Sonny Jackson

It's a pisser

Panty Bandit Captured

Two Bodies by the Platte, No Reason to Panic

Seventies-era Denver Police video shows racist, homophobic and sexist training practices

Seventies-era Denver Police video shows racist, homophobic and sexist training practices

Glacially paced investigation into DNC visitor Gabriel Pico's death finally moving forward

Denver police look clueless in 9News identity-theft reports

Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson probably cringes every time he gets a phone call from Channel 9 reporter Deborah Sherman. Twice in recent days, questions she's posed to him related to an identity-theft story have made him, and the DPD as a whole, seem like Keystone cops. The tale ... More >>

Cease and Desist, Denver Police

We brake for any diversions – even the DPD.

Denver Police Reports Harder to Get Under New System

Reporters are having a hard time learning about Denver crimes. Coincidence, or alleged improvements gone awry?

Split Decision

Media outlets disagree about naming a suicidal attorney before police released his name. Did the public have a right to know?

The Center Will Not Hold

Denver's on an artistic collision course this weekend.

It's the Real Thing

Matt Lawrence spends a night in the tank for being too real.

Critical Mess

Denver bicyclists get taken for a ride.

Book Them

Pen and stink in the Jeffco jail.

Off Limits

Dollars and sense

Colorado Crimes: Sex-crimes unit seeks man doing... something

One of the basic rules of press releases is that they represent a release of information to the press, right? But one of the latest missives to issue from the Denver Police Department keeps info divulging to a minimum, offering a reward for information leading to the capture of a so-called "patter ... More >>

Auto-industry downturn even hitting car thieves

A Flickr photo During difficult economic conditions, crime usually goes up -- but not last year. Yesterday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation released stats showing a 6.1 percent decrease of major crimes from 2007 to 2008, led by a 22 percent decline in car thefts. Denver Police Department spoke ... More >>

One of Denver's Most Wanted rappers is now, uh, evidently, wanted for real it seems

​Whether they admit it or not, all artists crave notoriety. With that in mind, file this item under: Be careful what you ask for. As true as the maxim can be about there being no such thing as bad publicity, a local rapper is gaining the type of notice that he'd no doubt just as soon avoid. This m ... More >>

Hearsay bits: Mama signs distribution deal with Steve Vai's Digital Nations imprint and more

​Mama mia!: Mama, the outfit led by frontman Jeff Leonetti and Jonny Barber (aka Chris Barber, frontman of Spiv and the Velvet Elvis), has signed a distribution deal with Steve Vai's Digital Nations imprint. The label, an offshoot of Vai's Favored Nations, will handle worldwide distribution of Bay ... More >>

Was last night's "medical marijuana murder" really a medical marijuana murder?

View Larger Map The hard-boiled tale seems straight out of a gripping detective novel: Last night, just a few hours after Denver City Council discussed new regulations for the city's flourishing dispensary industry, a man was shot dead from what the cops are saying was a medical-marijuana transactio ... More >>

Medical marijuana robbery attempt misreported: "They're trying to make the stigma even worse," manager says

Metro Cannabis -- not the scene of a robbery.​A common lament among members of the medical marijuana industry is that police and the media essentially work together to trump up incidents or look for connections to weed that may or may not exist -- as in Sunday's home-invasion robbery in Fort C ... More >>

Adam Gurule, suspected of child prostitution, runs but can't hide (well)

Adam Gurule: Allegedly not a kid's best friend.​Yesterday afternoon, the Denver Police Department requested the media's help in snaring Adam Gurule. "It was a case where he was complicit in the prostitution of a child," says Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson, who adds that Guru ... More >>

Sisterly slashing closes light rail

"I don't care if this makes family dinners awkward."​Some siblings show their feelings for each other by hugging, kissing and sweet words. Others use knives. An incident involving the latter took place around 10 p.m. last night at the 30th and Downing light rail station. "Two sisters got into ... More >>

Skatepark violence spreads to other Denver parks: Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario

Teens using their skateboards to savagely beat an Arvada Dad at the Denver Skatepark may signal the start of a long, hot summer of violence... There is great concern that the tensions already simmering between recreational groups could escalate into a melee of the Wash Park M.O.M.S. using strollers ... More >>

City Pub bar fight ends with one man dead: Murder, manslaughter or mystery?

