Colorado Springs Local News - ABC News Radio

Two Home Invasions Lead to Arrest

2013-05-22T12:53:27Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- One person was arrested on Tuesday night following two reports of home invasions in a Colorado Springs neighborhood.

Police stated that shortly before 9 p.m. officers responded to a home invasion report on the 1900 block of S. Corona Avenue, where the homeowner told police that four people ran into the home and then ran back out.

Police say they then received a second call from residents two doors down. At that location, occupants told investigators that a male tried breaking into the rear of the home, with the homeowner then holding the suspect at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Thomas Morphet was arrested for escape.

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Man Who Stole Car Arrested

2013-05-21T18:19:31Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- On Monday, Colorado Springs Police arrested a man accused of stealing a car.

Despite being equipped with LoJack, the 2002 Kia Sephia was reported stolen with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Monday.

Detectives investigating the theft were able to track down the car and its driver, 18-year-old Cory Duncan Bell, to the area of Old Pueblo and Hanover Roads in southern El Paso County.

Bell was arrested without incident. He was charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license restrained.

Man Forced at Gunpoint to Apologize to Kidnapper’s Girlfriend

2013-05-21T15:32:32Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A man was kidnapped and forced at gunpoint to apologize to the kidnapper’s girlfriend for sending rude text messages to her, according to Colorado Springs Police.

Police received a call from the victim at 11 p.m. Monday. He told police that an hour earlier an acquaintance of his, 53-year-old Scott Nickel, had entered his Parkridge Apartment wielding a shotgun and had taken him against his will.

Nickel reportedly forced the victim to drive to Nickel’s apartment. When they got there, Nickel allegedly made the kidnapped man apologize to Nickel’s girlfriend for vulgar text messages the man had sent her. Nickel also told the man he had 12 hours to repay Nickel and his girlfriend money they were owed.

The man was then released, and promptly called the police. He was not harmed during the incident.

Officers arrested Nickel after obtaining a search warrant. Police found the shotgun he had used during the crime. He was charged with first degree kidnapping.

Cops: Teenage Driver Arrested After Trying to Run Over Officer

2013-05-21T12:40:50Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A 16-year-old girl is facing multiple charges after Colorado Springs Police say she led them on a high-speed chase early Tuesday morning.

It reportedly began around 1:30 a.m. when police tried to pull over a vehicle on the 5100 block of N. Nevada Avenue, after the vehicle had allegedly failed to stop at a red light. According to police, as officers approached the vehicle, the driver sped off, with officers giving chase but then losing sight of it.

Police officials say officers again caught up with the vehicle on the 6300 block of Corporate Drive, and as officers approached the vehicle, the driver again drove off, this time in the direction of an officer, almost hitting him.

Police stated that the vehicle eventually crashed into a concrete embankment underneath Interstate 25, with the teenage driver sustaining minor injuries. The teen has been charged with felony eluding and attempted first-degree assault of a peace officer, among other traffic-related charges.

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Firefighters Rescue 200-Pound Black Bear From Tree

2013-05-20T18:13:11Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- Colorado Springs firefighters who were more used to pulling frightened cats down from high trees had a change of pace Sunday when a 200-pound bear was found in a tree.

The female black bear made its way into the tree Sunday morning but was not discovered by local residents until around 3 p.m., according to wildlife officials.

The bear's ascent brought out both Colorado Springs' firefighters and officers from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department. Their first attempt to subdue the bear with a tranquilizer proved unsuccessful, pushing the bear to climb even higher up the tree.

Officers fired a second tranquilizer shot and then watched, joined by a crowd of bewildered residents, and waited until they were sure the bear was fully sedated.

Around 8 p.m., nearly five hours after the bear was first spotted, it was removed from the tree.

Dramatic photos posted to the city's fire department Twitter account show the bear being lowered by a fire truck ladder, which was required because the bear had climbed so high up the tree.

The bear will be re-released into the wild, but at a location at least 100 miles away from where it was found, wildlife officials said.

Handmade Explosive Device Found on North 24th Street

2013-05-20T15:18:39Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- Colorado Springs Police Officers, responding to a call, discovered explosives Sunday and safely defused a handmade explosive device.

According to police, officers received the call shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday alerting them to the device. Upon arriving at the scene in the 600 block of North 24th Street, Officer J. Tyson inspected the item and determined that it was, in his opinion, an explosive device.

Officers called for the Colorado Springs Regional Explosives Unit to assist and secured the scene. The Explosives Unit was able to confirm that it was a handmade explosive device, and successfully rendered it safe.

The Gazette reports that the device was cylindrical, 10-12 inches long and was made from commercial-grade fireworks.

No arrests have been made. A criminal investigation into the bomb is active and ongoing, according to police.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the CSPD Communications Center at 719-444-7000.

Springs Police Investigating Fiery Crash

2013-05-20T10:26:32Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- Police are investigating a vehicular crash that occurred in Colorado Springs late Sunday night.

The single-vehicle crash was reported around 11:45 p.m. on the 1900 block of Wildwood Drive. Police say a vehicle reportedly ran off the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire. There were no reported injuries.

Wildwood Drive was shut down for over two hours as crews investigated the crash and worked to clear the scene.

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Interstate 25 Reopened After Multi-Car Accident

2013-05-17T19:38:28Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A multi-vehicle accident closed Interstate 25 early Friday morning.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, the wreck, which occurred around 8:30 a.m., involved up to 10 vehicles.

Two or three people were reportedly taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary reasons, according to the Gazette. No one sustained serious injuries.

All northbound lanes of I-25 were closed while the accident was cleared. Interstate 25 reopened at approximately 9:30 a.m.

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Former Councilman Cited for Child Neglect

2013-05-17T18:46:36Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A former Colorado Springs city councilman and his wife received a citation for child neglect after police found their 13-year-old son naked and living in an unsanitary home.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, the son of former councilman Charles Wingate and his wife, Sharon Starkey, was found in a home described as "littered with feces." Officers described the boy as autistic, a claim that Wingate denies.

Neighbors told the Gazette that they had not seen the boy outside the home in several years.

Police had received multiple calls about the residence before they checked on the conditions inside the home on Thursday afternoon. After an inspection, the house was condemned as unsafe for living.

Wingate was charged with a number of felonies during his term as councilman. He later resigned his position and pleaded guilty to embezzlement.

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Fire Evacuation Drill for Upper Skyway Residents

2013-05-17T11:11:23Z

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A fire evacuation drill is scheduled for some Colorado Springs residents on Saturday.

The Wildland Fire Evacuation Drill is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will involve residents of the Upper Skyway neighborhood.

Personnel from the city's police and fire departments, as well as from the Office of Emergency Management will also take part in the drill.

Authorities say they also aim to educate residents on developing an evacuation plan from evacuating pets to knowing evacuation routes out of the neighborhood, along with creating and communicating a family plan.

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