Man shot to death in back-of-lot cottage
Denver police are investigating a shooting death Thursday night in a back-of-the-lot cottage in southwest Denver.
The victim lived at 3149 1/2 W. Virginia Ave. in a small house behind another home at the front of the lot. He was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, said Detective John White, a police spokesman.
Police said the victim was 45.
The suspects apparently went to the front house looking for the victim by name, police said. The suspects were directed to the house in back, where the shooting occurred, police said.
There were two other people in the small house at the time, but they didn’t witness the shooting, police said. The suspects fled on foot.
History teacher joins race for Udall’s seat
A political newcomer and American history teacher kicked off his campaign against U.S. Rep. Mark Udall on Thursday, becoming the only Republican so far to rise to the challenge.
Rich Mancuso, 60, termed himself an “oxymoron – an idealistic conservative” in announcing his candidacy for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District against the four-term Democrat.
“I teach school, and I look in the eyes of kids who want to believe in the same American dream that you and I have,” Mancuso said. “And the way our government is going … I don’t think it’s there for them. … I want them to have better.”
Udall has a campaign war chest in excess of $1 million and is not expected to be seriously challenged for the seat, which encompasses all or parts of Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Summit and Weld counties.
Mancuso believes he will sew up the nomination with his platform of energy independence and secure borders.
He teaches history at Jefferson County’s D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
Art museum prices to rise with expansion
The Denver Art Museum has announced it will raise admission fees when its $90.5 million expansion opens this fall.
The good news is the increases are less than some had feared. In a new two-tier structure, general admission will rise 25 percent from $8 to $10 for Colorado residents. For the first time, non-Colorado residents will have to pay more, $13, a 62 percent jump.
“The museum is a lot bigger,” said Janet Meredith, director of marketing. “There’s more to see. There’s more to do. And, so, we think it makes sense.”
The museum last raised its entrance fees three years ago.
Along with the new prices, the museum also announced that visitors will need time- and date-specific tickets for at least several months after the expansion debuts because of the expected crowds.
An on-sale date for the tickets will be announced this summer.
The top prices of $10 and $13 compare with $20 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, $15 at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, $10 at the Portland (Ore.) Art Museum and $8 at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Man accused of attack on 2 he met on phone
An 18-year-old man has been charged with kidnapping and assault of women he met through a telephone dating service.
Cornelius Coleman is charged with two counts of second- degree kidnapping and two counts of aggravated robbery in a Feb. 26 incident.
The charges allege that Coleman arranged to meet a 36-year-old woman through the dating service and pulled a gun on the woman and her daughter once they met.
The charges allege he robbed them before they were able to get away.
Coleman is also charged with second-degree kidnapping, two counts of sexual assault and aggravated robbery in a March 10 incident.
The charges allege that Coleman arranged to meet an 18-year-old woman through the phone-dating service, then pulled a gun on her once they met and physically and sexually assaulted her.
Coleman is in custody, with his bail totaling $500,000.
Court-martial set for cadet in cocaine case
A general court-martial for an Air Force Academy cadet accused of using cocaine is scheduled to begin Monday.
Cadet Ronald D. Occenad is charged with using the drug between Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, 2005.
Lt. Gen. John Regni, the superintendent of the academy, referred the case to a court- martial at an Article 32 hearing in October.
If convicted, Occenad faces a maximum of five years of confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dismissal from the Air Force.
Two men arrested in locksmith burglary
Two men who are suspects in the Feb. 5 burglary of Highland Lock & Safe in Evergreen have been arrested.
On Feb. 28, the Aurora Police Department and U.S. Postal Service executed a search warrant at 3248 S. Cathay Circle in Aurora in reference to a federal mail-theft investigation.
During the search, evidence was found in connection to the locksmith burglary, in which “slim jims,” lock picks and 80 master keys labeled with owners’ names and addresses were stolen.
Investigators determined that Kenneth R. Blau, 31, and Andrew Matejka, 28, were responsible for the burglary, said Jim Shires, spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 5, a Jefferson County deputy in the Evergreen area attempted to stop a Chevy Tahoe for an unreadable license plate. Shires said the driver failed to yield and crashed on South Grapevine Road and ran from the deputy.
The vehicle was reported stolen from Aurora. After a short search of the area, Shires said, deputies apprehended Blau, the driver.
Matejka is in custody in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on charges of auto theft and mail theft. Shires said details about his arrest were not available.
