The laptop computer reported stolen from the Denver City and County Building and later found at the home of the Denver city attorney is worth more than $1,500, according to a police report.
In all, nearly $1,800 of equipment was reported stolen from a locked storage room, according to the report.
Mayor John Hickenlooper put lead City Attorney Larry Manzanares on leave last week while a special prosecutor from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office investigates how the computer ended up in his home.
Manzanares said Saturday that he bought the computer from a man in a parking lot sometime in January.
On Jan. 26, a court official reported a Gateway M280 computer stolen.
Kelly Chastain, an official in the state court administrator’s office, said in his report that he tried to find a laptop so he could “install it,” but the computer was missing.
The report said the computer could have been taken anytime between Jan. 1 and Jan 26.
In his report, Chastain told police that the “laptop has a tracking software installed and the software shows it has been used on the Internet.”
Chastain’s report said it was used “1-25-06,” but it is unclear if the year was mistake.
Manzanares said police told him several days ago that the computer he had was the one stolen from Denver District Court – the same district where he had been a judge before taking over as Denver city attorney on Jan. 4.
On Saturday, Manzanares said he was trying to buy a used computer at a cheaper price when he met the man in the parking lot. He said he could not remember what he paid for the computer.
Meanwhile Monday, the Hickenlooper administration declined further comments on the case, saying officials wanted to ensure an impartial investigation. In earlier statements, Hickenlooper said he was concerned about the issue and that he expected a thorough investigation.
Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Pam Russell said there was no timetable for when the investigation will be completed.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
