Two people have turned themselves in to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) after their alleged involvement in a fatal traffic crash that killed 77-year-old Deanna Stemler.

On the evening of March 22, two cars were racing eastbound on Briargate Boulevard when one of them crossed into oncoming traffic, hitting Stemler's SUV head-on.

The driver and Stemler were all transported to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

On May 21, almost two months after Stemler's death, CSPD obtained arrest warrants for 48-year-old Jerome Archer and 18-year-old Leeanaya Joey Martinez.

Archer turned himself in on May 21, and is facing charges related to Stemler's death and the alleged street racing.

Martinez turned himself in on May 25, and is accused of causing the crash, and is facing charges related to the following;

This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information can reach out to CSPD at (719)444-7000.

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The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is notifying the community that a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) has moved into the area.

Clifford Wayne Chance is on supervised release and has moved to 329 Swope Ave.

He's described as a 70-year-old white man, 6'0", 150lbs, with gray hair and blue eyes.

The past behavior that has led him to be labeled as an SVP is as follows;

CSPD is making all reasonable efforts to ensure that Chance registers as a sex offender, and he understands his responsibilities.

Anyone with questions about Chance can contact CSPD Registered Sex Offender Unit Detective J.R. Brown at (719)444-7672.

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A former Colorado State Public Defender has been sentenced in connection to a child sex assault case, according to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's (DA's) Office.

The DA's Office says an El Paso County District Court Judge sentenced Thomas Cushing on Thursday to ten years to life in the Department of Corrections, followed by 20 years to life on parole.

The investigation into Cushing began after the victim's father reported information to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). In March, Cushing was found guilty of sex assault on a child, pattern of abuse.

The DA's Office says Cushing will need to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

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On Thursday, the Pueblo County Coroner released information that the death of a 15-year-old boy was now being investigated as a homicide.

An update from the Pueblo County Coroner, Dr. Gregory Grahek, confirmed with News5 the boy died from a gunshot wound.

William Romero, 15, was identified as the driver killed in a single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Summit Avenue and Routt Avenue on Sunday, May 24.

Three other people were in the car at the time of the crash and were taken to the hospital, and were expected to survive their injuries. The police department has not provided an update on their conditions at the time of this article's update.

No information on how the crash happened has been released at the time of this update.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE

An investigation is underway after a person was found dead on Sunday afternoon, according to the Pueblo Police Department.

Police say officers were dispatched to a single vehicle crash around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the intersection of East Routt Avenue and West Summit Avenue, which is located near the I-25 and West Northern Avenue interchange.

According to police, when officers arrived, they say a person in the driver's seat was dead. Their name will be released at a later time by the Pueblo County Coroner.

Police say three other people inside the vehicle were taken to the hospital. They say all three are expected to survive their injuries.

The department says they are still investigating how the crash happened.

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DENVER A bill that would enable Coloradans to pay an optional $5 extra on their car registration to support the construction of more wildlife crossings around the state was signed into law on Wednesday.

Denver7 has covered wildlife crossings extensively over the years, and this is the latest update, with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signing the bipartisan Senate Bill 26-141, called the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act. There was no organized registered opposition to the bill. This will become available on Jan. 1, 2027.

WATCH: Denver7's Tyler Melito breaks down the new law and how it will work

The act stemmed from a near-perfect track record regarding these crossings: That infrastructure, paired with long stretches of wildlife fencing to funnel animals to the safe passageway, have reduced wildlife-involved crashes around 90% in most cases, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act does not require the extra $5 from Coloradans when they register their vehicles it would have an opt-out option. It is similar to how Coloradans can already pay for a discounted state park pass through that registration. The $5 would go to the Collision Prevention Fund, which helps CDOT and Colorado Parks and Wildlife build the projects.

WATCH BELOW: Denver7 previewed this bill in April, where we spoke with a fourth-generation rancher about a family loss and why he would pay the $5.

CDOT reports about 4,000 wildlife-involved crashes every year on average, but these incidents are immensely underreported. Estimates have found the actual number may be closer to 14,100.

These crashes come with a cost anything from a bill for vehicle repairs to the serious injury or loss of a loved one. CDOT and the Colorado Wildlife & Transportation Alliance report that Coloradans who crash into large wildlife pay about $80 million in property damage and $66.3 million in medical expenses each year.

The bill received support from across the state and both political parties, said Sen. Dylan Roberts, who sponsored the bill.

We've seen the places on the highway where you put in this infrastructure it reduces collisions by over 90% almost overnight," he told Denver7 in April. "So, they are incredibly successful... They prevent animal vehicle collisions, which prevents human death, human injury, as well as animal deaths, and they help save drivers money, because fewer wrecks mean fewer insurance claims, which brings down insurance costs for everybody.

"People are realizing, from some of the testimony we've heard and some of the data that's presented, that this is a statewide issue," he continued. "We have animal-vehicle interactions in every part of the state in cities, in suburbs, and, of course, in the rural areas. And this is a way to collectively solve a problem that our state has."

In September 2024, Denver7 published an in-depth report on how Colorado was quickly becoming a leader in constructing wildlife crossings. As of then, the state had built more than 40 wildlife underpasses and three overpasses. The first two overpasses were constructed along Highway 9 as part of the Colorado Highway 9 Wildlife Crossing Project, which was completed in 2016. That project also included five underpasses, more than 60 wildlife escape ramps, 29 wildlife guards and nine pedestrian walk-throughs over 10 or so miles between Green Mountain Reservoir and Kremmling. The effects were immediate: A 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions and more than 112,000 instances of mule deer using the seven structures to cross the highway, CDOT previously told Denver7.

Also back in April, Denver7 spoke with Mike Ritschard. The fourth-generation rancher who leaves his home in Kremmling to travel on Highway 9 on a near daily basis said paying the $5 fee for more wildlife crossings is something he'd do in a heartbeat.

