crime
-
We tested vapes in Colorado for signs of hemp. This is what we found.
—
by
This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The Denver Gazette. Sign up for Dispatches to get our stories in your inbox every week. Leaders in the Colorado marijuana industry have complained in recent years that intoxicating products derived from hemp are endangering consumers and creating unfair competition, threatening to upend…
-
Aurora files Petition for Rehearing in court ruling on crime punishment, seeking ‘clarity’
—
by
The city of Aurora filed a Petition for Rehearing with the Colorado Supreme Court on Monday, seeking clarity on a court decision in Aurora v. Simons. The court determined that municipal criminal penalties cannot exceed state sentencing caps for similar offenses under state law, according to a city news release Tuesday. City officials said Tuesday…
-
Denver mayor aims to reduce gun violence, homelessness in 2026
—
by
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Monday outlined his top 2026 priorities, with an eye toward the city’s most persistent challenges, notably homelessness, which has been growing under his administration, though there had been gains in some areas. The city’s top goals, Johnston said at a news conference at the La Alma Recreation Center, include further…
-
CPW asks public for help after bald eagle found shot with ball bearing
—
by
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has asked the public for help in learning more about the shooting of a bald eagle that took place in the Northglenn area. According to a press release on the matter, CPW officers along with local park rangers and animal control personnel responded to the report of an eagle on the…
-
Former Centennial teacher sentenced to 60 years for sexually assaulting children
—
by
A former teacher at a Centennial private school was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for sexually assaulting multiple children in his care. Christopher Ballard, 28, of Lakewood, had been charged with nearly 24 sexual offenses against 12 child victims at the Journey Academy, where he had been employed since 2021, according to a…
-
Colorado lawmakers want officers to conduct ‘lethality assessments’ when responding to domestic violence calls
—
by
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is hoping to reduce to Colorado’s rising domestic violence fatalities through a bill that would require law enforcement agencies around the state to conduct “lethality assessments” on domestic violence victims. In early December of last year, police found the body of 37-year-old Annette Valdez in a trash can near a…
-
4 arrested after $900K in damages to former Pueblo County middle school
—
by
Pueblo County sheriff’s deputies arrested four men after interrupting a burglary in progress at the former Excelsior Middle School on Thursday, according to a news release by the Sheriff’s Office. Richard Luther, 60, Tylor Lovell, 31, Ezequiel Baca, 35, and Anthony Nagy, 59, allegedly caused around $900,000 worth of “extensive damage” to computers, ceilings, plumbing,…
-
Parents still waiting for Jeffco counselor plea deal on sexual assault charge
—
by
A plea deal has been delayed again for the Jeffco Public Schools counselor who allegedly started a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student. Chloe Castro appeared in a Jefferson County District Court room in front of Judge Diego Hunt on Tuesday afternoon. Her defense attorney, Marshall Breit, noted that Castro would likely take a plea…
-
Gov. Jared Polis touts Colorado’s ‘significant’ drop in crime in 2025
—
by
Gov. Jared Polis is touting a recent report saying Colorado’s overall crime rate decreased by double-digit margins over the past year. “I am thrilled to see our data-driven investments in law enforcement support and crime prevention are working,” Polis said of the report from the Colorado Department of Public Safety. “Securing our safety is the…
-
Rocky Mountain region saw record fentanyl pill, meth seizures in 2025, DEA says
—
by
The Rocky Mountain region saw record-breaking amounts of fentanyl pills and methamphetamines seized in 2025, officials with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said Wednesday. Throughout last year, Colorado saw a 76% increase in fentanyl pill seizures in comparison to the year before, which accounted for 6.7 million, or over 14%, of the 47 million…
