2 deputies cleared in killing of woman holding fake gun
Two Larimer County sheriff’s deputies have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a woman suspected of robbing a Loveland bank. She was shot as she pointed a fake gun at them.
Deputy Raphael Sanchez, 37, a veteran of Afghanistan, and Investigator Steven Holloway, 54, who has been on the department 27 years, also followed sheriff’s department policies in the shooting and have been cleared to return to duty, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said Wednesday in a prepared statement.
The shooting occurred Jan. 12 just across the county line in Boulder County. The Boulder County district attorney’s office has deemed the shooting “justifiable use of deadly force,” according to state statutes, Alderden said.
A letter to the sheriff signed by Peter Maguire, first assistant district attorney of Boulder County, said that even though the woman did not have a real gun, Sanchez and Holloway had “reasonable grounds to believe, and did in fact believe, that the object was a deadly weapon and that Deputy Sanchez was in imminent danger of being killed or receiving great bodily injury.”
The woman was later identified as Catherine “Dodie” Cariaso, 56, who had been sentenced last year to 60 days in jail for abandoning 84 dogs in a kennel she ran near Berthoud.
AURORA
Schools chief Adams announces retirement
Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Bob Adams announced his retirement Wednesday.
“This was a hard decision,” Adams said in a statement. “But it is time to refocus on my family and our future.”
Adams has served as superintendent of Aurora Public Schools for the past five years. His retirement will become effective June 30.
The school district has 32,000 students in 42 schools.
COLORADO SPRINGS
11 held, drugs seized after 2-year probe
Federal and local law-enforcement agents arrested 11 people and seized 3 pounds of cocaine; 14 ounces of ICE, a pure form of methamphetamine; $160,000; and a stash of weapons on Wednesday.
Deputy District Attorney Denise Minish said a two-year investigation shows the drugs were being imported from Mexico and distributed in the United States, including Colorado Springs.
The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $296,000.
Those arrested in connection with the investigation are Elvin Alexis Lopez, Jose L. Matta, Laura Payan-Garcia, Julio Lopez-Hernandez, Carlos Ivan Martinez, Carlos Ornelos, Gustavo Acosta-Lazcano, Carlos Valdez, Juan Hernandez, Samuel Lopez and Vicki Menas.
MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
2,000 more items tied to con artist found
Mountain Village police investigators have cataloged another 2,000 items allegedly stolen by longtime con artist James Arthur Hogue during his stay in San Miguel County.
Investigator Robert Walraven said the new items came from a storage locker outside Alamosa and have been traced to thefts in Aspen and Mountain Village in the past three years.
The building materials, tools, linens and books found in the storage unit bring the stolen items allegedly linked to Hogue to more than 7,000. The new materials resulted in an added charge and increased bail for Hogue, who is being held in the Pima County jail in Tucson while he awaits extradition.
EVERGREEN
80 master keys stolen from lock company
A burglar, or burglars, in Evergreen hit a safe and lock company, making off with trade-related tools – including slim jims and lock picks – and a lockbox containing about 80 master keys.
Highlands Mobile Safe and Lock Co. was burglarized Sunday night, said Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The master keys stolen were labeled with the owners’ names and addresses, Kelley said.
The company and the Sheriff’s Office are contacting the homeowners whose keys were stolen, and the locksmith is rekeying locks.
WISCONSIN
Frequent lawsuit filer turns herself in
Kay Sieverding, a woman who was ordered to return to jail for failing to dismiss several self- written lawsuits, on Wednesday turned herself in to authorities in Wisconsin, said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Ken Deal. U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham last week issued a bench warrant for her arrest, saying she was in contempt of court for refusing to obey his order to stop litigating.
Sieverding had filed numerous court actions – all stemming from a dispute she had with neighbors and city officials in Steamboat Springs more than a decade ago – and didn’t give up even after repeated losses and a judge’s order for her to stop filing the lawsuits.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
4 women arrested at spa in sex sting
Four women were arrested at a massage parlor in Arapahoe County on Tuesday night after undercover officers say they were offered sex at the spa.
Officers got a tip that prostitution was going on at the Bali Spa in the 1800 block of South Parker Road.
An undercover investigator went into the spa after 6 p.m. to get a massage and was asked if he wanted a sex act performed on him, authorities said.
Yang Senga, 37, and Nyong Toups, 50, were arrested on suspicion of prostitution.
Michelle Chin Schramm, 50, and Yucha Kwan Heberling, 38, were arrested on suspicion of keeping a place of prostitution.
BOULDER
Sharpton cancels talk after missing flight
The Rev. Al Sharpton, scheduled to speak on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus Wednesday night, abruptly canceled earlier in the day after he missed his flight to Denver.
Camilo Quintero, a CU student who is involved with bringing speakers to campus for the Cultural Events Board, said Sharpton had an “unforeseen emergency” Wednesday morning that caused him to miss his flight.
The speech has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Glenn Miller Ballroom in the University Memorial Center.
