Blue-light phones in Boulder used exclusively for prank calls

City officials say they will be removing five emergency phone stations from University Hill because over the past two years the devices have only been used to prank call police.

In 2009 and 2010, police received 351 phone calls from the emergency phones, all of which were false, according to a memo sent today to City Council members from City Manager Jane Brautigam.

“In each case, police responded, diverting them from other responsibilities and actual calls for help,” she wrote in the letter.

The aged “blue light” phones need to be repaired or replaced, and the city has decided against making that investment.

Fort Collins: Hooligans smash 17 cars with rocks

Rock-throwing vandals have caused an estimated $8,000 in damage in Fort Collins, police said.

So far 17 car owners in Fort Collins have reported rocks being thrown through windows of parked vehicles, according to a Fort Collins Police Department media release.

The vandalism happened between 7 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday in an area bordered by Overland Trail, Mulberry Street, Shields Street and Drake Road.

Several witnesses described a suspect car to investigators, and police have contacted three juveniles and an adult as suspects in the case.

No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.

Teen arrested in Broomfield pavilion arson

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the Aug. 12 fire that destroyed the outdoor pavilion and adjacent restrooms at Broomfield’s Northmoor Park.During the past eight days, a joint investigation by Broomfield police and the North Metro Fire arson investigators identified the suspect, according to Broomfield Police Sgt. H.R. Walts. 

According to Walts, the case was presented to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and an arrest warrant obtained for the juvenile.

He was arrested Thursday and is currently being held for investigation of first- and second-degree arson.

The fire was first reported to 911 dispatchers at about 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 12. When firefighters arrived at the scene at 1310 Birch St., the pavilion, the furniture in the pavilion and the restrooms were completely engulfed in flames.

The loss was estimated at about $45,000.

Teen steals car, gas, leads cops on 100-mile high-speed chase

A teenage girl was taken into custody Tuesday morning after leading the Colorado State Patrol on a nearly 100-mile chase, which exceeded more than 100 mph at times.

A spokesperson with the State Patrol says the incident started at 6:57 a.m. when the teen allegedly failed to pay for $35.05 in gasoline at a gas station in Arriba, which is about 20 miles east of Limon.

A trooper with the State Patrol spotted the car on westbound Interstate 70 and followed her green Grand Am onto I-70 towards the metro area. The State Patrol was forced to call off the chase before reaching Byers because the suspect was driving more than 100 mph and the volume of traffic on the highway was increasing.

The State Patrol requested the help of the Aurora Police Department, which set up “stop sticks” near I-70 and Tower Road, puncturing all four of the vehicle’s tires. The car came to a stop a short distance later near I-70 and Pena Boulevard at 7:55 a.m.

Another motorist on eastbound I-70 also hit the stop sticks, but the State Patrol says there were no injuries or accidents at the end of the chase.

The teen’s identity, or the charges she will face, were not immediately known. The State Patrol says the car she was driving was stolen from Westminster.

Fort Collins park hit by senseless vandalism

Someone took a machete or axe, walked down a path at Fort Collins’ newest community park and hacked down 19 trees Tuesday night, leaving city officials and local residents appalled by the destruction.

When Doug Kokes, a crew chief with the Fort Collins Park Department, arrived at Spring Canyon Community Park at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday he couldn’t believe the havoc the vandals had caused.

Strewn along a path in the park were a variety of trees, laying on their sides.

“It was disappointing. We tried to develop the park into a beautiful place,” said Kokes. “It is very disappointing.”

He said neighborhood residents are very upset, unable to comprehend why anyone would engage in such vandalism.

When the park opened in 2007 the young trees were an integral part of the park’s development.

Ralph Zentz, the city’s assistant forester, said he couldn’t believe what he saw when he got to the southwest Fort Collins park Wednesday morning.

“I saw the first two trees and said ‘this is bad’,” Zentz recalled. “Then I rounded a bend and saw eight more trees down.

“This is the city’s newest community park, right up against the foothills. It is really attractive. This is a sad, sad situation. I can’t comprehend what motivates people to do this,” said Zentz.

