BRIGHTON — Kathie Croteau is thankful today that the good people in her world vastly outnumber the bad.
Police say the lone bad person in Croteau’s life torched as many as eight cars in Brighton early Sept. 23, including Croteau’s 1995 Chrysler LeBaron. The heat from the fire from the LeBaron — which Croteau uses to get to and from two jobs — also heavily damaged her daughter’s 2000 Hyundai Accent.
Isacc DeJesus, 22, of Brighton, was later arrested and faces several charges.
It wasn’t long before the good people stepped in. Among those was Brighton police Officer Robin Wilson, who knew Croteau’s car insurance policy wouldn’t cover a replacement vehicle for her or her daughter.
Wilson’s work — and the generosity of Go Automotive — culminated Friday, when the auto dealer handed over to Kathie a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, free and clear. The auto dealer also fixed the Accent for free and presented it to Kathie’s 19-year-old daughter — Alexis.
“So many people came forward. I’ve had neighbors I haven’t spoken to in 15 years come forward with offers to help,” said Kathie Croteau. “The good people definitely outweigh the bad. This is just overwhelming.”
Wilson, who was friends with the Croteaus and loaned Alexis her truck, originally called Brighton police Reserve Lt. Joe Negri, who is a senior director of marketing and advertising for Go Automotive. Negri approached his bosses with Croteau’s dilemma.
“I asked him, ‘Is there anything we could do?’ ” said Negri. “They said ‘Joe, let’s just go to a lot and pick her out something.’ “
Another victim of the arsons, Nikki Hurtado, also got a replacement car from Johnson Auto Plaza in Brighton in October.
“This is a small town, basically, so people here pitch in to help one another,” Negri said. “That’s what we do here.” He estimated it would have cost Alexis Croteau about $3,000 to fix her car, which she drives to college courses in Brighton.
Kathie Croteau works as a paraprofessional at Brighton High School and at a retirement home in Brighton. She said she could only afford liability coverage for herself and her son and daughter. “The insurance company was nice, but said there was nothing they could do,” she said.
The Grand Am is listed at about $6,900 and has about 109,000 miles on it. Go Automotive is also donating license fees and one-year roadside assistance.
“This,” said a tearful Croteau, “is the nicest car I’ve ever had.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
