assault
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Fremont County detectives failed to honor Miranda rights, prompting appeals court to reverse conviction
A Cañon City man serving 32 years in prison for the attempted murder of his wife will receive a new trial after the state’s second-highest court concluded detectives failed to honor his constitutional right against self-incrimination when interrogating him. Steven Todd Whitt appealed his convictions, arguing the trial court judge should have suppressed the video of…
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Federal judge tosses man’s excessive force lawsuit against Loveland police
A federal judge has dismissed a man’s lawsuit against the city of Loveland and multiple police officers that alleged excessive force and unlawful arrest. Although Christopher Talmadge claimed that he was nonviolent and “minding his own business” when police reportedly slammed his head into his driveway, the city pointed to an affidavit the night of…
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Appeals court overturns convictions after improper Colorado Springs police testimony
A Colorado Springs detective told jurors that the same day Christopher D. Fiers allegedly assaulted a friend, Fiers had canceled his subscription for his Nest home security camera system and no video of the incident existed. Fiers was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Now, the state’s second-highest court has overturned Fiers’ convictions…
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January 6 commemorations in Denver squashed by cold, lack of interest
In contrast to a year ago, the Denver commemoration of the Jan, 6 U.S. Capitol assault was low key. At the state Capitol, two rallies – one from each side of the attempt to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential vote count – were scheduled, but only one took place. The League of Women Voters,…
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Jeffco prosecutor crossed line, appeals court finds in reversing sex abuse conviction
A Jefferson County prosecutor, speaking to the jury, improperly and repeatedly used a defendant’s silence in a police-recorded phone call against him, the Court of Appeals decided last week in ordering a new trial. Although the Fifth Amendment prohibits prosecutors from drawing conclusions about a defendant’s guilt if he exercises his right to remain silent,…
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Fort Morgan city manager pleads not guilty to alleged assault
Fort Morgan City Manager Jeff Wells was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of assault, a spokesperson for the 13th Judicial District attorney’s office said. Wells was taken into custody Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. The charge is related to an incident from July 2017, but the DA’s office learned about it…