Criminal Investigations

Look of the Day - Orchid Mei

Cops in MySpace

“Naughty” Nottingham: When Judges Go Bad

Colorado Crimes: The disadvantages of robbing someone you know

Brandon Gaitan. According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Brandon Gaitan and Keith Paris II, both 19, had what must have seemed like a good idea at the time: break into the apartment of someone on vacation and do whatever for as long as they wanted. Problem is, said vacationer returned home ... More >>

Made for Each Other

The Karr fiasco is over, but Michael Tracey's quest for unlikely suspects in the Ramsey case goes on and on.

Female Trouble

A guard's acquittal, new leadership -- and more allegations of misconduct at YOS.

Off Limits

The Santa Clause...

Colorado Crimes: Another scary sketch from Boulder PD

A Boulder Police Department sketch of a suspect in a "suspicious incident." The Boulder Police Department put out an unusual release a short time ago, involving an incident that may have been a crime -- or it might have been perfectly innocent. On Monday, a pre-teen girl was approached by a man ou ... More >>

Boulder Police find three bodies in home on 2400 block of Bluff Street

View Larger Map This morning, officers with the Boulder Police Department discovered three bodies in a residence located on the 2400 block of Bluff Street -- an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). At this point, the BPD hasn't identif ... More >>

Mile High Murder, No. 17: Velma Lee Gilbert charged in murder on 1300 block of Xanadu Street

Velma Lee Gilbert. It had been almost a week since the Mile High Murder count moved up -- meaning that there had been no new slayings in the seven-county metro area since the June 10 homicide of Eugene Velarde at the intersection of 17th and Sheridan. Unfortunately, all good things have to come to ... More >>

Mile High Murder, No. 17: Joseph Lee Jiles identified as victim in June 17 shooting on Xanadu Street

Velma Lee Gilbert. Last week, Velma Lee Gilbert was arrested in connection with a homicide on the 1300 block of Xanadu Street, an area captured in a graphic embedded after the jump (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). Now, the Aurora Police Department has identified the ... More >>

Mile High Murder, No. 32: Britt Allan Cox charged in arson death of Bonnie Bergin

Bonnie Bergin.​Yesterday, the Lakewood Police Department announced that it was investigating a house fire last week on West 20th Avenue as a homicide; Bonnie Bergin, 49, who'd been renting the home, was found dead inside. Now, the LPD has made an arrest. Brit Allan Cox, 40, has been formally a ... More >>

Mile High Murder, No. 36: Michael Curtis was victim in motel slaying on 9200 block of East Colfax

View Larger Map In recent days, we've learned plenty about the investigation into a slaying last week at a motel on the 9200 block of East Colfax, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). At first, Aurora Police Department reps said the ... More >>

David Dolan likely first-ever Colorado State Patrol trooper caught driving drunk on duty, spokesman says

David Dolan during a more sober moment.​Colorado State Patrol Trooper David Dolan spent 21 years on the job without getting nearly as much attention as he did yesterday, when Douglas County Sheriff's Office personnel pulled him over and arrested him on suspicion of drunk driving. It was certa ... More >>

A North Metro Task Force investigation takes another hit

David Dolan during a more sober moment.​Colorado State Patrol Trooper David Dolan spent 21 years on the job without getting nearly as much attention as he did yesterday, when Douglas County Sheriff's Office personnel pulled him over and arrested him on suspicion of drunk driving. It was certa ... More >>

Dan Tang sentencing in Operation Fortune Cookie makes "absolutely no sense," says Tom Gorman, drug task force head

​The drama continues around Operation Fortune Cookie, the largest weed bust in state history, which imploded amid accusations of snitching cops, paid-off politicians and bureaucratic retribution. Last week, the drug investigation's main suspect, politically connected restaurateur Dan Tang, re ... More >>

Marco Antonio DeLeon a "person of interest" in shooting that's left woman in critical condition

The cops would like to chat with Marco Antonio DeLeon.​Earlier today, we told you about Kirk Alan Richardson, a convicted sex offender the Aurora Police Department would like to grab -- and not to discuss his tattoos of Jesus and hearts. Now, the APD is seeking another person in relation to a ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensary busted in Thornton, where they're banned

Donald Faltermeier Jr. allegedly picked the wrong town.​According to attorney Jessica Corry, one aspect of HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill on the verge of becoming law, that's most deserving of being challenged in court involves communities' ability to ban MMJ dispensaries. Tha ... More >>

Travis Masse: Former wrestling coach accused of doing more than wrestling with student

No doubt about the investigation into Travis Masse now.​Last month, we told you about a Channel 31 report about Travis Masse, which quoted the Broomfield Police Department as confirming that an investigation into the former Broomfield High School teacher and wrestling coach was underway. Probl ... More >>

Marcus Duran shooting: Classic "Make My Day" case or unjustifiable homicide?

A photo of Marcus Duran from Channel 31 coverage.​Update, 11:18 a.m. May 26: According to Denver District Attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough, a determination about whether or not to charge the homeowner who shot and killed seventeen-year-old Marcus Duran, who was allegedly trying to break int ... More >>

Jared Jimenez (No. 8): Father arrested on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death

Jared Jimenez.​Over the weekend, the Denver Police Department shared information about the death of a fourteen-month-old child. The tragedy was caused by injuries deemed questionable enough to arrest the child's father, Jared Jimenez, on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death. It's not J ... More >>

Filberto Alderete (No. 14): No charges in Jesus Sifuentes Jr. shooting due to Make My Day law

Filberto Alderete.​Lots of twists and turns in the gunplay on West 18th Avenue over the weekend. Daniel Alderete was shot by police, allegedly because he wouldn't drop a weapon, while Filberto Alderete was arrested for investigation into the death of a man later identified as Jesus Sifuentes J ... More >>

Officer-involved shooting in Douglas County leaves suspect in critical condition

The Stagecoach.​Thus far, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office is sharing only the barest details about a Saturday afternoon shooting outside the Stagecoach, a Franktown watering hole -- other than the fact that both a deputy and the suspect were shot in an exchange of gunfire, with the former ... More >>

Lou Smit's death won't end the search for an intruder in JonBenét Ramsey murder case

RIP: Lou Smit​Lou Smit, who passed away Wednesday at 75 after a battle with cancer, was the kind of hard worker who never got the hang of retiring. In his case, the work was homicide investigation. And sticking with it put hundreds of truly scary, violent men behind bars.

