NORAD and Buckley AFB placed on heightened alert
North American Aerospace Defense Command near Colorado Springs and Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora were placed on heightened alert Monday.
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Patrick Air Force Base in Florida also went to “Bravo-Plus” status, which is considered slightly higher than a medium threat level. NORAD’s four levels are Alpha (low), Bravo (medium), Charlie (high) and Delta (critical).
“There’s a lot going on,” said NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Chief of Media Relations Michael Kucharek.
“The commander of U.S. Northern Command recently directed personnel at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station in Colorado Springs, Colo., to take necessary security precautions commensurate with its missions,” according to NORAD’s official statement.
On Monday, amid reports that North Korea is preparing to test long-range missiles, North Korea’s state-controlled news outlet announced that the country would respond to any pre-emptive U.S. attack with nuclear war.
“The safety of our people and resources is our top priority,” Kucharek said.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Suspect arrested in Net-luring case
A Jefferson County man, employed with the Transportation Security Administration at Denver International Airport, was arrested in Jefferson County over the weekend in the alleged luring of a child over the Internet, authorities said Monday.
Bobby Ray Stanton, 42, was arrested just 20 minutes after a law went into effect that makes it a Class 5 felony to communicate with a child under 15 years of age over the Internet in a sexually explicit fashion and invite the child to meet for any purpose, Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said.
According to court records, Stanton allegedly arranged a sexual encounter with a Lakewood police officer, posing in a chatroom as a 13-year-old girl.
At the meeting location, police said, Stanton attempted to contact an undercover officer posing as the girl.
Stanton is being held in Jefferson County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, Storey said.
DENVER
Owens OKs border duty for Guard troops
Gov. Bill Owens on Monday signed an agreement to authorize Colorado Army and Air National Guard troops to provide border security in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.
“The Colorado National Guard has a long and storied history of supporting security operations at home and abroad,” Owens said in a statement.
Colorado troops have not yet received deployment orders.
DENVER
Man who intervened in purse heist stabbed
A 32-year-old man was in serious condition Monday after he was stabbed while trying to stop two teenagers from stealing a woman’s purse, Denver police said.
The 65-year-old mugging victim was loading groceries into her car Saturday in the parking lot of an East Denver supermarket when two people came up behind her and grabbed her purse.
Lance Price ran after the thieves and caught up to one at an apartment complex in the 7100 block of East Mississippi Avenue.
Price retrieved the purse and began escorting one of the teenagers back to the supermarket when he was stabbed in the chest.
He was in serious condition at Denver Health Medical Center, hospital officials told 9News. He underwent at least two surgeries to repair damage to his liver, 9News reported.
Police are still searching for the suspects.
AURORA
Police identify stabbing victim
Aurora police identified the woman found stabbed to death Saturday afternoon in an apartment at 12612 E. Kansas Drive as 42-year-old Francisca Perea Dominguez.
Friends discovered the woman lying on the floor in her apartment with an apparent stab wound to her torso, according to police.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Detective Chuck Mehl at 303-739-6213.
ESTES PARK
Missing Nepal student discovered at lodge
A Nepalese exchange student, who works in Estes Park and was reported missing two weeks ago, was found Monday at a lodge, police said.
Authorities had no immediate word on her condition or where she had been.
Pratistha Budhathoki, 20, was working two summer jobs near Rocky Mountain National Park to pay for her studies at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Hero wannabe arrested in arsons
Police said Brent Stafford Rouse, 32, wanted so badly to be a hero that he set three fires in his Willow Creek neighborhood so he could rescue those living inside the homes, according to 9News.
The homes were near one another, and the fires occurred during a three-month period, causing more than $100,000 in damage.
Rouse was arrested in connection with the blazes.
FOXFIELD
Vandals upend Arapahoe home
An Arapahoe County couple returned home Saturday to find their home in shambles, jewelry and other items stolen and a failed attempt by intruders to burn down the house.
Damage to the home is estimated at about $50,000, said Lt. Steve Curti of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department.
Homeowners Ken and Sylvia Ross told 9News they returned to their home in the 7400 block of South Telluride Court to find their front door open and a broken gas line in the kitchen and ash on the stove.
Items were broken throughout the house, and spray paint was found on furniture, appliances, walls and artwork.
DENVER
Public art, literary administrators named
Kendall Peterson, a Los Angeles-based producer of films for the National Geographic Society and the Discovery Channel, has been named Denver’s public art administrator.
Peterson, a Denver native with a master’s degree in modern art and architectural history, replaces John Grant.
He left earlier this year to become director of special projects at the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver, where he is supervising construction of its $15 million building at 15th and Delgany streets.
