Fire 200 miles west of Denver sparks questions

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Fire 200 miles west of Denver sparks questions BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Red flag warnings are up in parts of Colorado. Those alerts are being issued as the massive Spring Creek Fire burns in Parachute, on the Western Slope.At 3,000 acres, the fire is so large that massive plumes could be seen from the Denver metro area on Monday evening. The smoke is prompting questions from people who want to know more about the fire’s impact in Denver and around the state. Supreme Court rules in Colorado stalking case Several viewers sent FOX31 video from the fire that broke out over the weekend. One person said it just kept getting bigger and bigger.The large plumes of smoke were even turning the skies orange over the town of Superior, 200 miles away. In the community of Marshall, home to one of the state’s worst fires ever, that smoke was very much noticed by Jeff Giddings.“Honestly, the fire here went through my mind. I could see it coming over," Giddings said of the Spring Creek Fire's smoke. "I didn’t know how close it was. I didn...

Former police officer sues Edgewater for retaliation and wrongful termination

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Former police officer sues Edgewater for retaliation and wrongful termination EDGEWATER, Colo. (KDVR) — A former police officer, who is the named victim in a Jefferson County sex crime case against her former sergeant, claims in a new lawsuit that she was forced to resign as part of a retaliation campaign.FOX31 is not naming the female officer because the Jefferson County district attorney confirmed she's the victim in a criminal case against her former superior, police Sgt. Nathan Geerdes. Fired clerk sues Circle K over its shoplifting policy The lawsuit, filed in federal court, names the city of Edgewater, the Edgewater Police Department, and, in their individual capacities: Geerdes, Chief John Mackey, Commander Mark Hamilton, Sgt. John Forsythe, Sgt Brandon Challis and City Manager Dan Maples.Mackey retired as chief in December 2021, and Hamilton retired as commander in December 2022. Geerdes was forced to resign in March 2021. Two sergeants — Forsythe and Challis — and the city manager are still employed by Edgewater.Nathan Geedes in court (KDVR)Ex-cop ...

License plates expired? Crackdown is underway

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

License plates expired? Crackdown is underway ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Law enforcement agencies in multiple Denver metro area counties are cracking down this week on drivers with expired license plate tags.Aurora, Arapahoe County, Adams County and Douglas County are all participating, and the crackdown will last through July 1."We're out looking for expired plates, anything more than 3 months expired," said Sgt. Jeremiah Gates, with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.He took the FOX31 and Channel 2 crew along with him as he looked for vehicles with expired tags, and it didn't take long to find an offender. The first driver he pulled over, just blocks from headquarters, had plates that expired in July 2022.License plate tags help fund road workGates said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have not renewed their vehicle registration, and it's a real problem. A few weeks ago he pulled over a vehicle with a temporary tag from 2020."We get a lot of complaints from people asking, 'Why do I have to pay my registrat...

Supreme Court rules in Colorado stalking case

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Supreme Court rules in Colorado stalking case WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to make it more difficult to convict a person of making a violent threat, including against the president or other elected officials.The Biden administration had warned that the internet and social media have expanded the number and kinds of threats in recent years, including online harassment, intimidation and stalking. And they warned the case could affect the ability to prosecute threats against public officials, which have increased in recent years. Spring Creek Fire multiplies overnight burning 3,000 acres The high court was ruling in a case that involves a man who was sentenced to more than four years in prison in Colorado for sending threatening Facebook messages. The man’s lawyers had argued that he suffers from mental illness and never intended his messages to be threatening.The question for the court was whether prosecutors must show that a person being prosecuted for making a threat knew their behavior was thre...

Spring Creek Fire multiplies overnight, burning 3,000 acres

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Spring Creek Fire multiplies overnight, burning 3,000 acres DENVER (KDVR) -- The burn from a wildfire near Parachute, Colorado, saw significant growth overnight, increasing from some 200 acres to an estimated 3,000 acres.The Spring Creek Fire was first reported Saturday afternoon when it had burned an estimated 150 acres. Sunday, that increased to an estimated 200 acres. Denver weather: A shot at 90 degrees before rain returns for cooldown On Monday, dry and hot weather with winds spread the fire and the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit reported Tuesday that it had gained momentum burning heavy fuels raising the area to an estimated 3,000 acres."With similar conditions forecast for today, firefighters expect another day of active fire behavior," a release from the US Forest Service said. "A considerable number of resources have been ordered, including a Complex Incident Management team."Smoke from the fire has made its way through the mountain and created hazy skies on the Front Range Tuesday morning.The burn from the...

