News
5 indicted in Pueblo drug ring bust that netted $8 million worth of heroin
PUEBLO, Colo. – Law enforcement authorities announced Thursday they had busted a drug ring in Pueblo that was distributing millions of dollars in drugs from two homes and a business in the southern Colorado city.
Five people have been indicted on federal drug charges related to the case, and four of them also face federal firearms violations. All five men are already in custody. Continue reading
Colorado Walmart shooting suspect Scott Ostrem had run-ins with police, financial troubles
THORNTON, Colo. – Scott Allen Ostrem, the man accused of shooting and killing three people at a Walmart in suburban Denver Wednesday evening, usually kept to himself and was sometimes seen carrying a rifle bag back and forth between his apartment and car, neighbors said Thursday.
Ostrem, 47, was arrested in the middle of the road, close to his apartment at the intersection of W 72nd Ave. and Federal in Denver Thursday morning. Ostrem’s apartment was just blocks away, in the 7100 block of Samuel Drive. Continue reading
Police arrest suspect in Thornton Walmart shooting; 3 dead
THORNTON, Colo. – Police have arrested the suspect in a deadly shooting at a Thornton Walmart store.
Scott Ostrem, 47, was taken into custody Thursday morning at 72nd and Federal after a citizen tipped off police. Officers didn’t say if they recovered any weapons.
Witnesses told Thornton Police that Ostrem “nonchalantly” walked into the store Wednesday night, took out a handgun and began firing randomly at people. Two men and a woman were killed. Continue reading
Man who admitted killing Univ. of Utah student also suspected in Colorado murder, along with wife
DENVER – The man arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder of a University of Utah student is also the main suspect in the murder of a Golden, Colorado man, according to authorities and police documents released Wednesday.
An arrest sheet obtained by Denver7 from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office shows that Austin Boutain, 24, faces seven felony counts related to the incidents in Utah, which include aggravated murder, firearms charges and aggravated robbery. Continue reading
Colorado legislative opioid committee has 6 bills aimed at treatment, prevention ready for session
DENVER – The 2018 legislative session is still more than two months out, but a package of six bills aimed at opioid addiction treatment and prevention is already queued up for consideration.
The bipartisan Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee voted Tuesday to move ahead with the bills, which the lawmakers say will help curb the rising use of opioids and heroin.
The bills, according to Democratic leaders of the committee, would do several things to address the issue. Continue reading
Aurora Police lieutenant charged with DUI months after official misconduct charge
DENVER – A lieutenant with the Aurora Police Department is again on paid leave after being charged with a crime for the second time this year—this time after he was allegedly caught passed out behind the wheel of his car in downtown Denver after a late-night Broncos game.
Aurora Police Lt. Leland Silver faces charges of driving under the influence, driving under the influence per se and careless driving after his latest arrest, which happened in the early-morning hours of Oct. 16. Continue reading
Colorado open enrollment starts Wednesday: what you need to know
DENVER – Colorado’s open enrollment period to sign up for health insurance through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, gets underway Wednesday. Here are a few things you need to know: Continue reading
Denver agrees to $4.6 million settlement with family of mentally-ill inmate who died in jail custody
DENVER – The family of Michael Marshall, a Denver jail inmate who died while in custody in 2015, will get $4.65 million from the city of Denver if the city council approves the settlement on November 13.
Also part of the settlement, which was announced Wednesday morning, are a series of policy and training procedure changes the sheriff’s department will have to implement to increase mental health services and training over the next several years. Continue reading
Tom Tancredo enters 2018 Colorado governor’s race, says he expects ‘ugliest’ race in third try
DENVER – Firebrand and former congressman Tom Tancredo will again run for governor of Colorado in 2018, in what will be his third straight try at the seat and what he says will be the “ugliest” race he’s ever run in.
“I think we need to shake up Colorado politics a little bit, and I’m the guy to do that,” he told Denver7, suggesting he might need a Haz-Mat suit for a race that could get dirty quickly. “This is beyond something we’ve ever done before.”
“There’s an establishment here in Colorado just like there is in Washington, I guess we can call it the swamp,” he continued, saying that he wanted to “shake up” that establishment. Continue reading
Denver City Council unanimously approves 16th St. Mall smoking ban
DENVER – The city council on Monday unanimously approved a new ordinance that bans smoking on the 16th Street Mall starting Dec. 1.
The council gave preliminary approval to the “Breathe Easy” campaign last week, and approved the final measure Monday after votes on several different amendments.
The council unanimously passed an amendment to the ordinance that will allow the gathering of demographic data on who is being punished by the ban—something that was pushed for by homeless advocacy group Denver Homeless Out Loud.
But the council shot down in a 3-6 vote an amendment that would have had the ordinance sunset after two years.
Once the new rules go into effect Dec. 1, people won’t be able to smoke cigarettes, cigars or electronic devices within 50 feet of 16th Street between Broadway and Chestnut streets. Violating the ordinance could result in a fine of up to $100, but the city has stressed that an education program would preclude any citations.
Smoking is already banned within 25 feet of an entryway in Denver, and within 15 feet of entryways across the state.
The council plans to have a sign informing people of the new ordinance on every other block on the mall, and people will be on the streets passing out leaflets about the new rules.