hobbs. Continue reading
ACLU seeking information from ICE on Colorado man’s in-custody death
DENVER – The ACLU of Colorado is asking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more information and records relating to the in-custody death of an Iranian man at the private Aurora detention facility.
Kamyar Samimi, 64, was arrested by ICE agents in Denver on Nov. 17—more than 12 years after he was convicted of cocaine possession in Arapahoe County.
ICE said Samimi “fell ill” on Dec. 2, that emergency responders came to the GEO Group-operated detention center and started performing CPR, and that Samimi later died after being taken to an area hospital. Continue reading
Ex-Northglenn HS teacher arrested in sex assault investigation
THORNTON, Colo. – A former teacher at Northglenn High School was arrested Monday for investigation on charges of sex assault on a child and others, court records show.
Aaron Link, 37, was booked into the Adams County jail after his arrest, and made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
Court records show Link was arrested for investigation on charges of sex assault on a child; sex assault on a child by a person in a position of trust; and aggravated incest. All three are felonies. Continue reading
Ex-Lake County undersheriff Fernando Mendoza indicted on 7 counts amid harassment, other allegations
LAKE COUNTY, Colo. – Former Lake County undersheriff Fernando Mendoza was arrested Tuesday following a grand jury indictment on seven charges relating to his alleged harassment of several 911 dispatchers, as first reported by Denver7. He was also indicted on attempted child sex charges and embezzlement.
A Denver7 report called Mendoza into question on Nov. 7 related to claims he sexually harassed several women in his office. Mendoza was fired from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office several weeks ago in response to those allegations. Continue reading
Police: Former DougCo school staffer shot upskirt videos of students
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. – The former Douglas County School District staffer arrested Friday on sexual exploitation of a child charges recorded “upskirt” videos of at least two underage girls and several other women, according to police records released Monday.
Steven Michael Jenkins, 55, made his first court appearance Monday morning. He is being investigated on sexual exploitation of a child charges. Continue reading
Special prosecutor appointed in Rep. Lori Saine gun investigation
DENVER – The 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office will handle any possible charges, if any, police decide to pursue in the gun case involving state Rep. Lori Saine, it was announced Monday.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann asked the office, based in Boulder County, to take the case as special prosecutors because she had previously worked with Saine, a Weld County Republican, when both were state lawmakers. Continue reading