Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Community Safety

Suspect in Custody Following Series of Intentional Fires in Aurora
CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Suspect in Custody Following Series of Intentional Fires in Aurora

By Tori Mason | CBS Colorado A man is in custody after investigators say he set a string of fires over the past week in a residential area near East 16th Avenue and North Norfolk Street in Aurora. Michael Anthony Lopez, 30, was arrested Tuesday on multiple arson charges, including second and fourth-degree arson. Investigators say the fires targeted a wide range of property, including vegetation, portable toilets, vehicles, and both the exterior and interior of apartment buildings. Aurora Fire Rescue responded repeatedly over the last week, limiting damage while officers canvassed the neighborhood and gathered evidence. Neighbors say the fear of another attack kept them up at night. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT CBS COLORADO
A Town on Edge: Inside the Erie Mail Threats That Resulted in No Charges
Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

A Town on Edge: Inside the Erie Mail Threats That Resulted in No Charges

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In early October, residents across Erie and in Virginia, began opening their mailboxes to find sympathy cards inside plain envelopes. The message referenced the assassination of Charlie Kirk, accompanied by an empty packet of Gushers candy taped to the card, glitter and a loose powdery substance that spilled when handled. Twenty residents in total received the cards. Many were former candidates, business owners, volunteers, and known conservatives within the community. One envelope opened in Virginia triggered a full hazmat activation. Loudoun County Fire & Rescue’s official report shows responders in Tychem suits isolating the scene, testing the substance, and alerting federal authorities. Their lab equip...
Caven’s report exposes how failed policies fueled Colorado crime and created a safety crisis
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Caven’s report exposes how failed policies fueled Colorado crime and created a safety crisis

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Elizabeth Caven's Crisis of Safety report merits serious attention. It is grounded in empirical data and addresses one of the most urgent public policy failures facing Colorado: the collapse of public‑safety outcomes amid rising crime, diminished law‑enforcement presence, and liberal reform policies that weaken accountability. According to Advance Colorado’s public‑safety section, the state is “in the midst of a crime tsunami,” with property theft and violent crime at 25‑year highs. 1. Data‑Driven Approach The report builds on strong factual foundations: credible crime‑rate increases (for both property and violent crime), sharp rises in auto theft, and clear indicators of diminished police per capita. For example, the Common ...
Residents report safer passage as Lakewood tunnel is cleaned and police increase patrols
Fox31, Approved, Local

Residents report safer passage as Lakewood tunnel is cleaned and police increase patrols

by: Hanna Powers | Fox31 LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — A pedestrian tunnel along Wadsworth Boulevard that neighbors recently called unsafe looks markedly different less than 24 hours after FOX31’s initial report aired Monday night. By Tuesday afternoon, construction crews had painted over graffiti, cleared trash and moved along people who had been loitering, and Lakewood police officers were on site patrolling and confiscating contraband, according to observations by FOX31 at the scene. Residents say the change is obvious. “I just feel more calm here now than … two days ago,” one commuter told FOX31 on Wednesday. “Two days [ago] I rode the bus later around 5 or 6, and I did see some of that. But at this time, I am not seeing that.” Earlier this week, neighbors described the ...
Colorado experts share warning signs and steps to prevent school shootings
CBS News, Approved, State

Colorado experts share warning signs and steps to prevent school shootings

By Alan Gionet | CBS Colorado Two weeks after the shooting at Evergreen High School, students are heading back to classes. It comes as parents and students continue to wonder about the possibility that there may have been ways to stop the shooter who injured two fellow students before taking his own life. "You don't ever want to be that individual that an active shooting happens... and you find out who it is, and you go, 'I knew that was going to happen. I knew it, right?' You gotta' live with that," said AJ DeAndrea, a former deputy police chief with the Arvada Police Department who now runs a safety consulting and training company and has reviewed such shootings to assess threats. His message is for parents, students, and community members who may have fears that someone may be ...
Mesa County authorities arrest Caprock Academy employee for sexual exploitation of child charges
KJCT-TV ABC 8, Approved, Local

