9NEWS: Girl handcuffed in school for being 'extremely rude'

Commerce City Local Hero...

On March 3, 2012 at approximately 2:10 p.m., Commerce City Police received a 911 call from a frantic 10-year-old female, Kali Collins. It was learned that Kali Collins was in a vehicle with her mother and two sisters. Kali Collins’ mother was having a medical emergency.

Kali Collins told dispatchers she did not know where they were, and they had been in a car accident. She stated her mother, Erin Collins, was driving and would not stop. Erin Collins was unresponsive as she drove down the roadway. Kali Collins’ younger sisters, Kamryn Collins (8) and Kayden Collins (8), were in the backseat of the vehicle.

Another Woman Charged in Death of Commerce City Four-Year Old

Adams/Broomfield County District Attorney Don Quick announced the filing of charges yesterday against a second individual regarding the death of a four year old boy in Commerce City.

Lana Roberts (DOB: 01/31/1964) was a second adult living in the residence with four year old Gabriel Andres Trujillo and Doris Becky Trujillo (charged last week with First Degree Murder F1 and Child Abuse Resulting in Death F2 in connection with Gabriel’s death). Roberts was charged with Child Abuse Resulting in Death (F2).

Roberts turned herself in to the Weld County Sheriff Friday evening.

All documents are currently under seal by court order to preserve the integrity of an ongoing investigation.

9NEWS: Couple follows drunk driver, police never arrive to help

INTERNET SAFETY FOR KIDS AND FAMILY

“KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE”
What YOU Need To Know About The Internet &Technology”

Presented by MOMS NEXT of Crossroads Community Church...Call 720-272-7007

Event on Thursday March 8, 2012 at 6:00 pm, Landmark Academy 10566 Memphis Street, Commerce City, CO 80022

Commerce City Police Department events for 2012...

· Thursday, March 8th, 8-10am “Coffee with a Cop” (McDonalds 6050 Parkway Drive)

· Thursday, April 12th 6:30pm Quarterly Crime Prevention Class “Identify and Prevent Drug Use” (7887 E 60th Ave)

· Saturday, April 28th 10am-2pm “Prescription Drug Round-up” (7887 E 60th Ave and 18240 E 104th Ave)

· Thursday, May 10th, 8-10am “Coffee with a Cop” (McDonalds 10400 Belle Creek Blvd)

· Thursday, May 31st, 6:30pm Quarterly Crime Prevention Class “Bike Safety, Part 1” (7887 E 60th Ave)

· Saturday, June 16th 9am-12pm Quarterly Crime Prevention Class “Bike Safety, Part 2: Bike Rodeo” (7887 E 60th Ave)

· Thursday, July 12th 8am-10am “Coffee with a Cop” (Commerce City Senior Center, 6060 E Parkway Drive)

· July 24th-July 27th Police Camp

http://youtu.be/_0mlbQYzpE0

(registration is through the Commerce City Recreation Center starting April 1st )

· Tuesday, August 7th National Night Out

· Thursday, September 13th 8am-10am “Coffee with a Cop” (Starbucks, 10339 Tower Road)

· Thursday, October 11th 6:30pm Quarterly Crime Prevention Class

· Thursday, November 8th 8am-10am “Coffee with a Cop” (McDonalds 6050 Parkway Drive)

Suspicious Note Prompts Investigation

COMMERCE CITY – On Wednesday morning, officers from the Commerce City Police Department responded to Belle Creek Charter School, 9290 E 107th Ave, on a report of a suspicious note found at the school.

A note indicating a bomb threat was found in the teacher’s lounge by a staff member of the charter school. The school was secured prior to opening for morning classes. Officers searched the school and were unable to locate any threat to students or staff.

The school was reopened and classes started on a normal schedule. An official investigation is still underway, though the school and police do not believe the bomb threat to be credible.

Commerce City Police need your help in identifying a suspicious party

COMMERCE CITY – On February 15, 2012 between 6:15 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., a 17-year-old girl was walking to school in the 6300 block of E. 80th Avenue. A small, black 2-door vehicle pulled up next to her. The vehicle had a misused Colorado license plate 536YAT. The Hispanic male driver spoke in broken English with a Spanish accent.

The male driver asked her if she wanted a ride. When she said “no”, he followed her to the bus stop, continuing to offer her a ride.

On February 15, 2012 between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., a different 17-year-old female was walking home from school in the 7000 block of Monaco Street. A Hispanic male pulled up next to her and offered a ride. When she refused, he continued to follow her. At one point, he parked his vehicle, approached her on foot, and asked her if she would have sex with him.

