Boy hit by car critically injured
A 10-year-old boy was in critical condition late Thursday after being struck by a Chevrolet Suburban while trying to cross U.S. 34 just south of Greeley.
Initially, people who stopped to help told authorities the boy was no longer breathing, but doctors at Northern Colorado Medical Center said he was alive but in critical condition, Weld County sheriff’s Deputy Shane Scofield said.
The boy was struck about 8:15 p.m., while he and another boy were trying to cross the highway at 11th Avenue. The Suburban dragged him about 50 feet before coming to a stop, Scofield said.
The boys had gotten halfway across and stopped at a concrete divider on the highway when the 10-year-old dashed across the eastbound lanes and was struck, Scofield said.
The second boy was not injured.
Attorney withdraws in refund-theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing $11 million in state tax refunds was allowed to withdraw from the case after accepting a high-end Mercedes from the suspect.
Denver lawyer Joseph Saint-Veltri filed a motion Sept. 5, saying he was threatened with prosecution for possessing the 2007 Mercedes S550, which authorities believe was bought with the tax money, court records show.
The purchase price of the car was listed at $90,000 when Saint-Veltri requested a title and plates for the car, according to a search warrant.
Judge William Robbins allowed Saint-Veltri and co-counsel Michael Meyrick to withdraw after reading Saint-Veltri’s filing that said they might be witnesses in part of the case.
Hysear Randell, his wife, Trudy, and his girlfriend, Michelle Cawthra, a former Department of Revenue employee, have been indicted on charges of stealing the money over nearly two years.
Missing hiker walks out with rangers
A missing 61-year-old hiker in Rocky Mountain National Park came down a trail with rangers Thursday after being spotted by an aircraft.
Park rangers had been searching for Brandt Everhart of Virginia after he failed to return from a hike Wednesday.
They caught up with Everhart along the Chasm Lake Trail, Kyle Patterson, a park spokeswoman, said in a news release. He was with two other hikers.
Everhart and a hiking partner had set out from Longs Peak trailhead at 8 a.m. Wednesday but separated at Goblins Forest about 9 a.m., roughly 1.2 miles from the trailhead, because of varying hiking abilities, Patterson said.
Inmate escapes while taking out the trash
A 35-year-old man arrested on drunken-driving and drug charges escaped from the Logan County Jail on Monday night while under escort on a work assignment.
Jail trusty Antonio M. Flores was taking out trash about 7:15 p.m. with another inmate when he bolted into a wooded area on the South Platte riverbed, Logan County sheriff’s Lt. Justin Hoppal said.
Flores is 5-foot-8 and weighs 200 pounds. At the time of his escape, he was wearing navy blue hospital-type scrubs and Nike tennis shoes.
Sheriff’s officers urged residents to take precautions because anyone who escapes should be considered dangerous.
Witnesses threatened, gang prosecutors say
Several witnesses and defendants who are cooperating with the government in the Rollin’ 30s Crips drug conspiracy case have had their lives threatened, according to a motion filed Thursday by federal prosecutors.
In the motion, prosecutors Stephanie Podolak and Susan Knox asked for a delay in revealing to the defense what those witnesses and cooperating defendants have said until the case gets closer to trial.
Three men who have been indicted in the crack-cocaine conspiracy case have been named by police and in court documents as suspects in the fatal shooting of Denver Broncos player Darrent Williams.
No one has been arrested or charged in connection with his death.
Bicyclist hit, killed; police seek suspect
Police are asking for help in finding a hit-and-run suspect who drove into a 37-year-old man on a bicycle, killing him.
The body of Julio Chumacero-Garcia was found Monday at 1:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Inca Street, said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman.
It was apparent that he had been struck by a vehicle, Jackson said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