Durango charity organizer hit by cannon blast

DURANGO, Colo.—Sheriff’s officials say a bicyclist who organized a charity race was injured by a small cannonball that was shot at him and investigators suspect five teenagers of the crime.

The La Plata County Sheriff’s office say they plan to interview the teenagers with their parents next week about the cannonball that was fired at the bicyclist Sunday during a multiple sclerosis fundraiser in Durango.

Authorities say the cannonball was similar to what is used at high school and college games to celebrate a touchdown. Sheriff’s officials say a gauze-like wadding soaked in an unknown chemical caused an explosion near the legs of 37-year-old Ian Altman. The explosion lodged particulate in his legs and arms and he was hospitalized with a 102.5-degree fever.

Summit County crime spree ends in arrest

Two juveniles in Summit County have been arrested after a string of thefts and vehicle break-ins near Breckenridge since February.

Both of the suspects are 15 years old. More suspects may also be involved in more than 20 thefts in recent months.

The suspects are charged with felony theft and are being held in a juvenile detention facility. The class 4 felony carries a possible prison sentence of from two to six years and fines from $2,000 to $500,000.

One of the suspects is also being charged with criminal attempt first-degree criminal trespass, which carries a possible prison sentence of from one to one-and-one-half years and a maximum fine of $100,000.

The thefts involved stolen vehicles, bicycles and vehicle trespasses to steal cash, credit cards and iPods. Most of the thefts have been near the Silver Shekel, Peak 7, and French Creek neighborhoods.

In each case the vehicles were unlocked.

The case is still under investigation.

Boulder vandals tracked via paint trail

A trail of paint led to the arrest of two men who allegedly splashed white paint on seven vehicles in Boulder early today.

Arrested were Boulder residents Jarrad McKay, 21, and Matthew Baker, 20, according to the Boulder Police Department.

They are being held for investigation of criminal mischief and theft.

According to investigators, a passer-by discovered a car covered with paint around 1 a.m. in the area of 17th Street and Aurora Avenue.

When Boulder officers arrived, they found five vehicles in an alley and two vehicles on the street splattered with white paint.

Police were able to follow a trail of paint to the home of one of the suspects in the 800 block of 17th Street.

There they contacted McKay and Baker, who had tell-tale signs of white paint on them, said police.

Both admitted they were involved in the vandalism and said they had stolen the paint from University Hill Elementary School, according to officers.

Senseless vandalism spree hits Denver suburbs

A vandalism spree struck almost 20 homeowners in Arapahoe County’s South Creek Subdivision early today, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

Approximately $15,000 in damage was done to 19 residents who had graffiti spray-painted on their homes and, in some cases, their cars.

The words “Dyce” and “Rat” were sprayed onto the property located in the 16000 block of East Phillips Lane.

Deputies responded to the area at 6:30 a.m. on reports of numerous homes and vehicles being damaged.

The investigation into who caused the damage is ongoing, the sheriff’s department said in a statement.

Vandals trash Lakewood elementary school

Two teens were arrested early this morning after they allegedly ransacked a Lakewood elementary school, destroying school property valued at at least $20,000.

“They tore up the inside of the school,” said Lakewood Police Department spokesman Steve Davis.

Windows, computers, musical instruments and furniture were destroyed.

The vandals damaged the entire school including classrooms, offices, the library and hallways said Melissa Reeves, spokeswoman for the Jeffco Public Schools.

Davis said Lakewood police were notified by schools security officers at 3:50 a.m. that they believed there were vandals inside Stein Elementary School, 80 S. Teller St.

When police arrived, they could see lights being turned on and off and heard noises from inside the school.

A perimeter was established and a police dog was also brought to the scene.

A short time later, two suspects came out of the school, were confronted by police and ran away.

Officers chased the suspects for a few blocks before the teens were arrested. They were identified as Lee David Abeyta and Elvis Blackelk Vigil, both 18.

Davis said police are looking for a third suspect.

Abeyta and Vigil were booked at the Lakewood Police Department and then transferred to the Jefferson County Jail.

They are being held for investigation of second- and third-degree burglary, second-degree trespass, criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Davis said additional charges are likely.