Mesa County authorities arrest Caprock Academy employee for sexual exploitation of child charges

By Kacie Sinton | KJCT News 8 GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - An employee of Caprock Academy is behind bars at the Mesa County Jail today after being arrested on the charge of sexual exploitation of a child. 45-year-old Shane Chatfield was reported to police on September 11, when the Grand Junction Police Department was informed that an adult man had allegedly sent inappropriate text messages to another adult man who had been pretending to be a child. Chatfield had also allegedly tried to arrange a meet-up, according to authorities. Chatfield appeared in custody over Zoom on September 17. The judge ordered a cash-only bond of $20,000. In addition to the bond, Chatfield is not allowed to use social media or dating apps or contact minors, and his electronic usage will be monitored. ...
Lakewood police seeking tips from public to catch burglar targeting churches
Fox31, Approved, Local

Lakewood police seeking tips from public to catch burglar targeting churches

by: Jim Hooley | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Police are searching for a suspect who has burglarized several churches in Lakewood. The Lakewood Police Department has not identified all the churches hit, but has confirmed that the Mountair Christian Church on Benton Street was among them. In fact, police say that the church was hit not once,  but twice, in June. In both cases, the suspect got away with musical instruments and electronics. Police released a photo of the suspect taken from security cameras. In the photo, he appears to be white with dark hair. He’s sporting a beard and tattoos on his biceps on both arms, as well as his back. He’s wearing all black, with a black hat, shirt, pants and shoes. He also has what appears to be a silver chain around his neck with som...
Evergreen High secures full-time school resource officer for added protection
Fox31, Approved, Local

Evergreen High secures full-time school resource officer for added protection

By: Vicente Arenas | FOX31 Denver EVERGREEN, Colo. (KDVR) — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says a full-time school resource officer will be assigned to Evergreen High School when students return to that campus after a school shooting there. The Evergreen Parent-Teachers-Students Association had been hoping for a full-time officer. “I understand they may not be able to prevent a tragedy, but we need to have some deterrents in place. We need to have somebody that can act who is trained to act in order to minimize any sort of event like this. That’s really what we are looking for,” Evergreen PTSA President Cindy Mazeika said. When the shooting happened last week, there was a part-time SRO assigned to the school. But a Jefferson County Sheriff’s spokesperson said that t...
Evergreen High School Remains Closed as Community Heals After Shooting
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Evergreen High School Remains Closed as Community Heals After Shooting

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — Faculty and students will not be returning to Evergreen High School for at least another week, as the community deals with the aftermath of a school shooting on Sept. 10. On Sunday evening, Jefferson County Public Schools sent a press release stating: “Evergreen High School will be closed the week of September 15. District leadership is working on a plan to return to learning and will have that finalized later in the week.” Two students were shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition. As of the latest update on their conditions on Friday, one student was in serious condition and was transported to another hospital. The other victim remains in critical condition at St. Anthony Hospital. The family of one of the ...
$12K in tools stolen from Colorado contractor’s van: Reward offered
Fox31, Approved, Local

$12K in tools stolen from Colorado contractor’s van: Reward offered

By Shaul Turner | Fox 31 WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KDVR) — Sewer analysis and repair tools valued at more than $12,000 were stolen from a business’s van right next to the busy intersection of Lowell Boulevard and 68th Street in Westminster. Security video obtained by FOX31 shows a man boldly unloading the tools from an Our Drain and Sewer Company van in an apartment parking lot. The case is still being investigated, but one employee is hoping someone will come forward with more information. Ron Patin tells FOX31 a maintenance worker notified him that someone had broken into the van just after 3 a.m. on July 28. “You can see the guy hopping out of the van, dropping our stuff on the ground, picking it up like it was no big deal,” he said. Patin says the thief took brand...

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