Golden – The number of Jefferson County Jail inmates complaining of intestinal illness had risen from 53 Monday to 59 Tuesday, public- health officials said.
The investigation continues into the outbreak that began Friday, with a cause still not determined.
Inmates and former inmates and their families are asked to call the Jefferson County Department of Public Health and Environment, 303-239-7052, for information or to report additional cases.
Additional local news briefs:
COLORADO SPRINGS
Burglars Google their way into center’s safe
Two burglars had door keys, pass codes and combinations to help them break the safes at an indoor amusement center, but they had to turn to Google for help to steal their loot.
The burglary at Bigg City turned into a comedy of errors early June 10.
First, the burglars, dressed in black and with their faces covered, tried to disable a security camera by repeatedly spraying it with WD-40, only to have the lubricant clean the lens, police detective Chuck Ackerman said. They also sprayed a fire alarm, thinking it was a camera, he said.
The real camera recorded the pair struggling for 75 minutes to open the safes, apparently not realizing how many times and in what directions they needed to turn the dials.
Finally, one burglar left the room. A check of an office computer in the next room later showed a Google search for “how to open a safe” and “how to crack a safe.”
Afterward, they easily opened the safes, escaping with cash, a laptop computer and a PlayStation, Ackerman said. The burglars took about $12,000.
LAKEWOOD
Suspect in apartment fire turns himself in
A man suspected of starting an apartment fire Friday that left 11 families homeless has turned himself in to Lakewood police.
Steven Valdez, 43, faces several charges, including first-degree arson, second-degree arson, fourth-degree arson and criminal mischief.
Valdez, who turned himself in Monday night, will be arraigned Thursday or Friday.
West Metro Fire officials said the blaze at 652 Urban Court was started by fireworks in a bush in front of the building.
A large portion of the 12-unit Ridge moor apartment building was destroyed. There were no injuries to firefighters or residents.
The Red Cross is assisting the families.
MORRISON
3 hospitalized after dump truck goes amok
Three women were taken to hospitals Tuesday morning when a dump truck apparently lost its brakes and slammed into them on U.S. 285 west of C-470, authorities said.
Workers with Ames Construction, which is replacing bridges on U.S. 285 in the Turkey Creek Canyon area, assisted the victims, said Cindy Matthews of West Metro Fire Rescue.
None of those taken to hospitals had life-threatening injuries, said Trooper Ryan Sullivan.
The dump truck was traveling toward Denver about 9 a.m. when it hit a vehicle and dragged it.
Sullivan said the truck then hit a sport utility vehicle, sending it down an embankment where it burst into flames. The driver managed to free herself, and Ames workers came to her aid.
The truck then traveled another 100 yards before hitting a Subaru, Sullivan said. The Subaru’s driver, who also got out on her own, had cuts that construction workers tended.
Farther down U.S. 285, the truck landed on top of a compact car, and the truck and car caught fire.
The unidentified truck driver pulled the other driver out of her car. He was treated at the scene.
DENVER
Denver Health adds 2 to board of directors
Denver Health and Hospital Authority has two new members on its board of directors.
Dr. Joel Levine and Caz Matthews have been appointed to five-year terms on the nine- member board. The appointments, by Mayor John Hickenlooper, were approved by the Denver City Council on Monday.
Matthews is a vice president of the Wellpoint Foundation. Levine is a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado school of medicine.
Denver Health had been a city agency until 1997. That year, it began operating as an independent authority, overseen by the board of directors.
ASPEN
Flaming bird may have started wildfire
A bird that caught fire after being electrocuted at a substation is suspected of igniting a 2-acre wildfire Monday, officials said.
Fire personnel weren’t able to identify whether the bird was a raven or a crow that flew into exposed elements hanging from a high crossbeam on poles.
There were no witnesses, so officials stopped short of saying the flaming bird was at fault.
The bird “got zapped when it hit one of those things they call a terminator,” Pitkin County Deputy Joe Bauer said. “Then it fell, probably on fire, right at the base of one of these poles.”
Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze in about an hour.
