Denver police not certain attack involved serial rapist
Denver police said Wednesday they have not linked the suspect in Tuesday night’s attempted sexual assault in the 600 block of Jersey Street to the serial rapist wanted for at least nine rapes in southeast Denver and Aurora.
A man wearing all black attacked a woman as she got out of her vehicle at about 7:45 p.m. She screamed loudly, and he fled.
“We’re looking at the Tuesday night case to see if there are any similarities,” said police spokeswoman Virginia Lopez. “But in this case, the suspect was wearing a ski mask and was described as having a medium build. The serial rapist is described as having a muscular build and a scar on his nose.”
Both suspects are African-American, she said. No arrests had been made by Wednesday evening.
DENVER
Boy, 9, wounded during home invasion
A 9-year-old boy was shot in the back by one of two intruders in a Montbello home late Wednesday, Denver police spokeswoman Virginia Lopez said.
The youngster’s injuries didn’t appear to be life threatening, but he was taken by ambulance to Denver Health Medical Center, Lopez said. No names were released.
Police were called to 4793 Frankfort Way just before 9:30 p.m. on a report of a home invasion where two masked men gained entry and fired at least one shot, Lopez said. A bullet struck the boy, but she didn’t know if he was the target of the gunmen.
The victim’s mother, father and younger sibling also were in the home at the time.
COLORADO
State count is higher than U.S. Census tally
New data from Colorado’s State Demography Office shows that Denver might have more residents than U.S. Census figures have indicated.
The statewide estimates, released Wednesday, show that the state’s largest city had 568,913 residents in 2004 – roughly 12,000 more people than the U.S. Census estimate. According to the state, Colorado had 4,653,023 residents, up 8.2 percent since 2000.
DALLAS
Crash kills 3 evacuees who moved to Colo.
Three Hurricane Katrina evacuees who relocated to Colorado and were returning to New Orleans to meet with an insurance adjuster about their property died early Wednesday when one sport utility vehicle hit another on Interstate 20, police said.
Police arrested the driver of the first vehicle, Robert Roser Jr., 48, of Dallas in what investigators believe is an alcohol-related accident.
Killed as a result of the crash were Lillian Williams Butler, 79, of New Orleans; her son-in-law, Fred Sammy Moore, 59, of Colorado Springs; and her son, Melvin Butler, 42, also of Colorado Springs.
All were in the second SUV.
HIGHLANDS RANCH
Sexual predator has moved to Florida
A sexually violent predator who was living in Highlands Ranch has moved to Key West, Fla., after completing documents at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office that say he is moving to another jurisdiction.
Michael Christopher Carroll, 37, was living in the 1700 block of Mountain View Avenue, and news of his arrival in March angered hundreds of residents in the community.
Carroll moved to Colorado after serving time in Florida for several sexual offenses involving young boys, according to criminal records.
Carroll arrived in Florida on Oct. 19.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
AF religion rules upset state lawmakers
Three GOP lawmakers from Colorado have signed a letter to President Bush complaining about new Air Force rules that they say would restrict the religious freedom of military chaplains.
The proposed rules on religious tolerance, issued Aug. 29 in the wake of complaints about alleged religious pressure on cadets at the Air Force Academy, call on the Air Force not to promote one religion over another and define the role of Air Force chaplains and leaders on religious matters.
“We are disappointed and gravely concerned to learn that the Christian military chaplains are under direct attack and that their right to pray according to their faith is in jeopardy,” says the letter, dated Tuesday and signed by 70 members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Bob Beauprez, Joel Hefley and Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado.
AURORA
City manager a finalist for post in Mesa, Ariz.
Aurora City Manager Ron Miller is one of three finalists for the city manager job in Mesa, Ariz.
Miller is competing for the job with Christopher Brady, who is assistant city manager in San Antonio; and David Garcia, who is the Yuma County, Ariz., county manager.
Mesa’s population is 437,454, and Aurora’s is 300,000.
