Man, 70, dies in attack outside his home
A 70-year-old Aspen Park man was killed by an unknown assailant early Saturday outside his home, police said.
Patrick Housand’s wife found him just after 4 a.m., lying wounded and unconscious outside his garage in the 25700 block of Stansbery Street, in southwest Jefferson County.
Sheriff’s deputies responded, and attempts to save the man were unsuccessful, spokeswoman Jacki Tallman said.
Police had no suspects late Saturday, nor had they determined a motive, Tallman said. Housand was preparing to leave for work when he was attacked.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have seen a suspicious person or vehicle in the area to contact the department’s tip line at 303-271-5612.
Longmont overruled probe in cellphone, Net use
Investigators said they were overruled when Longmont city officials decided not to discipline an employee who used a city-issued cellphone to defend controversial University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill on a radio talk show.
Glenn Spagnuolo was accused of abusing city resources and time for extended and repeated personal use of the Internet, a city-issued cellphone and other violations of city policy, according to a 20-page report calling for his firing.
The report, obtained by the Daily Times-Call newspaper, was compiled by city personnel investigators. Their managers decided against formally disciplining Spagnuolo and didn’t release or discuss the report.
Spagnuolo, the city’s recreation program supervisor, denied the allegations. He said he reimbursed the city for personal cellphone use and listened to the radio through an Internet feed because reception was bad in his office. He is suing the city, claiming his free speech rights were violated. The investigation has cost the city almost $30,000.
No one injured after jet veers off runway
An American Airlines jet carrying 109 people veered off a runway during landing Saturday at Denver International Airport.
There were no injuries, nor was there damage to the MD-80 airplane, airport officials said.
Flight 1125, en route from Dallas, traveled off the runway for a “short distance” and then came to a stop, DIA spokesman Chuck Cannon said.
It had not been determined late Saturday why the plane veered off the runway, he said.
There was minimal damage to Runway 35-Right, resulting in a brief shutdown of the runway while the airliner was towed, Cannon said. Airport operations were not interrupted.
No charges in death of girl mauled by dog
The Mesa County district attorney won’t file criminal charges in the death of a 7-year-old girl who was mauled by her pet dog this month in Fruita.
Kate-Lynn Logel was bitten in the throat May 7 by a 6-year-old male Alaskan malamute. The girl’s family had gotten the pet, along with another dog, three weeks earlier.
The girl was alone with the dogs in a backyard when she was attacked. District Attorney Pete Hautzinger said Friday that he and his staff reviewed the case thoroughly, including the actions of Logel’s parents.
“While it is a terribly tragic situation, there is nothing criminal here,” he said.
Both dogs were euthanized Friday at the request of the Logel family.
Boulder Canyon climber dies in fall
A man climbing Boulder Canyon fell to his death Saturday afternoon when his equipment apparently failed, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said.
The 24-year-old was climbing the Elephant Buttress area with a partner when he fell.
The sheriff’s office would not release any more details. The name of the victim is being withheld until his family is notified.
