Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Law Enforcement

Self-inflicted wound leads to hoax investigation at Staunton State Park
The Colorado Sun, Approved, Local

Self-inflicted wound leads to hoax investigation at Staunton State Park

By Olivia Prentzel | The Colorado Sun After launching a widespread manhunt for a person accused of stabbing a Colorado Parks and Wildlife ranger, officials said Thursday the ranger who claimed to be attacked in Staunton State Park this week was never in any danger.  Callum Heskett, 26, was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges Thursday for the “elaborate hoax” that sent Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies and other first responders out looking for the attacker, put thousands of residents on alert and placed several schools on a lockdown, the sheriff’s office said.Authorities say Heskett stabbed himself and was airlifted to a hospital after reporting the attack. Heskett, a seasonal ranger at the park, radioed for help at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, claiming he had been attacked a...
High-tech policing: Boulder officers use drones and cameras to nab car theft suspect
Fox31, Approved, Local

High-tech policing: Boulder officers use drones and cameras to nab car theft suspect

By Aliyah Sims | FOX31 Denver BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — Technology and teamwork came together in Boulder to stop a dangerous suspect: Officers had an edge thanks to drones and license plate recognition cameras, also known as Flock cameras. All it took was a tip from technology, a drone in the air and quick thinking on the ground. This case was interesting because we wouldn’t have ever known this guy was in Boulder,” Chief Stephen Redfearn said. “The truck was stolen from outside of Boulder. The license plate readers let us know he was here. It allowed officers to kind of narrow down where he was.” The stolen red pickup truck pulled into a Boulder parking lot, with the driver asleep behind the wheel. Within seconds, an officer on the Unmanned Aircraft System Team launched a drone ...
Colorado parents shaken as former school counselor faces assault charges
Fox31, Approved, Local

Colorado parents shaken as former school counselor faces assault charges

By Parker Gordon | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — A former Poudre School District counselor has been arrested after allegedly having an “inappropriate relationship with a student for several years”, said the city of Fort Collins. On Tuesday, the city of Fort Collins said in a press release that Cassandra Poncelow, 40, has been arrested on multiple charges, including sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, following an investigation into Poncelow’s employment at the school district. The city of Fort Collins said that a report was made to Fort Collins Police Services in July that a former counselor at the school district had an inappropriate relationship with a student while employed. Detectives, following the report, initiated an investigation into Poncelo...
Colorado’s bike theft crisis: Third-highest rate in the nation
kdvr.com, Approved, State

Colorado’s bike theft crisis: Third-highest rate in the nation

By Spencer Kristinsson | FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado residents are known for their love of the outdoors and active lifestyle. It should come as no surprise to see plenty of cyclists and bikes on the streets and trails around the state. What might be a surprise is how many of those bikes get stolen. A study by the cyclist training app, JOIN, analyzed the number of stolen bikes per state in the FBI database and the estimated value of the bikes stolen, which was converted into categories like median value, total value and average value. “A stolen bike is more than just a stolen asset — it’s the loss of the ability to cycle, to commute, and to train. The impacts can last for years due to the cost of replacing a stolen bike,” said JOIN in the study. The study found that C...
Adams County man handed 13-year sentence for large-scale drug trafficking
Fox31, Approved, Local

Adams County man handed 13-year sentence for large-scale drug trafficking

By: FOX31 Digital Staff | FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — A man was sentenced to 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for “large-scale” drug trafficking in Adams County, the DA’s Office announced in a press release on Monday morning. The man, Rodrick Maye, 45, was sentenced for possessing with intent to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamines and cocaine. On May 25, 2024, Thornton police officers saw Maye swerve into oncoming traffic on East 88th Avenue. The officers performed a traffic stop, and said Maye showed signs of impairment and failed roadside sobriety tests, before being arrested for driving under the influence. During a search of the vehicle, officers found multiple open containers of alcohol an...
Colorado gun laws leave innocent citizens defenseless
Complete Colorado, Approved, State

Colorado gun laws leave innocent citizens defenseless

By James Neville | Complete Colorado became a firearms instructor not because I’m a gun nut, but from my love for teaching self-defense. Teaching assault survivors martial arts for years provides the opportunity to learn about the nature of violent crime. It’s clear that the Colorado’s approach to public safety isn’t just naïve, it’s dangerous: policy makers are increasingly putting Coloradans at risk. The recent flurry of gun control measures has made Colorado one of the most restrictive states for firearm ownership in America. Senate Bill 25-003 for example, imposes a three-stage process on every Coloradan who may need to purchase a semiautomatic pistol for self-defense. There is no cap on fees and there is no time frame within which an application must be approved or denied....
ICE stops trafficking ring run by illegal aliens, saves 10 children
The Daily Signal, Approved, National

ICE stops trafficking ring run by illegal aliens, saves 10 children

By Virginia Allen | The Daily Signal Immigration enforcement authorities rescued 27 human-trafficking victims in Nebraska last week. Among the victims Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescued were 10 children under the age of 12, according to the Department of Homeland Security.   “Our brave ICE law enforcement rescued these children and women, who were being sexually exploited and trafficked,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant DHS secretary.   The human-trafficking ring was being run by illegal aliens, according to the DHS.   President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem “will not allow children and women to be victims of these heinous human-trafficking rings,” McLaughlin said. “Our message to human traffickers is cle...
Colorado’s largest TdA gang bust exposes murder-for-hire and international drug pipeline
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Colorado’s largest TdA gang bust exposes murder-for-hire and international drug pipeline

By Joe Vaccarelli, Landon Haaf | Denver7 The massive investigation included roughly 40 undercover operations over 10 months and also unearthed a "barbaric" murder-for-hire plot. DENVER — What was described as “the biggest investigation” of the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua in the country unfolded in Colorado over the past 10 months, federal officials announced on Monday, netting 30 indictments of people allegedly involved in drug and weapons trafficking and a “barbaric” murder-for-hire plot. U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly said Monday that investigators estimated three TdA leaders, five alleged members and “numerous” associates of the gang were charged in the operation. The investigation started in October of 2024 when the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office started looking i...
Roblox isn’t a game when safety is on the line
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Roblox isn’t a game when safety is on the line

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice This week, two very different voices sounded the same alarm about Roblox. YouTuber Schlep says the platform banned him after he worked with law enforcement to help catch child predators. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is suing Roblox, calling it a “clear and present danger” to kids. Both are pointing to the same problem: a platform packed with children and not enough safeguards to protect them. Schlep claims his tips led to multiple arrests. Instead of a thank you, he says the company sent him a legal notice and locked him out. In a social media post, he calls himself “a survivor on a mission” and says the ban was “retaliation for exposing predators.” The screenshots he shared show Roblox accusing him of breaking the rules...
Mexico delivers cartel fugitives to US justice in major hand off
AP News, Approved, National

Mexico delivers cartel fugitives to US justice in major hand off

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER AND MARIA VERZA | AP WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexico sent 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States Tuesday in the latest major deal with the Trump administration as American authorities ratchet up pressure on criminal networks smuggling drugs across the border. Those handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of “Los Cuinis,” a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG. Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection to the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other violent drug trafficking groups. The transfers are a milestone for the Trump administration, which is made dismantling dangerous drug cart...