City Pub's entrance, as seen in 9News coverage.​Early this morning, a man died following a fight at City Pub, 3575 South Yosemite -- but Denver Police aren't sure at this writing how it happened or what charges may (or may not) be filed as a result. Here's DPD spokesman Sonny Jackson's descri ... More >>

CityPub site of possible homicide

​Cops were called to CityPub, a watering hole at 3575 South Yosemite Street that's a sibling of CityGrille, early Monday morning, on a report of a "large fight." A fight that left one man dead, according to Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson. The death is being investigated as a homicide, a ... More >>

Cinco de Mayo runs overtime for partiers -- and Denver cops

A Flickr photoThose low riders may be putting on a lot of miles this year.​When Cinco de Mayo falls during the middle of the week, as it does this year (it's next Wednesday), people interested in marking the date have four main options: Celebrate the weekend before, celebrate on May 5, celebra ... More >>

Marcus Duran shooting: Will justifiable homicide ruling end alleged threats?

Marcus Duran.​Last month, we told you about the shooting of Marcus Duran, seventeen, by a homeowner during a burglary attempt. Although a decision about potential charges against the homeowner lingered for weeks, the Denver DA's office now calls the incident a justifiable homicide. But what ab ... More >>

Club Vinyl confrontation leads to early morning gun battle: Woman hit, suspect apprehended

A 9News image of the crime scene.​Let-out at area nightspots can be volatile, which is why Denver cops often hang near venues like Club Vinyl, at 1082 Broadway. Which explains why they were on the scene almost instantly when gunfire broke out nearby early this morning.

Woman shot dead after possible ambush on East 36th Avenue (No. 13)

Near the crime scene.​As the temperatures have heated up, so has metro-area violence. In recent days, Montae Davis died after a shooting near Fairfax Liquors and Cesar Reyes was arrested for an Aurora triple shooting over the weekend. The latest homicide: A possible ambush shooting on East 36 ... More >>

Liz Tomocik: Shooter in Gerald Cler murder-suicide worked at Attorney General's office (25)

Near the scene.​Update:According to the Denver Police Department, a welfare request from Liz Tomocik's employer led officers to a murder-suicide at 777 N. Washington Street, with Tomocik subsequently determined to have killed Gerald Cler and then shot herself. Now we know the identity of that ... More >>

Quentin Smith killed in drive-by shooting, 2nd recent homicide on North Pontiac Street (51)

Flickr​On December 22, a man later identified as 21-year-old Jordan Nelson was killed on the 2900 block of North Pontiac Street while sitting in his car. Less than a month later, on early Saturday morning, Quentin Smith, 21, died in a drive-by shooting a little over four blocks away.

Susan Wiggs victim in 9th & Sheridan home invasion, struggle after shooting (52)

9News​Update: The Denver coroner's office has identified the woman who died in a shooting near Ninth and Sheridan on Tuesday night: Susan Wiggs, 58. In addition, the Denver Police Department has belatedly issued a press release on the incident, which notes that there was a struggle between res ... More >>

St. Patrick's Day DUI cost according to Denver Police Dept.: $10,000 and maybe much more

​Ah, St. Patrick's Day. A holiday dedicated to drinking. And drinking. And then, once you're done drinking, drinking some more. After which the real drinking begins. So is the Denver Police Department in Full Alert Panic Mode on this fine, green morn? Not exactly. But they are prepared.

Amara Kamoh Sayon, Cherise Houston ID'd as homicide victims in S. Quince shooting (64, 65)

9News​Update: Still no arrests in the quintuple shooting at the Windsor Court Apartments, 900 South Quince, last week. But while the two main suspects remain mysterious, we now know the names of the two people who didn't survive their wounds. According to a report from the Denver coroner's of ... More >>

William Lornes: Cherry Creek mall kidnapping suspect now accused of 1st degree murder

Big pic below.​Update: Earlier, we noted that William Lornes, 24, was being held for car theft but wondered if accusations related to a Cherry Creek Shopping Center kidnapping were on the way. Instead, such charges have been preceded by a first-degree murder beef linked to the homicide of Gera ... More >>

Denetta Mills ID'd in E. 35th St. homicide, son Lavar Sillemon arrested in murder probe (74)

Sillemon.​Update: We still don't know the cause of death for the woman found Wednesday at a home on the 1900 block of East 35th Street; autopsy results are still pending. But the coroner's office has identified her as Denetta Mills, 49. The man arrested for investigation of first-degree murder ... More >>

Denver Zoo death: Girlfriend disputes cops' tale about why Alonzo Ashley was tased (VIDEO)

Alonzo Ashley.​Yesterday, Denver Police said a man who died Monday at the Denver Zoo, now ID'd as Alonzo Ashley, went into such a cop-biting frenzy that he had to be contact-tased. But his girlfriend and family contend that he was merely suffering the effects of extreme heat when the situation ... More >>

Denver police-impersonator sketch different from Aurora's, Jeffco's: One suspect or three?

