New York Crime

Independent monitor: Five Denver police officer-involved shootings still under review

Just before the end of 2012, Nicholas Mitchell, Denver's new independent monitor, released his first report to the public, covering discipline cases at the police and sheriff's departments. The document from the city's official watchdog, just the second person to hold the position, offers a glimps ... More >>

School shooter Laurie Dann only killed one, but her crime was memorable for other reasons, too

In the wake of the shootings in Newton, Connecticut two weeks ago today, experts have tried to find clues in the dozens of school shootings over the last three decades. They've found that 60 percent of the shootings happened in small towns. And almost inevitably, the culprit has been a troubled youn ... More >>

Stephen Barton, Aurora victim and gun control advocate, grew up ten minutes from Newtown

Last Friday, Stephen Barton, a survivor of the Aurora theater shooting and now a vocal advocate for stronger gun policies, was back in Colorado, doing outreach work. While in Denver, he heard the news about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It was hard to compreh ... More >>

Columbine to Newtown: A tragic list of school shootings since 1999

The senseless massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, which took the lives of twenty children, including Olivia Engel, seen here, plus seven adults, instantly stirs terrible memories of the 1999 attack on Columbine High School. On the tenth anniversary of that tragedy, we assembled a horrific roster of sc ... More >>

The truth about America's biggest criminals

Rollin Oliver: Read probable cause statement of Officer Celena Hollis's accused killer

Update: We've obtained the probable cause statement in Denver Police Officer Celena Hollis's death. See it below earlier coverage. Original post, 6:59 p.m. September 13: Rollin Oliver, accused of murdering Denver Policewoman Celena Hollis, admitted to officers that he fired at least two shots on Ju ... More >>

Are Mexicans more likely to be sexual deviants?

Aurora theater shooting: Ed Perlmutter and the challenge of talking about gun control

When asked about gun laws on Sunday -- two days after James Holmes fired shots into an Aurora movie theater in one of the largest mass shootings in American history -- Representative Ed Perlmutter backed reinstatement of the assaults weapon ban. The comments, on live national TV, made him one of the ... More >>

Friends can also betray you: Mexicans pay in blood for America's War on Drugs

Also read: Magical homicides: How Mexico lies about murders

Aurora theater shooting: Michael Hancock declines to speak out on gun control

Days after accused gunman James Holmes fired shots at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, there have been heated discussions about gun control, along with debates on whether it is an appropriate time to tackle the subject. We gave Denver Mayor Michael Hancock an opportunity to wei ... More >>

Aurora theater shooting: 12 dead, 59 injured, chief won't address Joker rumors

Update below: During a just-completed news conference about last night's shooting at the Aurora Town Center Century 16 during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates was asked by numerous national reporters to confirm reports that accused gunman James Holmes had ... More >>

Rollin Oliver: First-degree murder/extreme indifference charge in Celena Hollis murder (12)

Update: Rollin Oliver, 21, was born on Christmas Day -- but what he just received from the Denver District Attorney's Office can't be considered an early gift. He's now been formally charged with first-degree murder/extreme indifference in the City Park slaying of Denver police officer Celena Holli ... More >>

Celena Hollis: Sunday fundraiser to benefit her daughter, twelve

In the days since Denver police officer Celena Hollis was shot and killed while breaking up a fight during City Park Jazz, the DPD and the community have gathered together for an outpouring of local support. On Sunday, the day after Hollis's public funeral, state representative Angela Williams and c ... More >>

Celena Hollis murder: Michael Hancock says gang speculation a distraction

Since Denver cop Celena Hollis was shot and killed over the weekend, there has been a lot of speculation concerning the possible gang-affiliation of the suspect -- but according to Mayor Michael Hancock, reporters are asking the wrong questions. In this case, the gang question, Hancock told Westword ... More >>

Rollin Oliver, busted in Denver cop Celena Hollis's murder, reportedly a gang member (12)

Update: More information is emerging about Rollin Oliver, the man arrested following the fatal shooting of Denver Police officer Celena Hollis after a jazz event at City Park on Sunday night -- including increasingly solid reports establishing his gang affiliation. Not that this link offers much com ... More >>

Photos: Celena Hollis murder prompts thank-you for northeast Denver Police

Less than a day after Denver Police Officer Celena Hollis was shot and killed while trying to break up a fight at City Park, more than 150 people -- activists, preachers, mothers and teenagers -- gathered at the District 2 police headquarters in northeast Denver to thank the officers who worked alon ... More >>

Ten unsolved Denver murders: Read personal stories of the victims

As of last year, there were more than 1,500 unsolved homicides in Colorado as tracked by Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons. On numerous entries, the group's website includes photos and personal stories of victims. Below are ten from the Denver area. See them below, arranged from the m ... More >>

Where's the Colorado connection in One Book, One Denver? Maybe a Bear Ate It!

Najibullah Zazi, beauty-supply bomber, testifies at terrorism trial

The story seemed too crazy to be true: A DIA shuttle driver conspiring to blow up New York's subway system with bombs made from components found in Aurora beauty-supply stores? But after days of questioning in September 2009, 26-year-old Najibullah Zazi was indicted and shipped off to New York, wher ... More >>

The Columbine shootings continue to "inspire" Hollywood

Thirteen years and a hundred school shootings later, why is Hollywood still obsessed with this one?

