ARVADA
Man found dead after “suspicious incident”
Police are investigating a “suspicious incident” that left a 19-year-old man dead at an apartment late Monday.
A relative of the victim found the body just before 8 p.m. at the Castlegate Apartments near West 84th Avenue and Wads worth Boulevard, Cmdr. Gary Creager said. The relative then ran to a neighbor and called 911, Creager said.
While investigators say the circumstances surrounding the death were suspicious, they were still awaiting a search warrant late Monday to help determine a specific cause and motive.
No one was in custody, but there did not appear to be any danger to the public, police said.
CHEYENNE COUNTY
2nd case of West Nile in state spurs warning
The year’s second human case in Colorado of West Nile virus was confirmed Monday by state health officials, involving a person from Cheyenne County.
The first case, reported last week, involved a person from Logan County.
John Pape, state epidemiologist, said he expects the number of people with West Nile virus to escalate over the next few weeks and urges people to guard themselves from mosquito bites. Additional information about West Nile virus is available at FightTheBiteColorado or 877-462-2911.
DENVER
Fox that bit tot tests negative for rabies
A fox that bit a Denver child did not have rabies, the Colorado Division of Wildlife said Monday.
The fox bit a 2-year-old southwest Denver girl in the face June 24. The girl, Jasmine Estrada, was not seriously injured.
DOW officials found the fox and euthanized it, which is standard procedure for animals that attack a person, said DOW spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill. Officials had the brain of the fox tested and rabies was not found.
CRAIG
Body found of girl who drowned in river
Authorities found the body Monday of a 13-year-old girl who vanished Sunday while swimming with relatives at Loudy Simpson Park near Craig.
Searchers spotted Karen Valdez’s body at 8:30 a.m. Monday about 50 feet from where she was reported missing.
Her death was a “tragic drowning accident,” and no foul play is suspected, said Sheriff Tim Jantz of the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office.
Karen, who lived in Texas, was visiting her aunt, uncle and cousins in Craig.
Her parents drove to Colorado on Monday. They were under the mistaken impression, because of miscommunication with family members, that the girl was alive and in the hospital, the sheriff said.
They found out she had died after they arrived.
DENVER
Man hit in cop chase faces kidnap charge
A man who was hit by a police car as the incident was captured by a 9News helicopter camera was charged Monday with nine criminal counts, including first- degree kidnapping and burglary.
Wayne Rose, 34, is accused of robbing a bank June 26 at 5901 E. Colfax Ave.
Investigators said he fled on foot and threatened two residents who followed him into a nearby neighborhood.
Rose then allegedly stole a car from another victim, leading police on a brief chase. He ran from the stolen car and was chased by an officer on foot when they were both hit by a police car. The officer was treated for minor injuries.
Rose was treated for minor injuries at Denver Health Medical Center and is being held at the Denver County Jail on $125,000 bail.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Owner of theater site sues over rent, loan
The owner of the site of the abandoned Country Dinner Playhouse has filed a lawsuit in Arapahoe County District Court against the 37-year business owned by David Lovinggood and Robert Buffington.
The Uhlmann Offices Inc. of California is seeking $166,027 plus fees and other damages from the playhouse, which shuttered without warning after the May 20 performance of “Evita.”
The lawsuit claims the owners last paid base rent of $9,300 a month in January. They also claim Lovinggood has failed to repay a $100,000 loan he received from previous owners and which Uhlmann assumed when it bought the property in 2005.
FORT CARSON
Staff sergeant killed in Iraq gun battle
Army Staff Sgt. Robb L. Rolfing, 29, died June 30 of wounds he suffered during a gun battle in Baghdad, Iraq, according to the Department of Defense.
Rolfing, of Milton, Mass., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson.
Rolfing is the 213th soldier from Fort Carson to die in Iraq.
