Boy, 11, killed, woman hurt in rollover near Franktown
An 11-year-old boy died and a female driver was seriously injured in a single-car accident on Colorado 83 in Douglas County on Thursday night.
Colorado State Patrol troopers were dispatched to the scene of the rollover accident near mile marker 34, north of Franktown, at 8:03 p.m., according to Gilbert Mares, spokesman for the State Patrol.
The boy was declared dead at the scene.
The woman, believed to be the boy’s mother, was transported to Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs with serious injuries, according to Mares.
The State Patrol is investigating whether alcohol may have contributed to the accident, Mares said.
The names of the woman and the boy were not released, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE
Iraq war veteran faces shooting charges
An Iraq war veteran who police said might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was charged with attempted first-degree murder Thursday by Arapahoe County prosecutors.
Robert Ziarnick was arrested Sunday after allegedly shooting at a Greenwood Village police officer, police said. He also was charged with aggravated robbery, attempted kidnapping and menacing, prosecutors said.
Ziarnick’s wife called police to a motel near Interstate 25 and East Arapahoe Road on Sunday because the couple were arguing, police said.
Ziarnick fled on a motorcycle but abandoned it nearby and took off on foot, police said. While running through area backyards, Ziarnick is alleged to have fired four to six shots from a 9mm handgun at an officer, police said. The officer was not injured.
Police said Ziarnick then carjacked a 2005 silver Acura at gunpoint near South Dayton Street and East Progress Place. The driver escaped and was not injured.
Ziarnick was found in Cherry Creek State Park about four hours after first fleeing.
DENVER
Minuteman group starting local chapter
The Minuteman group, known for its anti-illegal-immigrant stance and volunteer patrols along the U.S.-Mexico border, is starting a chapter in Denver. Another chapter, in Colorado Springs, also is planned.
Richard Rankin, Denver chapter director, said local chapters will focus on making it easier for local volunteers to go to the border for patrols, monitoring employers and landlords in violation of any laws and patrolling the highways looking for signs of human trafficking such as overloaded vehicles.
Rankin said chapter members will not detain anyone but will report findings to law enforcement and government agencies.
The group will hold its first meeting Aug. 19.
DENVER
Stolen, unmarked police car recovered
Police recovered an unmarked police car Thursday that had been stolen from the home of a Denver police officer Wednesday night.
Two suspects are believed to have broken in to the black 2002 Dodge Intrepid about 10 p.m. Wednesday in the 900 block of South Monaco Parkway, said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
The Intrepid was recovered by police in southwest Denver Thursday afternoon.
Several police items were stolen from the trunk, including unspecified weapons, Jackson said.
WHEAT RIDGE
Viewing, Mass set for I-225 good Samaritan
Services for 22-year-old Crissa Chavez, a pregnant woman who was killed when she stopped to help people who crashed on Interstate 225 on Saturday, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at Crown Hill Mortuary, 7777 W. 29th Ave. in Wheat Ridge.
A viewing is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Mass will be held in the mortuary chapel at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Donations to the Crissa Chavez Fund are being accepted at the Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement Credit Union, 700 W. 39th Ave., Denver, CO 80216.
DENVER
Archdiocese gets win on parking appeal
The Colorado Court of Appeals handed a victory Thursday to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver in a long- running land-use battle with the town of Foxfield.
The appellate court overturned an Arapahoe County court ruling that sided with the southeast suburb, sending the case back to the lower court for reconsideration.
At issue is a town ordinance restricting parking in residential areas.
The ordinance was passed after neighbors complained about gatherings at the rectory of Our Lady of Loreto parish.
But the appeals court agreed with the archdiocese’s claim that a federal law protecting religious land-use practice should be weighed in the dispute.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Man arrested on child pornography charges
A Steamboat Springs man was arrested on child pornography charges Thursday.
An FBI investigation of Jason Craig, 31 , led to the discovery of child pornography on his computer, according to a Department of Justice news release.
A federal search warrant of Craig’s residence was executed June 7.
Craig was arrested on a count of marijuana possession and his computer was seized, according to the release.
“Details of the child pornography found won’t be available until a trial or guilty plea in this case,” said Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.
Federal grand jury indictments handed down Tuesday charged Craig with one count each of distribution of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, the release said.
DENVER
State says tenants can retrieve belongings
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a compliance order Thursday to the owners of the Highline Terrace on Parker Apartments to allow displaced tenants to begin retrieving belongings from their apartments.
About 300 people were forced from their homes in June when asbestos was discovered during renovations to the Highline Terrace apartments. Residents have been unable to return for their belongings since.
The implementation of the order is to start within two days of when it was given, according to a news release from the Department of Public Health and Environment.
