Alleged accomplice of man killed by police is charged
Devon Lee Kelly was charged Wednesday with first-degree criminal trespass in connection with an April 20 incident in which Kelly’s purported partner in crime was killed by police.
Police allege that Kelly and Jimmy G. Orozco, 23, were breaking into cars in the parking garage of The Metro apartments, 699 W. 29th Ave., when they were confronted by police. Orozco was shot and killed when he tried to run over officers with a car. Kelly, 24, jumped out of the car on the third level of the garage but was captured on the second level by officers.
The charge against Kelly alleges that he was breaking into the cars. He is in custody in the Denver County Jail. His bail is $15,000.
GRANADA
Migrant teen driver cited in fatal crash
The 15-year-old who crashed into a freight train traveling through Granada that killed several members of his family was served with traffic citations as he recovered in the hospital last week.
Christopher Cruz is facing six counts of careless driving causing death, driving without a license and insurance and failing to yield the right of way when proceeding from a stop sign.
The accident occurred April 13 in southeastern Colorado as the migrant workers were headed to Denver.
Cruz’s mother, Cristela Rios, and her boyfriend, Francisco Perez Jr., were killed, along with two of her children, Bud Cruz, 13, and Harley Rios, 14.
Melissa Resendez, 23, of Combes, Texas, and Ventura Becerra, 26, of Harlingen, Texas, were also killed. The radio in the vehicle was turned up high, possibly for their benefit because the two were hearing impaired.
Authorities speculate the passengers in the sport utility vehicle may not have been able to hear the oncoming train above the radio.
CRAIG
Oil, gas leases fought near reservoir, ferrets
The city of Craig and environmental groups filed protests Wednesday against oil and gas leasing near a reservoir and on land where endangered animals are being reintroduced.
Craig objected to oil and gas development in a planned recreation area and near a reservoir and drainage basin that serves as an emergency drinking water source.
Environmental groups questioned why the federal Bureau of Land Management plans to lease land for energy development next month where the agency has introduced black-footed ferrets, one of the rarest mammals in the United States.
“The BLM wants to open this area to drilling at the same time they are releasing a highly endangered wildlife species back into the wild there,” said Erin Robertson, a Center for Native Ecosystems biologist. “Why would the BLM undermine the chances of this important recovery program?”
WASHINGTON
NTSB ruling expected in Ebersol jet crash
Federal officials next week are expected to determine what caused the 2004 crash of a charter jet in Colorado that killed a pilot, the flight attendant and the 14-year-old son of NBC Sports executive Dick Ebersol, Teddy.
The National Transportation Safety Board will meet in Washington Tuesday morning to consider investigators’ findings on two crashes, including the one involving Ebersol. They are expected to vote at the meeting on the probable cause of the accident.
Investigators have said they were considering whether ice on the wings contributed to the crash on the morning of Nov. 28, 2004, just after the twin-engine Canadair jet carrying Ebersol and two of his sons took off from the Montrose airport.
The temperature was just below freezing, with mist and flurries in the air.
Investigators have sifted through wreckage and examined pictures, transcripts and interviews of witnesses and passengers.
According to an accident report released this year, Dick Ebersol and another son, Charlie, reported seeing liquid or slush on the plane before takeoff. But a transcript of a recorded conversation between the pilots shows the pilots looked out the window and said the wings looked clear of ice. They took off without de-icing.
SANTA FE
Two N.M. forest areas under fire restrictions
More of the Santa Fe National Forest will be under fire restrictions as of Friday, as the west side of the forest adds the same restrictions that took effect in the forest’s east side last week.
In southern New Mexico, the Lincoln National Forest has decided to impose a Stage III closure order to prevent human- caused fires.
Officials with both forests are blaming high fire danger.
SANTA FE
State to appeal ruling on prison crowding
The New Mexico Corrections Department says it plans to appeal a state district judge’s ruling ordering a special panel on prison overcrowding to consider an early release of nonviolent female prisoners.
The appeal will challenge an April 18 ruling by Judge Jim Hall that under state law, Corrections Secretary Joe Williams must notify the Corrections Population Control Commission of overcrowding at the New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility at Grants.
CODY, Wyo.
Forest official revokes permit for ski area
Citing safety concerns, the Shoshone National Forest has revoked the special-use permit for the Sleeping Giant ski area near the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
The decision, announced Tuesday by forest supervisor Becky Aus, means the current owners must either sell the ski area or remove all the lifts, buildings and equipment.
“If I don’t find a buyer for the assets, then I guess my only other options would be to demolish and remove it, or let it revert to the Forest Service, but that would be my last option,” said Keith Dahlem, who owns Sleeping Giant Corp. along with his mother and sister.
Dahlem said he couldn’t afford the cost to repair and run the ski area, which has been closed since 2003.
“I’ve worked on this since 1972, but I’ve run out of energy,” he said. “I wish I had deep enough pockets to do it, but I don’t.”
Aus said delays by the current owners in making repairs to the ski lift forced her to revoke the permit.
“We hoped it would be possible for the owners to fix these hazards and reopen the resort to the public. Unfortunately, lack of progress and our ongoing concern for the safety of skiers finally led us to conclude that we needed to take this action,” she said.
