The board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver on Tuesday said it put its president and chief executive, Jeffrey Campos, on paid administrative leave after his arrest on kidnapping and assault charges stemming from a domestic-violence-related incident.
Campos, 55, was arrested Thursday afternoon at the chamber’s downtown offices and released from the Denver Jail on a $50,000 bond Friday, according to court records.
Details of Campos’ arrest and the allegations surrounding it were immediately sealed by a Denver judge at the request of police, who said media coverage of the case would probably compromise their investigation, court records show.
The judge also issued a protection order prohibiting Campos from making contact with someone involved in the case, although it is unclear whom.
Arrest paperwork labels the case as one involving domestic violence but provides no additional information other than the initial arrest charges of second-degree kidnapping, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
Campos did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. His attorney, Gary Lozow, called the allegations “profoundly overblown” and said he was optimistic that prosecutors would balk at filing formal charges.
When asked about the domestic-violence nature of the arrest, Lozow said the case was “familial in part, and I’m hopeful it will resolve itself.”
Regarding the chamber board’s move, Lozow said Campos has taken it in stride.
“He’s interested, as is the chamber, in their best interests, and at the moment, they have to allow everyone to sort out the real facts, and he understands that,” Lozow said.
Prosecutors have until Aug. 5 to decide whether to charge Campos. That’s the same day as the highly regarded Sabor festival, the chamber’s counterpart to the Taste of Colorado celebration. It is an annual networking and fundraising event held at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Hispanic Chamber officials did not comment Tuesday. As word of the arrest spread, however, chamber secretary Michael Ferrufino, sales manager at KBNO-AM radio, said he was “saddened” by the news.
Spokeswoman Bridget Richards would only confirm Campos’ suspension and that the chamber was “committed to serving its membership.”
Several business leaders said they were shocked by the arrest.
Lindita Torres-Winters, chairwoman of the Latina Chamber and president of Lindita’s Inc., described Campos as “personable” and “very well-respected” in the business community.
Campos has been president of the chamber since 2005. He was in the insurance business before taking the helm of the chamber, Colorado’s second largest.
Public records reflect little contact with police except for minor traffic offenses.
The Chicago native grew up on the city’s southside and went on to play ice hockey at Loyola University. An avid sports fan and the son of Mexican immigrants, Campos carved a successful career in the insurance sector, first with American Family Insurance overseeing its six-state mountain region, then with New York Life as a partner of its Denver office.
He took over the chamber at a time of dwindling membership when Latino businesses were the fastest-growing segment of the national economy.
A crowning achievement was in 2009, when the Denver chamber hosted the national convention of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which brought more than 5,000 visitors to the city.
Campos, who has two daughters, was selected in 2004 as a father of the year by the Father’s Day Council of Colorado, and in 2003, he received the Champion Award from the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
Staff writer Andy Vuong contributed to this report.
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
