Colorado Springs Local News - ABC News Radio

Interstate 25 Reopened After Multi-Car Accident

Louis Milman — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:38:28 +0000

(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

Louis Milman — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:46:36 +0000

(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

Anselm Gibbs — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:11:23 +0000

(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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Burglars Who Looted Evacuated Homes Sentenced to Long Prison Terms

Louis Milman — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:50:25 +0000

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A pair of burglars who were caught looting the homes of Waldo Canyon fire evacuees were sentenced to extended prison terms on Wednesday.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, Shane Erik Garrett was sentenced to 48 years in prison and Belinda Wells-Yates received 72 years. Both were considered repeat felons under Colorado's "habitual offender" law.

Both burglars were convicted in February of stealing more than $3,000 worth of property from a Mountain Shadows home. According to the Gazette, authorities believe they intended to keep stealing, before they were arrested.

The two were caught after telling a Colorado Bureau of Investigations agent that they were chasing the fire and offered to sell the officer stolen goods.

Two Men Arrested on Suspicion of Car Theft

Louis Milman — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:14:37 +0000

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- Police arrested two men suspected of motor vehicle theft on Thursday.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, police responded to a call that a vehicle had been stolen from the Camelot Apartments. While officers responded to the scene, they located a vehicle that matched the description of the stolen car and attempted to stop the driver.

The driver fled, and eventually abandoned the vehicle near Wahsatch Avenue and Costilla Street.

Police found one of the suspects near a ditch and another hiding in a nearby business, reports the Gazette. Both suspects were taken into custody without incident.

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Man, 47, Charged in Burglary at Christals

Anselm Gibbs — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:10:17 +0000

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A 47-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, charged with burglarizing a Colorado Springs business.

Keith Gruda is charged with second-degree burglary, obstructing a police officer and attempting to influence a public official.

The burglary happened on Wednesday morning at Christals, located at 2500 S. Academy Blvd. Police say someone broke into the business, filled two large plastic trash cans with merchandise and fled out the back door.

Gruda was allegedly later spotted near a trash can filled with stolen items from the business, and after fleeing, he was eventually taken into custody.

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Survey Gauges Resident’s Interest in New Sky Sox Stadium

James Grebey — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:56:29 +0000

(COLORADO SPRING, Colo.) -- Are Colorado Springs residents interested in a new stadium for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox? Mayor Steve Bach is looking to answer that question with a new survey, The Gazette reports.

Bach, who says he supports building a new stadium for the minor-league team, asked the Sky Sox and the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance to conduct a survey to measure public opinion.

The survey asks respondents if they think a new stadium would bring business to the community or attract more people to games. It does not, The Gazette notes, ask about location or the cost of the stadium.

The current stadium, Security Service Field, is located at the highest point in the city, and is plagued by wind and weather problems because of the location. There have been talks to move the team to a new downtown stadium for the past 15 years.

Pay Raise Proposed for Police Officers, Firefighters

Anselm Gibbs — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:32 +0000

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- A pay increase may be on the way for members of Colorado Springs' police and fire departments.

Representatives of both departments have proposed that the City approve $1.42 million from the city's general fund to increase the salaries of police officers and firefighters. On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of the increase, The Gazette reported. However, one city council member was reportedly absent for the vote.

The newspaper reports that the city council will conduct the required second vote on the issue at the end of the month.

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Mayor Discusses Proposed Homeless Shelter

James Grebey — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:42:54 +0000

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- Speaking at his monthly media briefing Tuesday, Mayor Steve Bach shared details about Sunrise Village, the proposed homeless shelter, as well as some more minor upcoming infrastructure upgrades.

Bach said that the focus of the Sunrise Village plan was to provide a campus or a day center. Bach said that a site for the facility had not been decided on, but suggestions are welcomed.

Sunrise Village, described by Bach as a “homelessness solution,” will offer Colorado Springs’ homeless a place to stay, eat and shower. It will also offer job training and placement services, court counseling, mental help, and other such services. It will also have a kennel, because many chronic homeless do not seek shelter as many shelters do not accept their pets.

Bach also announced that 95 new LED lights are being installed in Acacia Park and a corridor of Tejon Street between Colorado Avenue and Boulder Street. The lights will burn brighter and use 50 percent less energy.

Mayor Bach’s next Media Briefing will take place on Tuesday, June 11 at 11 a.m. in the City Administration Building, Suite 102.

CSPD Experimenting with New Traffic and Crime Data Mapping Tool

James Grebey — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:33:15 +0000

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- The Colorado Springs Police Department is using a new program to map crime and traffic data, The Gazette reports.

The program, Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety, or DDACTS, uses correlates traffic and crime data. The department hopes
to use that information to determine where to increase officer visibility.

"The theory behind it is this,” explained police Cmdr. Skip Arms to The Gazette, “obviously, people who engage in most crime, especially property crime -- somehow, someway, a vehicle is typically involved.”

Six Colorado Springs police officers on motorcycles have been assigned to the program, and will be placed in areas where crime and traffic overlap the most.

The program was tested in an area near Murray Boulevard over those three months. Police said crime decreased in the area.

Officials with the police department say they’re still fine turning the program, learning how to best distribute limited personnel resources, which they note is difficult because Colorado Springs is, at 200 square-miles, very spread out.