Weekend at Bernie's reenactment nets Robert Young, Mark Rubinson probation, psych evals

Just in case you're thinking of taking one of your dead buddies out on the town, consider the cautionary tale of Robert Young and Mark Rubinson. True, they didn't get jail time: They've been sentenced to probation. But the additional punishments, not to mention the ignominious attention they earned ... More >>

Project Safeguard throws a Valentine's Fling with former Bronco Reggie Rivers

Project Safeguard, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to victims of domestic violence, has partnered with former Bronco Reggie Rivers on its Valentine's fling. "We're so excited to have Reggie Rivers joining our event," says Shelly Schreiner. "With incidents of domestic vi ... More >>

Strange but true news stories from the past year

Also read: 2011 Hall of Shame

The Boy Scouts' Police Problem

Dozens of teenage Explorers have been sexually abused by cops. Should the Scouts share the blame?

Child-sex-trafficking stereotypes demolished by new research

Robert Walters asked Michael Leathers to kill his wife before hiring another man, police say

​ Robert Walters, the subject of this week's cover story, "Dead End," was persistent, prosecutors say. After one man declined Walters's request to kill his wife, he turned to Rodrick Williams, a career criminal who accepted the job but then ratted Walters out to the police. So who was the fi ... More >>

Gerald Schwartzman: Dumpster homicide victim allegedly slain by William Lornes (71)

Schwartzman.​Update: In our last post about the murder of Gerald Schwartzman, 73, on view below, we pointed out that we didn't know much about the victim other than the most basic information. We now have a much better-rounded view thanks to a heartfelt statement released by his family -- and ... More >>

Walter Bond: Radical animal-rights activist pleads guilty to burning down Sheepskin Factory

Walter Bond.​Animal activist Walter Bond is a man so devoted to his cause that he wears a giant "VEGAN" tattoo on his neck. So it's no surprise he showed zero remorse when officially pleading guilty to arson related to a fire at Glendale's Sheepskin Factory in April -- a crime for which he fa ... More >>

Top Ten musical jailbirds: In honor of Lil Wayne and T.I. and their respective prison stints

​Earlier this morning, Lil Wayne was released from New York's Rikers Island after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for criminal possession of a weapon. Fellow Southern rapper T.I., meanwhile, went back to jail on Monday after a federal judge in Atlanta revoked his probation follow ... More >>

ICE arrests focus on criminal aliens: 78 busts include man convicted of making terrorist threat

​These days, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, emphasizes that it's targeting criminal aliens, not otherwise law-abiding citizens who lack documentation authorizing their U.S. residency. And that's the theme of ICE's latest Colorado busts. Of the 78 people rounded up fr ... More >>

Pinalcchio

Renowned forensics experts say a Pinal County, Arizona deputy's high-profile tale about getting shot after encountering drug smugglers doesn't add up

Asylum Denied: Only a fraction of Mexicans get U.S. asylum

Terry Nichols is going to have to stick with prison gruel

Gruel it is for convicted Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols.​Terry Nichols has lost his drawn-out plea for more wholesome prison fare. Last Thursday, Colorado U.S. District Court Judge Christine Arguello dismissed the convicted Oklahoma City bomber conspirator's claims that he needs a diet of ... More >>

Walter Bond: Alleged sheepskin factory arsonist inspiration for song by straight-edge band

Walter Bond.​We recently told you about alleged arsonist Walter Bond, who authorities believe was responsible for burning down Glendale's Sheepskin Factory and two businesses in Salt Lake City, including a restaurant that served foie gras. Turns out Bond's a hero to the animal liberation move ... More >>

Walter Bond allegedly torched sheepskin factory for animal rights cause (and wants to do it again)

Walter Bond.​Walter Bond doesn't exactly hide his convictions when it comes to animal rights. Law-enforcement types note that he has "a prominent tattoo on his neck just below his chin that reads, 'VEGAN.'" However, Bond is accused of doing more than simply sticking to salads. He's been forma ... More >>

Crips burned down the Holly in Bloods territory, but can peace emerge from the ashes in northeast Park Hill?

Holly Square, up from the ashes: More memories of trials & triumphs in Park Hill

Anthony CameraTerrance Roberts.​In this week's feature, "Crips Burned Down the Holly in Bloods Territory, But Can Peace Emerge from the Ashes in Northeast Park Hill?," we recount the story of the Holly Square shopping center, burned to the ground in a 2008 gang attack and now poised for rehabi ... More >>

Paralyzed in a police shooting, Darrell Havens is paying a terrible price for his crimes. So are taxpayers.

Cowboy Down: Rob Krentz's Family Talks About the Life and Death of the Murdered Arizona Rancher

Van Thien Pham and the bottle of Corona he sold that may send him to jail

Van Thien Pham shoulda checked if 7-Eleven had any openings.​The sale of beer to an underage buyer doesn't usually make headlines. But in the case of Van Thien Pham, they're understandable. Back in 2007, according to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, Pham sold liquor to an unde ... More >>

Bernie Madoff auction in Aspen? Sort of... kind of... maybe...

Bernie Madoff's name is still financial magic.​Bernie Madoff's well-documented financial shenanigans may have landed him in jail, but they've also enhanced the marketability of his name. As evidence, note the ad in today's Denver Post pimping a "BERNIE MADOFF AUCTION" tomorrow at St. Regis Res ... More >>

Family Men

A Bronx Tale looks at life from both sides now.

The Mouth That Roared

Nando Mondragon is going to put Denver on the hip-hop fashion map. But first, he has to get out of jail.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

Mentoring programs complain about the lack of adult males. So one took a chance on Marc Plaskie.

Screwed for Life

For a convicted rapist, the truth may not set you free.

A Model Prisoner

Cops thought they'd busted the largest child-porn ring in Colorado history. But that's not how the case developed.

Arrested Development

A Denver therapist wants to lock up sexual predators -- forever. But patients say the treatment is just making them bitter.

Back to School

The bullet in the backpack and other Columbine mysteries.

Strange but True

The Beaten Path

A new law gives immigrant women a chance to get out of abusive relationships--and stay in the United States.