That male is described as in his 40’s, with black and grey hair, a mustache and glasses.

It is unknown if these incidents are related.

If you have any information concerning this person, or if you have seen the described vehicle, please contact the Commerce City Police Department tip line at 303-289-3626 to remain anonymous. You can also call Commerce City Detective Christian Rasmussen at 303-727-3949 reference case #13CN12001001 or case #13CN12001003.

This serves as a reminder to parents to teach their children there are only certain safe people that they can go with. Parents should communicate to their children 2-3 people that should pick them up. If someone else offers them a ride, this is not a safe situation. They should first seek the help of a safe adult - teachers, law enforcement, or firemen.

They should then tell their parents and report all suspicious incidents to the police.

9NEWS: Friend says deputies did not need to shoot man

THREE LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY - FORMER MAYOR NATALE AND FORMER CITY MANAGER FLANNERY ALSO SUED

There are three outstanding lawsuits that have been filed against the city of Commerce City, Colorado, two have trial dates set and one of the lawsuits also includes former Mayor Paul Natale, former City Manager Gerald Flannery, current Assistant City Manager Tom Acre, and former Communications Director Heather Spencer.

Former Economic Director, Stephanie Salazar, sued the city as well as the above four city employees and officials in June of 2010. The trial is set to begin on June 18, 2012. Salazar’s lawsuit alleges discrimination and retaliation regarding remarks about Navajo Indians made by Flannery, remarks made against her by Natale in public meetings, and retaliation against her ending in her termination.

Jennifer Perinn has filed a lawsuit against five police officers for assault and battery and intentional infliction of severe emotional distress. Jennifer Perinn was allegedly injured during an officer involved shooting in which the perpetrator was killed by police and she was a passenger in the perpetrator’s vehicle. A trial date has been set for July of 2012.

The Agazio family is suing the city and two police officers in the shooting incident that killed their dog. They are suing due to excessive force, in adequate training, deprivation of property rights, intentional infliction of severe emotional distress, negligent infliction of severe emotional distress, gross negligence, battery, conversion, assault, and trespass. No trial date has been set as of the publication of this story.

Three different outside law firms have been hired by the city for each of the three different cases. Gateway News has made a request for the amount of tax dollars that are being used to defend the city and their employees in these lawsuits.

The family of Gabriel Trujillo, the four year old boy who was murdered in Commerce City last week, is consulting with an attorney to review what their rights are in his death. His grandmother had been charged with first degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in that case in Adams County.

Coffee with a Commerce City Cop 2012 Schedule

Join members of the Commerce City Police Department at an upcoming Coffee with a Cop. These regular events are a great opportunity for members of the community to interact and ask questions of the department in a casual atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these upcoming meetings:

• Thursday, March 8, 8-10 AM
McDonalds, 6050 E Parkway Dr.
• Thursday, May 10, 8-10 AM
McDonalds, 10400 Belle Creek Blvd.
• Thursday, July 12, 8-10 AM
Rec. Center, 6060 E Parkway Dr.
• Thursday, Sep. 13, 8-10 AM
Starbucks, 10339 Tower Road.
• Thursday, Nov. 18, 8-10 AM

Commerce City Grandmother Charged in Death of Four-Year Old

Adams/Broomfield County District Attorney Don Quick announced the filing of charges against a 60 year old woman concerning the death of her grandson.

Doris Becky Trujillo (DOB: 01/27/1952) was charged with First Degree Murder (F1) and Child Abuse Resulting in Death (F2) for causing the death of her four year old grandson, Gabriel Andres Trujillo in Commerce City, Colorado.

All documents are currently under seal by court order to preserve the integrity of an ongoing investigation.

Trujillo is next scheduled to appear in court for a setting hearing on February 28, 2012, 8:30 AM at the Adams County Justice Center, Division F.

9NEWS: Step-grandmother alleges police didn't do enough to save grandson

9NEWS: 4-year-old dies, grandmother accused of abuse

Commerce City Police Department investigates child abuse resulting in death

Dorris Becky Trujillo

COMMERCE CITY ― The Commerce City Police Department is investigating the death of a four year old child resulting from suspected child abuse. On February 14, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. an ambulance was called to the 6400 block of Siegal Court for a child that had fallen. The child was transported by ambulance to the hospital that day. Due to suspicious circumstances of the injuries, Commerce City Police Department immediately began to investigate.

