Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center

Felix Trujillo, inmate, says deputy who helped him escape thought (wrongly) he'd get $500K

Update: The tale of Felix Trujillo's escape from Denver jail last month, and deputy Matthew Andrews's alleged role in helping him do so, was already plenty weird. But it just got a whole lot stranger. Trujillo now says the escape plan came from Andrews, based on the mistaken notion that the inmate ... More >>

Felix Trujillo, escapee, surrenders amid claims family of deputy who helped him was threatened

Update: Felix Trujillo, the first-ever escapee from Denver's new jail, slipped away in a deputy's jacket and alleged help from law-enforcer Matthew Andrews; see our previous coverage below. Now, following the arrest of another accused accomplice, 47-year-old Marilyn Reeves, Trujillo has surrendered ... More >>

The Denver Police Crime Laboratory offers engaging new art

Occupy Denver's May Day protest ends with three arrests for obstruction, public fighting

Yesterday's May Day events brought together protesters across the world in support of workers' rights, with Occupy Denver joining other activist communities on marches, teach-ins and direct actions. But while Seattle erupted in scenes of violence and New York witnessed more than thirty general strik ... More >>

Photos: Trayvon Martin inspires police brutality march, demand for DPD review

Laurie Fitzgerald tried to tell her grandson about Trayvon Martin, about his hoodie, about his family, but it's hard. So she taught him the basics. When asked why he's carrrying a poster of the seventeen-year-old Florida student's face, four-year-old Royce Edwards answers only, "Because Trayvon is d ... More >>

Photos: Occupy Denver marches against police brutality

On Saturday, at age six months and one day, Occupy Denver rallied downtown to protest police brutality. More than 100 people gathered with signs and chants for one in a handful of protests dedicated to the topic in the past week. Although relationships between Occupy Denver and the Denver Police Dep ... More >>

Occupy Denver at six months: How relations between police and protesters soured

Tomorrow, Occupy Denver turns six months old -- and sometimes it feels as though protest years are like dog years. In the first in two posts marking the date, we look back through our notebooks to track the relationship between police and protesters, which has gone from overwhelmingly supportive (on ... More >>

Video, photos: Four Occupy Denver protesters arrested for robbery

Update: 3:47 p.m.: At this morning's court date, the bond rates for all five of those arrested near Civic Center Park last night increased, as did the crimes they are associated with. At the moment, all five are currently under investigation for second-degree assault and aggravated robbery. Caryn So ... More >>

Photos: Occupy Denver shuts down traffic during first mass event of 2012

Occupy Denver was among groups in 27 cities to rally in support of Occupy Oakland, which experienced a recent round of 300 arrests. About 125 protesters gathered for an impromptu march that shut down large sections of traffic near Broadway and Colfax between 7:30 and 10 p.m. and attracted the attent ... More >>

Occupy Denver: The injuries and memories behind three months covering the movement

On December 23, Occupy Denver quietly celebrated three months of loud, tense and occasionally fiery statements downtown. In that time span, the local chapter of the national movement has kept busy -- and kept Westword busy -- with stories that change not just daily, but hourly. If you've been follow ... More >>

With Occupy Denver protester Corey Donahue, nothing is ever easy

Occupy Denver: ACLU reacts to restiction against recording during court appearances

​Westword has been present at every Sunday-morning arraignment related to Occupy Denver arrests. It was only this past Sunday, however, that I was forbidden by the court from recording anything while inside. The recent ban on anyone other than lawyers taking notes on the arrests and bond rates ... More >>

Occupy Denver profile: John Sexton says he was falsely accused of felony assault on cop

John Sexton.​John Sexton turned 33 this morning, and his birthday gifts have so far been slim: He was released from prison a couple hours ago, and his first birthday wish was from someone in a nearby holding cell. After a tense conversation with his mother, she, too, wished him a happy one. Pe ... More >>

Occupy Denver: 21 arrests, magistrate refuses to lower bond rate

​Today's arraignment for last night's Occupy Denver arrests continued a vein of strict bond rates applied across the board. Lawyers received little time to speak to those arrested, and though all pleaded not guilty, all misdemeanor charges were met with a bond rate of $550. Part-time magistrat ... More >>

Occupy Denver: 26 new arrests from last night bring the total to 50 over two days

​Seven of the 26 people arrested at Occupy Denver's second run-in with the police last night faced their arraignment this morning at the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center.

Occupy Denver: 24 protesters charged, five must post bond

Pat Marsden.​Update, 5 p.m. October 15: The names of the final two Occupy Denver protesters charged after Friday night's protest have come out. Aaron Petrovich was charged with assault, while Scott Green, the final arrest, was charged with unlawful conduct on state property and made it out of ... More >>

The police moves in on Occupy Denver's largest gathering yet -- with pepper spray (PHOTOS)

Big pics below.​Update, 10:11 p.m. Saturday: Mayor Michael Hancock's office has announced that an additional 24 people were arrested in tonight's protest. Their arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. tomorrow at the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center. In the meantime, police are present at Civic ... More >>

A veteran charged with killing his girlfriend, Robert Walters also put a hit on his wife, say police

An anarchist charged with attempted murder sees her case blow up in court

"I was running down an alley, and then I heard them yell behind me, 'Mohawk, Mohawk!' There was a car parked at the end of the alley, and I was like, 'Oh, fuck.'"

Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal keeps a close eye on the Denver police

Denver police brutality scandal: A multimedia timeline

Rosenthal.​This week's cover story, "The Watcher," details the role Denver's Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal has played in the ongoing controversy involving city law enforcement and alleged police brutality. It's a scandal that's made nationwide news and is shaping the mayoral race. How ... More >>

Marvin Booker death: Denver Sheriff Department members cleared (VIDEO)

Marvin Booker​The five officers involved in restraining Marvin Booker in July 2010 at the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center -- an incident that ultimately led to his death -- will be not face criminal charges. Instead, they're scheduled to meet today with Director of Corrections Gary Wilson a ... More >>

Clogged toilets, floods and other ugly truths inside Denver's new jail

Flushed away.​If on some crisp, fall afternoon you find yourself walking down a tree-lined avenue past a jailhouse, the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center is the one to see. The exterior of the building is beaming with Indiana limestone to complement the nearby Denver Mint, and visitors are gr ... More >>

Joseph Lightfoot, home med. marijuana grower accused of child abuse, a good dad, attorney says

Joseph Lightfoot.​Last month, we told you about Joseph Lightfoot, a man accused of child abuse simply because he grows marijuana in his home -- something he's authorized to do thanks to his caregiver status. Tomorrow, Lightfoot will appear at a preliminary hearing in Denver County Court -- an ... More >>

Doug Linkhart leads charge against $25 million jail expansion

Doug Linkhart.​At 2 p.m. today, Denver City Council members will be voting on a 384-bed expansion of the Smith Road jail, a bond-fueled construction contract worth about $25 million. But expect at least one strongly dissenting vote from Councilman Doug Linkhart.

Open Door Policy

Philip Van Cise's crime busting to be remembered at Bill Ritter-led dedication of new justice center named for him

Philip Van Cise's name lives on.​At 10 a.m. this morning, Governor Bill Ritter is scheduled to speak at the dedication of the new Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center, at 490 W. Colfax. The event will no doubt bring a great deal of satisfaction to family members and others in the community who s ... More >>