Big pics below.​Update: A trio of recent incidents involving police impersonators in the metro area prompted composite sketches from Aurora and Jefferson County, but not immediately from the Denver Police Department. Now, however, the DPD has issued its likeness, and while it doesn't look much ... More >>

Frances Garcia allegedly used blanket to quiet crying baby Adam Gonzales -- permanently (13)

Big pics below.​Update: In our earlier coverage about the death of ten-month-old Adam Gonzales, we noted that plenty of mysteries remained. Now, we're getting more information about Frances Garcia, who allegedly responded to the baby's crying in a way that adds up to murder, and Amanda Lujan, ... More >>

David Hubbard killed in drive-by shooting from gray sedan near 33rd and Grape (14)

Graphic below.​The death of ten-month-old Adam Gonzales on Friday morning was only the beginning of what was arguably the bloodiest weekend in Denver this summer, with three homicides taking place on Sunday. The first took the life of David Hubbard near the intersection of 33rd and Grape.

Byron Parker shot to death on 800 block of Santa Fe following large disturbance (15)

Graphic below.​The parade of death this weekend, which began with ten-month old Adam Gonzales and followed with the gunshot slaying of David Hubbard continued with the early Sunday homicide of Byron Parker, 29. At this point, the Denver Police Department is providing only the barest details a ... More >>

Roberto Santistevan busted in fatal stabbing of Crystal Crespin on S. Eliot (17)

Big pic below.​Update: The Denver coroner's office has now identified the woman killed in an incident at 1080 South Eliot: Crystal Crespin, 32. The cause of death: a stab wound to the thorax. Roberto Santistevan has been arrested in the case. Look below to see our earlier coverage.

Marquez Jones identified as victim in shooting near 8th and Lincoln (27)

Graphic below.​Update below: This weekend was a bloody one in downtown Denver. Early Saturday morning, a woman was slain near the Denver Rescue Mission. Then, just over 24 hours later, Marquez Jones, 24, was shot in the vicinity of 8th and Lincoln -- and the Denver coroner's office has just c ... More >>

Breaking news: Car smashes into Wax Trax overnight, store to be reopened later today

Wax Trax should be reopened later today​Update (11:02 a.m.): So what initially appeared to be a unfortunate automobile accident that caused damage to the front of Wax Trax just became even more unfortunate: We've learned from Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson that the alcohol-re ... More >>

Johnny Hockaday: Vehicular homicide charge in DUI-Wax Trax crash that killed Roland Stith

Big pic below.​Update: On October 18, Johnny Hockaday, 28, will be formally advised of the accusations against him -- and there are plenty of them. He's been charged with four felonies, including vehicular homicide, in relation to the alleged drunk-driving crash that slammed the vehicle driven ... More >>

Peter VanVolkinburg allegedly responds to cop handcuffing him by breaking her hand

Big pic below.​From what we understand from past scofflaws and couples who enjoy the use of restraints in the bedroom, being fitted with handcuffs can be painful. But probably not as painful as the special gift Peter VanVolkinburg is accused of giving a female police officer when she tried cu ... More >>

Occupy Denver: Does police warning to remove sidewalk encumbrances hint at crackdown?

​Last night, Occupy Denver sleepers were greeted around midnight by police officers who asked them to clear the sidewalks. Although a few people did so, the group as a whole remained in the same space, and it's unclear whether the warning comes with future action. It should be noted, however, ... More >>

Occupy Denver: Police start ticketing drivers who stop to donate in front of Civic Center Park

​To give to Occupy Denver, a movement that depends considerably upon large and frequent donations, you have several options. The easiest is simply to drive by the occupation between 14th and Colfax on Broadway and put on your hazard lights for about two minutes while protesters help you remove ... More >>

Crisanto Tirso-Jiminez still at large after fatal stabbing of Elia Anastacio (34)

Big photo below.​Today, we checked in with Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson regarding the whereabouts of Crisanto Tirso-Jiminez, 35, who's wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of Elia Anastacio. According to Jackson, Tirso-Jiminez remains at large -- and he's thought t ... More >>