Joseph Owen Coy's companions ID'd in racial attack on Olubiyi Ogundipe near Hookah House

​Yesterday, we told you about the arrest of Joseph Owen Coy on racially motivated crime charges involving Nigeria-born CU student Olubiyi Ogundipe near Boulder's Hookah House. Now the Boulder Police Department has tracked down Coy's two companions that evening, and the city manager has release ... More >>

JonBenét Ramsey case: New interviews sought but cops not saying with whom (like Burke?)

JonBenét & Burke.​Last week, we told you about conflicting stories regarding a reported new interview with Burke Ramsey about the 1996 murder of his younger sister, JonBenét Ramsey. Now, Boulder Police says such interviews are being sought -- but it's not confirming the identity of Burke or ... More >>

Dog the Bounty Hunter's Bobby Brown: Won't you pledge to launch his new TV series?

Bobby Brown.​Among the personalities familiar to viewers of Dog the Bounty Hunter is Bobby Brown, who runs two bail-bonds businesses in Colorado Springs. But he'd like to star in a series of his own -- The Missing Piece, in which a team of investigators and psychics, including Brown, will inve ... More >>

Death of white male on 3000 block of South Hobart Way suspicious, investigation underway

Near the scene.​Today, we've already published not one but two posts about local homicides -- and while a death on the 3000 block of South Hobart Way hasn't officially received this designation, Denver Police call it suspicious. The Denver coroner's office describes the victim as a white male, ... More >>

William Bentley busted for investigation of murder of housemate on North Enid Way (38)

Near the scene.​Yesterday, the Denver Police Department went to the 4800 block of North Enid Way, where they discovered a man who subsequently died of a gunshot wound. The victim hasn't been ID'd yet, but the DPD has reportedly arrested his housemate, William Bentley, 59, on investigation of f ... More >>

Morgan Sellman, Aurora Police's DARE coordinator, busted for child porn

Big pic below.​Talk about a nightmare scenario for the Aurora Police Department. Not only has one of their own, Sergeant Morgan Sellman, been busted for child pornography, but his most recent assignment has been as the DARE program coordinator. Fortunately, Sellman's DARE duties haven't includ ... More >>

George Lindeboom homicide: Latest on arrests of Brighton's Evan Lawlor & Ryker Schlitt (48)

​George Lindeboom, 67, was the first victim of a homicide in Brighton since 2008, and there have already been two arrests in the case: Evan Lawlor and Ryker Schlitt. But even though the crime took place last week, Brighton Police Department spokesman John Bradley says no mug shots of the susp ... More >>

Operation Fortune Cookie: Did suspicions about Dante Carbone hurt the case against Dan Tang?

Dan Tang.​As we reported this week, a new court filing suggests Thornton cop Dante Carbone was the prime suspect in the internal leak that sabotaged Operation Fortune Cookie, the state's largest pot bust. That drug investigation ended meekly when federal prosecutors gave restaurateur Dan Tang ... More >>

Operation Fortune Cookie: Internal complaints filed against police chiefs, Dante Carbone

Dan Tang​Turmoil continues in Operation Fortune Cookie, the state's largest drug bust that collapsed amid alleged cop snitches and paid-off politicians. Last week, we reported that a suit filed by two local cops suggests Thornton Commander Dante Carbone was the prime suspect in the leak that s ... More >>

Kayleah Wilson: Robert Montoya still of interest in homicide despite sex crime conviction

Kayleah.​Update: On Friday, Robert Montoya was convicted of two sex assault counts revolving around his relationship with Kayleah Wilson, who was then twelve-years-old. Of course, Wilson was found murdered last year, and Montoya was declared as a person of interest in the investigation -- and ... More >>

Richard Paul Stewart hospitalized in Texas following Norma Stewart's murder (67)

Big pic below.​Update: We're getting more information about the arrest of Richard Paul Stewart, a person of interest in the slaying of his ex-wife, Norma Stewart, at the Edward Jones branch in Westminster. Granted, some of that info is a bit garbled. However, it's clear that Stewart is current ... More >>

Anne Kelly, Denver Sheriff's deputy, charged with 3rd-degree assault for slapping DUI suspect

Flickr​Irony alert: No charges were filed against Denver Sheriff's deputies in the jailhouse death of Marvin Booker last year -- but deputy Anne Kelly faces two counts for slapping a DUI suspect who suffered no apparent injury in the exchange.

Colorado's cold case backlog: 1,518 murders still unsolved

M. Weaver​This week's cover story, "The Victim Lobby," delves into the growing power of the victim rights movement and the sometimes clashing agendas of groups within that movement. But there's one issue crime victim advocates strongly agree about: The pile-up of unsolved homicides over the ... More >>

Police misconduct records and more to be off-limits under two new bills

Mark Barker.​Despite the obligatory squawks from lawmakers about the need for transparency in government, few of their actions are quite as transparent as their efforts to shield internal bureaucratic processes from outside scrutiny. For a demonstration of this principle in action, look no fur ... More >>