Denver POST: Nearly 100 charged in largest drug bust in Colorado history

Former Quality Paving and Quality Resurfacing Owner and President Jerry Rhea Found Guilty

The 17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick announced today that former Quality Paving and Quality Resurfacing Owner and President, Jerry Rhea (DOB: 01/11/1948) was found guilty of theft of Adams County funds.

Charges stem from paving and resurfacing contracts between Quality Paving/Resurfacing and Adams County Public Works in 2007. Evidence presented at trial showed several discrepancies in what was billed to Adams County by Quality Paving and Quality Resurfacing and what work was actually completed by the companies. Furthermore, former employees of Rhea testified that Rhea was aware and oversaw all company transactions, including direct oversight of all accounts payable and accounts receivable.

9NEWS: Police caution car sellers on Craigslist

9NEWS: Operation Sweet Leaf: Investigators seized $13 million in marijuana

Multi-jurisdictional Drug Raids Report...

17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick and the North Metro Drug Task Force release the following information regarding yesterday morning’s multi-jurisdictional drug raids:

• Law Enforcement Officials raided 25 grow houses: 15 houses in Adams County, (four in Brighton, one in Commerce City, one in Northglenn, one in Strasburg, four in Thornton, one in Westminster, three in Unincorporated Adams County) three in Broomfield, four in Denver, one in Fredrick, one in Erie, and one in Breckenridge.
o Seven children were in the homes during the raids,
o Significant mold was found in some of the homes posing health and environmental risk.

• Items seized:
o 40 guns
o 2,749 marijuana plants
o 147.55 pounds of dry marijuana
o Over $278,500 in US currency
o 15 million in Iraq Dinar currency

• 16 arrest warrants were issued
o A total of 69 criminal charges are contained in the 16 arrest warrants. Charges include; Racketeering and Conspiracy under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (“COCCA”), Distribution of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Money Laundering.

Only one of the grows houses produced two medical marijuana licenses for two individuals and they had 25 plants. There were no arrests or seizures regarding that particular house. Evidence gathered during the investigation of the remaining 24 houses demonstrates that this was a criminal enterprise with a large part of the marijuana distribution of going out of state via the US Postal Service. States involved include: California, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas.

From the 16 warrants issued, 13 have been arrested. The defendants have court appearances set on various dates in February in Division T.

DA Announces Charges in Fatal Collision...

Adams/Broomfield County District Attorney, Don Quick announced the filing of charges against a man in connection with an automobile collision that resulted in a fatality of a 21 year old woman in Westminster, Colorado.

Viet Quoc Nguyen (DOB: 09/06/1986) is charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide (F3) and (F4), Leaving the Scene of an Accident (F3), Driving Under the Influence, Driving Under Restraint – Alcohol Related Offense and Violation of a Traffic Control Signal.

On January 14, 2010 at approximately 3:25 AM, Westminster Police officers responded to a traffic accident with injuries in the northbound lanes at Sheridan Blvd. and 118th. A Porsche was observed by witnesses traveling northbound on Sheridan Blvd. at a high rate of speed. The car ran a red light and struck another vehicle that was westbound on 118th. Two men were seen fleeing the scene. Nguyen, the driver of the Porsche, was located and apprehended by police several blocks from the collision.

The driver of the struck vehicle, Jenna Breen (DOB: 03/18/1990), died on scene.

Nguyen is scheduled to appear in Adams County Court on February 10, 2012 at 2:00 PM in Division 4 for a preliminary hearing.

Puffer Week Enforcement January 15-21

Statewide Law Enforcement/Community Groups Team up for “Puffer Week”

DENVER— Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI) and Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT) are teaming up the week of January 15-21 to raise public awareness of “puffers”—a term coined by car thieves to describe a vehicle left running unattended.

Thornton Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance

Update

On 01-03-2012, at approximately 9:30 pm, an adult female reported to police that she had noticed an unknown male following her in the store. When the victim exited the store, the male followed the victim to her vehicle and confronted her as she was attempting to enter her vehicle. The male grabbed the victim by the arm, displayed a black colored handgun, and threatened the victim to get into the vehicle. The victim yelled for help and was able to summon the assistance of several bystanders in the parking lot. The male then walked east through the parking lot to an unknown location. The incident occurred in the Wal-Mart parking lot located at 9901 N. Grant Street, Thornton, Colorado.