The cast of Joy Ride hits purple carpet to celebrate their premiere in Los Angeles 

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

The cast of Joy Ride hits purple carpet to celebrate their premiere in Los Angeles  Forget show biz, we’re here for some funny biz. The cast of the new comedy: “Joy Ride” hit the purple carpet in Los Angeles to celebrate the premiere of their new movie.Ashley Park: “I think we’re just really excited to share something that we made with genuine joy and love.”David Denman as Joe Sullivan: “To our daughter, big deal going back to your birth country.” Sherry Cola as Lolo: “We used to talk about it all the time, a grand adventure to find your birth mother.”Ashley Park as Audrey: “Who needs more parents when I have the two best parents in the world?”Ashley Park: “There are certain roles that find you in your life exactly when you need them. And it was my first time playing the protagonist in a story.”Ashley Park as Audrey: “People are always thinking I have this perfect life, but I don’t belong anywhere.”Ashley Park: “She’s a character that feels like she has...

Surveillance video captures man stealing liquor bottles from Vintage Liquors high-end store in Miami

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Surveillance video captures man stealing liquor bottles from Vintage Liquors high-end store in Miami Surveillance video captured a thief who gave new meaning to the term ‘Bottoms up’, he stole liquor bottles from the Vintage Liquors and Wine bar in Miami. It’s about bottom-of-the-barrel behavior that happened on Monday.Rosi Barrios walked through her family business explaining this incident to 7 News that occurred at her store. “He was a man with a plan, he came in, went straight into the whiskey, aisle,” said Barrios. He came for the good stuff at this high-end liquor store and as he walked into he started to talk on his cell phone to avoid any communication with the employees.“Speaking kind of loud like he was in a deep conversation,” said Barrios. He knew he wanted the expensive whiskey and he knew exactly which bottle he needed to steal. “Knowing what he wanted,” said Barrios. “Grabbed the Macallan 15.”But the subject had no intention to pay for it as he grabbed a boxed bottle of Macallan 15, priced at just under...

Man killed in City Heights shooting

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Man killed in City Heights shooting SAN DIEGO — A 35-year-old man was killed Tuesday in a shooting in the City Heights neighborhood, police say.The shooting happened around 11 a.m. in the area near 40th and Thorn streets, according to San Diego police.The victim was found in the front of a home in the 3200 block of 40th Street with a gunshot wound to his upper body, SDPD said. Paramedics took the victim to Scripps Mercy Hospital, but he died from his injuries. 3 Camp Pendleton Marines among 4 dead in fiery crash on I-5 Police say the victim was confronted by the shooter in front of the home before he was shot. The shooter then ran off.Officials blocked off 40th Street from Thorn Street to Redwood Street as they investigated the shooting.Jaime Chambers contributed to this story.

Brush fire destroys at least 2 homes, other structures in Riverside County

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

Brush fire destroys at least 2 homes, other structures in Riverside County This is a developing story. Hit refresh for updates.A brush fire erupted in a rural community west of Perris in Riverside County Tuesday afternoon, destroying several structures and vehicles. The Juniper Fire was first reported around 2:30 p.m. in the area of Santa Rosa Mine Road and El Nido Road, and had spread to 55 acres as of 5:45 p.m. with containment at 5 percent, according to Cal Fire.Mandatory evacuations were ordered for homes south of Santa Rosa Mine Road, east of El Baquero Road, west of Maywood Club Road and north of Rocky Hills.A home burns in the Juniper Fire in Riverside County, California. June 27, 2023. (KTLA)Riverside County's Emergency Management Department opened an evacuation center at Pinacate Middle School at 1990 S. A Street in Perris.Crews were digging containment lines as air tankers and helicopters battled the fire from above with water and flame retardant. Sky5 footage shows several structures, including at least two homes, along with several cars were de...

City Council formally passes homeless encampment ban

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:15:39 GMT

City Council formally passes homeless encampment ban SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego City council voted Tuesday for a second time to affirm the adoption of a controversial policy banning homeless encampments on public property when a shelter bed is available, with some exceptions.“The ordinance says encampments will be prohibited at all times in areas where there are particular concerns about public health and safety -- within a two-block radius of a school, homeless shelters, canyons where you have fires that threaten homes, and other sensitive areas.”District 4’s Councilmember Stephen Whitburn authored the measure. It’s "that absolute ban" – 24-7 in certain areas -- that had City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and others taking issue.Elo-Rivera said he still has problems with part of the measure. SeaWorld closes ‘Electric Eel’ rollercoaster after reported injury “I remain particularly concerned about the ban on sleeping near shelters, as my conversations with service providers and some folks who have experienced homelessness in tha...