Man pleads not guilty in impersonation case
A 46-year-old man accused of impersonating a Denver police officer and sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Trial for the defendant, Michael Ricks, was scheduled for Jan. 17. Investigators say the assaults took place in January and February and involved a 17-year-old woman in one case and a 26-year-old woman in the second incident.
Ricks is charged with two counts of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of sexual assault and three counts of impersonating a peace officer.
Earlier this month, Ricks was sentenced to 20 years to life for assaulting numerous women in the south suburban area of Denver, where he masqueraded as a doctor and chiropractor.
Suspected robber gets cash, takes a seat
Police arrested a man Thursday after he walked into a bank, allegedly demanded money, then sat down at a desk in the lobby after being handed an undisclosed amount of cash.
Tellers told police the suspect, Earl Thompson, 51, of Tampa, Fla., appeared to be experiencing a medical problem, Boulder police said.
“A robber staying inside a bank after robbing it is certainly unusual,” Detective Sgt. Tom Trujillo said in a statement. “It’s just not something we usually see.” Thompson was hospitalized after his arrest.
Gasoline thief stirs fears of copycats
Police said they are concerned about possible copycats after one of the largest gasoline thefts in Craig city history.
Somebody driving a maroon pickup reportedly filled gasoline tanks in the pickup and two snowmobiles, as well as a large tank in the bed of the truck and then drove off early Tuesday from the Kum & Go station, police said.
The person stole nearly 125 gallons of premium unleaded, which sells at $3.19 per gallon, for a total bill of about $400.
Probation for figure in state license scam
A middleman who cooperated with federal authorities investigating a driver’s license scam was sentenced in federal court to three years’ probation Thursday. Juan Pablo Beltran was the intermediary for people looking to illegally buy driver’s licenses and a state clerk who sold them in exchange for cash, according to court records.
A federal investigation, which remains active, has resulted in the arrests of two driver’s license clerks accused of selling the coveted state documents to people otherwise ineligible to get them, the suspension of dozens of suspect driver’s licenses, and reforms within the state Division of Motor Vehicles.
Firefighter killed, another hurt in crash
A Mountain View firefighter was killed and another injured in a motorcycle accident on Interstate 25 near Loveland on Wednesday.
The firefighters were off-duty at the time of the crash, which occurred on the southbound side of the interstate about 5 p.m.
Firefighter/engineer Jeff Gold died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Firefighter Mike Stratton has shoulder, rib and chest injuries.
Both men were wearing helmets.
The accident happened when the motorcyclists slowed for traffic.
Trent Nichols, 23, of Greeley was driving a Ford F-250 truck and rear-ended Gold’s motorcycle, sending it into the guardrail, said State Patrol Trooper Eric Wynn. The Ford rolled over.
Stratton lost control of his motorcycle and was struck by debris, Wynn said.
A passenger in Nichols’ truck, 23-year-old Jesse Alfaro, of Greeley, was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.
Police identify victim of Sunday car crash
Aurora police identified the victim of a fatal car accident that occurred Sunday morning as 23-year-old Julio C. Castro-Diaz.
A witness told police that a 1991 red GMC SUV was swerving while traveling eastbound in the 16700 block of East Hampden Avenue.
The GMC went over a raised center median and rolled.
Stairwell fire rousts condo residents
Seven residents were forced out of a burning condominium complex Thursday morning after a fire was detected on a stairwell, Aurora fire officials said.
The fire started at 2:33 a.m. in the 13700 block of East Lehigh Avenue.
A resident returning home saw the fire on the stairwell landing. She called 911.
Aurora firefighters put the blaze out about 45 minutes later. The seven residents had to relocate temporarily.
Udall seeks hearing on disaster planning
Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs on Thursday called on Democratic leaders in the statehouse to convene legislative hearings on emergency-response planning in Colorado after Gov. Bill Owens’ office rejected a similar request from him.
In a letter released by Udall’s office, the congressman wrote, “While I have no reason to believe that state and federal emergency responders are ill-equipped to handle these potential disasters, I believe that we have a responsibility to carefully examine how government at all levels is planning to respond.”
