LITTLETON – The Littleton parents of a severely autistic 8-year-old boy sued their homeowners’ association Wednesday in U.S. District Court, claiming the HOA has harassed them over a wooden backyard fence they built in July to keep their son safe.
The lawsuit asks for an injunction to allow Peter and Jean Illig to make reasonable modifications and provide accommodations for their son, Fletcher, at their home in the 7900 block of South Datura Street.
Due to Fletcher’s autism, he is nonverbal and extremely active and curious, and, as a result, he runs and wanders from his family’s home and yard, the suit says.
A team of experts in autism recommended this year that the family make modifications to their home, including a 6-foot cedar privacy fence to prevent Fletcher from climbing over it.
The lawsuit contends that the Illigs were harassed by their HOA, even though the fence is the same design and type as more than 100 fences in their neighborhood, including a house next door.
Phone calls to Carol Porter, president of the Southbridge II Property Owners Association, and the HOA on Tuesday were not returned.
MORE BRIEFS
DENVER
State transient count slated for release
The Colorado Division of Housing today is expected to release the first statewide count of homeless people in 18 years.
Some estimates put the total at 15,000, four times larger than the last count in 1988.
The survey, which occurred Aug. 28 and 29 and covered the state’s 64 counties, is expected to “surprise some cities that thought they had no homeless problem,” division analyst Justin Marks said.
More than 485 agencies participated in the survey, commissioned by the Colorado Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Another count is due in late January.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Series of ATV thefts leads to nine arrests
Nine arrests in a string of all- terrain vehicle thefts were announced Tuesday.
After more than 40 ATVs were stolen since April, police set out an ATV and trailer on the street Thursday to see if they would be stolen, said Lakewood police spokesman Steve Davis.
Four hours later, they were swiped.
With the assistance of the Denver SWAT team, a search warrant was executed Friday on a residence in Denver. Two adults and a child were found in the house as officers arrested suspects at three additional locations.
Of the nine arrested, four were released pending charges. The five who were jailed are Raudelio Olivas-Solis, 44; Saul Olivas- Cruz, 24; Roberto Gomez-Mar quez, 26; Luis Carlos Gutierrez- Gutierrez, 19; and Jose Manuel Balderama-Marquez, 44.
Four ATVs, two trailers and five other vehicles were recovered, Davis said.
Holds were placed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on four of the five who were jailed, police said.
