Two Colorado attorneys have filed a federal lawsuit against a Farmington, N.M., police officer in the shooting death of a 21-year-old Navajo man.
Attorneys Bobby Duthie and Steven Boos of Durango claim Clint John’s civil and constitutional rights were violated when Sgt. Shawn Scott shot him four times in a Wal-Mart parking lot June 10, 2006. They are requesting a jury trial and unspecified damages for John’s family.
The lawsuit names former police Chief Mike Burridge, the Police Department, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Bob Melton as defendants.
Scott was called to the business about a report of a man beating a woman. The Sheriff’s Office has said John was shot after he charged at Scott with the officer’s baton. The lawsuit, however, contends that John was not abusing the woman. Instead, he was leaning against his parked pickup truck, talking with his girlfriend, who was inside the vehicle with their 4-year-old daughter, the lawsuit states.
Scott admittedly did not activate his in-car police camera or sirens when he arrived on the scene. He has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting, and was promoted to sergeant earlier this year.
Scott’s actions leading up to and during the shooting investigation were emblematic of a pattern of conduct in law enforcement in the area marked by an indifference to the civil rights of American Indians, the lawsuit states.
DENVER
Police seek father of injured 4-month-old
Denver police are searching for the father of a 4-month-old child who was brought to The Children’s Hospital earlier this month with serious injuries.
Cory DeShon Brown, 31, is wanted on charges of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. Police did not release details of the injuries, which occurred July 3, but said they resulted from “non-accidental trauma.” The child’s name and gender also were not released.
Police would like anyone with information on the case to call 720-913-7867.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Woman, 22, missing since Wednesday
Police are investigating the apparent disappearance of a 22-year-old woman last seen Wednesday evening.
A friend reported Jaclyn Funderburg missing on Thursday. Police said there are indications that Funderburg was involved in a dispute with another individual on Wednesday, though police do not know whether the dispute is related to her disappearance.
Funderburg is white, 5-feet-6 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.
GREELEY
Driver who killed mom given 10 years
A Greeley man who drove drunk and killed the mother of a girl who authorities believe later died of child abuse was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday.
Eric Chumacero, 32, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide. Police said Chumacero drove at a high rate of speed from a Garden City bar parking lot earlier this year when he ran a stop sign and hit another car.
The passenger in the car – Margaret Barea – spent 45 days in a coma before she died. Margaret Barea’s 7-year-old daughter, LoReyna, was sent to live with her aunt, Genevieve Barea. Genevieve Barea and her husband, Dan Partch, currently face charges of child abuse after LoReyna died of malnutrition and dehydration in March.
DENVER
Man in 60s fatally shot; motive unclear
A man in his 60s was fatally shot early Saturday at a home on the 1200 block of Kalamath Street, authorities say. Police were called following a shooting at 5:20 a.m., said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman. The man was taken to Denver Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, Jackson said.
Authorities have not released any information about possible suspects, Jackson said. It also is unclear what the motive may have been, he said.
GOLDEN
Apartment fire leads to felony charges
Felony charges were filed Friday against Steven Christopher Valdez, 43, of Aurora in connection with a July 6 fire at a Lakewood apartment complex.
Valdez, who is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on $25,000 bond, has been charged with first-degree, second-degree and fourth-degree arson and criminal mischief.
The arrest affidavit states that Valdez was at a friend’s home when he set off a spinning-type firework that caught a bush on fire, setting off a blaze in the Ridgemoor apartments, 652 Urban Court. Eleven families were left homeless.
WHEAT RIDGE
Pizza store robbers wanted by police
Police are searching for two men who robbed a Little Caesars Pizza store, 7615 W. 38th Ave., at gunpoint Thursday night.
About 9:30 p.m., two men entered the store, locked the doors and demanded money from the safe and register, police spokeswoman Lisa Stigall said.
The three employees were ordered into the bathroom, and the suspects fled on foot. Lakewood police K-9 unit assisted Wheat Ridge police, but couldn’t find the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call Wheat Ridge police, 303-237-2220.
DENVER
Bullet grazes man in drive-by shooting
A man was in fair condition Saturday after he was struck in the arm by a bullet during a drive-by shooting, officials say.
Someone in a red Chevrolet Cobalt fired two shots near East 29th Avenue and Gilpin Street at 9:20 p.m. Friday, said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman.
The same suspect vehicle went to the 1600 block of East 31st Avenue and a gunman fired a single shot that struck a man in the arm, Jackson said.
No arrests have been made in the shooting, he said.