On 01-13-2012, at approximately 5:10 pm, Thornton Police Department Investigators were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Daniel Matthew Krajnik, Date of Birth: 02-03-1982, for Criminal Attempt First Degree Kidnapping, and Felony Menacing. The charges carry a $100,000 bond stipulation. Daniel Krajnik was an active escapee from the Colorado Department of Corrections at the time of the Wal-Mart incident. An arrest warrant was issued for his arrest on 01-02-2012 for the charge of Escape from the Department of Corrections. On 01-04-2012, Daniel Krajnik voluntarily turned himself in the Colorado Department of Corrections and was subsequently arrested by the Denver Police Department. Daniel Krajnik is currently in custody at the Denver County Jail on the Escape charges. The weapon has not been recovered at this time.

The Thornton Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance with identifying a person involved in the attempted abduction of an adult female at the Wal-Mart store located at 9901 Grant Street. The incident occurred on 01-03-2012, at approximately 9:30 p.m. The adult female victim told Officers that she had noticed the unknown male following her in the store. When the victim exited the store, the male followed the victim to her vehicle and confronted her as she was attempting to enter her vehicle. The male grabbed the victim by the arm, displayed a black colored handgun, and directed the victim to get into the vehicle. The victim yelled for help and was able to summon the assistance of several bystanders in the parking lot. The male then walked east through the parking lot to an unknown location.

The male is described as 25-35 years of age, approximately six feet tall, weighing two hundred to two hundred twenty pounds. He has short blond hair, balding, and was wearing thin wire eye glasses. The suspect was wearing dark colored heavy winter coat, black t-shirt, white tennis shoes, and blue jeans. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Metro Area Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.

Quality Paving VP Found Guilty...

The 17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick announced that former Quality Paving Vice-President Dennis Coen (DOB: 08/01/1953) was found guilty of theft of Adams County funds.

In the spring of 2008, the Adams County Sheriff and Adams County District Attorney commenced an investigation into allegations of improper and illegal transactions between employees of Adams County Public Works and county road contractors, Quality Paving and Quality Resurfacing. Over the last three years, the investigation involved the collection and review of more than 80,000 pages of documents, interviews of factual and expert witnesses and detailed examinations of numerous county road construction projects.

Brighton Police shoot armed man

At about 8:45 p.m. last night, a Brighton police officer shot an armed 36-year-old Brighton man who was advancing upon him, after the suspect reportedly threatened several people in separate incidents and led officers on a vehicle pursuit. The wounded man was transported to Denver Health Center, where he later died. The identity of the suspect is not being released at this time.

Brighton Police seek help identifying vandals

Brighton police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying possible suspects in graffiti vandalism to several locations around town. Police are asking citizens to examine the images below, obtained from surveillance footage, to see if they can provide information which would help identify the individuals shown.

A cash reward of up to $250 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, and callers may remain anonymous.

Police ask that anyone who has any information about these incidents, or can identify any of the individuals in the attached images, to call the Graffiti-Stoppers Tip Line, (303) 655-2399.

9NEWS: 2 men officially charged in killing of teacher in Denver

Commerce City FOP Lodge 19 Statement on Chief Philip Baca’s retirement announcement

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #19 was notified yesterday of Chief Philip Baca’s retirement announcement effective January 2nd, 2012. Chief Philip Baca has been with the Commerce City Police Department for several years and achieved tremendous successes within the department. We wish him the very best for his earned retirement after over 34 years of service in law enforcement and all his future endeavors.

Commerce City Police Chief announces retirement

COMMERCE CITY, COLO. – Police Chief Phil Baca informed city management he will retire from his position effective Jan. 2, 2012. A 34-year veteran of law enforcement, Baca served as chief for four years.

“I want to thank Chief Baca for his years of service to Commerce City and his commitment to building a Quality Community for a Lifetime,” said Brian McBroom, interim city manager. “During his tenure, Chief Baca implemented a strategic plan that consistently reduced crime and improved community relationships. This is a testament to his belief in the concept of community policing and improving accountability at all levels of the organization.”

District Attorney Don Quick Announces Charges Against Valdez

John Valdez

17th Judicial District Attorney, District Attorney Don Quick announced today the filing of criminal charges in connection with the shooting of a man in the parking lot of a bar in Adams County, Colorado.

John Valdez (DOB: 02/06/1986) was charged with First Degree Murder (F1), Possession with Intent to Manufacture or Distribute a Controlled Substance (F3), Vehicular Eluding (F5), Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (F5).

On December 8, 2011 at 1:37 AM an Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy was on regular patrol in the area of 7950 Federal Blvd. in unincorporated Adams County when he heard a gunshot and observed a person fall to the ground. The victim was identified as Javier Raucho-Benitez (DOB: 04/10/1985).