"Absolutely, it's a cup of coffee," Ritschard said.

That's because in December of 1985, a then 23-year-old Ritschard loss both his parents who were involved in a crash on the highway.

They were hit head on," Ritshcard recalled. "They were trying to get off the road at the time."

WATCH BELOW: Denver7 published our in-depth report on wildlife crossings in September 2024, when we spoke with experts about collisions, data and the importance of upcoming projects across Colorado.

Colorado has also completed the largest wildlife overpass in North America, which spans over Interstate 25 in Douglas County.

Larkspur resident Kari Vince told Denver7 these crossings are needed more than people may think.

"I was coming home the other day, there was an elk in the middle of the road and something just says, 'Turn your high beams on,'" Vince said.

Vince said the need to slow down has become more and more prevalent.

"I mean, are we inhabiting their space?" Vince asked. "Are we building too much? I mean, are we encroaching upon them?

As Denver7 reported earlier this month, more crossings are planned by the end of the year across Interstate 70 at Vail Pass.

The Colorado Springs woman convicted of killing her three children more than 20 years ago will wait even longer for answers on whether her case will get a new trial.

A court hearing was held Wednesday for Deborah Nicholls. In 2008, she was convicted of killing her three children in a house fire in 2003.

Last month, a judge ruled evidence had been suppressed, which was a violation of Nicholls' constitutional rights.

The defense was looking for the judge to finalize that order in Wednesday's hearing. Instead, another hearing will take place in mid-June where the judge may make a decision.

If he finalizes the order, prosecutors have seven weeks to appeal the ruling.

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A former sergeant with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office plead guilty to theft and has been sentenced to probation.

According to the sheriff's office, Jason Hanratty was also the vice president of the employees' labor union. The case involved his misuse of union funds from several of his sheriff's office employees.

The sheriff's office says Hanratty was sentenced last week to three years of probation. He also must pay restitution to victims and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

Hanratty was arrested in June, 2025 following an investigation by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. The investigation looked into allegations that he unlawfully retained and misused funds collected from employees' paychecks after the FOP Lodge #7 dissolved.

The investigation found Hanratty diverted $17,000 in union dues into his personal account.

Hanratty resigned from the sheriff's office on April 15. He was assigned to the patrol division as a sergeant and had been employed with the sheriff's office since April, 2007.

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The man who was shot and killed in Old Colorado City last weekend has been identified, and an arrest was made.

According to the El Paso County Coroner's Office, the man who was killed was 43-year-old Robert Dougher.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says 64-year-old Timothy Arvidson was taken into custody in connection to the shooting. He was taken to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center where he is facing a first degree murder charge.

This was the seventh homicide in the city this year, according to CSPD. They say at this time last year, there were 16 homicides.

Background Information

A man is dead following a shooting, according to CSPD.

It happened around 3:45 p.m. Sunday in the 1900 block of Calle De Seville, which is located near the Highway 24 and 21st Street interchange.

When officers arrived at the scene, they learned the victim, later identified as Dougher, left in a vehicle. The man at the scene, later identified as Arvidson, was detained.

The vehicle Dougher was in was later located at the 7-Eleven on 21st Street.

Police say Dougher was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you have any information regarding this incident, you are asked to call CSPD at (719)444-7000. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719)634-7867.

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The woman who was found dead in a Colorado Springs motel has been identified, and an arrest was made.

According to the El Paso County Coroner's Office, the woman was 65-year-old Lauren Jensen-Green.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says 60-year-old Timothy O'Brien was arrested Monday on unrelated charges. They say he will now be charged with murder in the first degree in connection to Jensen-Green's death.

This was the sixth homicide in the city this year, according to CSPD. They say at this time last year, there were 16 homicides.

Background Information

CSPD is investigating a suspicious death after a woman, later identified as Jensen-Green, was found dead.

According to CSPD, officers were dispatched around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to a motel in the 1700 block of South Nevada Avenue, which is located near I-25.

Police say suspicious circumstances surrounding Jensen-Green's death prompted detectives with the departments Homicide Unit to take over the investigation.

If you have any information regarding this incident, you are asked to call CSPD at (719)444-7000. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719)634-7867.

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The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says after nearly 40 years and with the help of new DNA testing, they were able to identify the remains of a man found in El Paso County in 1986.

According to a sheriff's office news release, the remains of Peter Joseph Paskovich Jr. were found in November 1986 at a ranch west of I-25 in the southern part of El Paso County.

At the time of the discovery, it was determined that the man died as a result of a gunshot to the head, and Paskovich's death was ruled a homicide.

However, despite efforts to create a DNA profile and facial reconstruction with the skull, his identity remained unknown for nearly 40 years.

"They were shocked, I think, to hear about this," said Cassandra Sebastian, EPCSO public information officer, about Paskovich's family learning of the DNA confirmation. "I think any family that had a person missing for 40 years, getting a phone call from a detective from an agency so far away, right?"

Sebastian said the family relocated to San Antonio, Tex., which is where Paskovich's younger brother still resides.

"I'm happy that they found him because it's been a big burden on us, our whole family. Ever since day one, he's been missing, said brother Richard Paskovich in a recorded video. "It's hard. It would be amazing if we can find more information out for what other people know. If they can let us know what's going on, that would help us out tremendously."

In 2025, when the sheriff's office was revisiting the case, they reached out to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center in New Jersey to help identify the man, and the college agreed to offer its resources.

Through a DNA sample of the teeth, the IGG team was able to use public genealogical databases to attempt to identify possible relatives and create a family tree.

This process led investigators to identify possible relatives. Peter Joseph Paskovich Jr. was believed to be the remains of the man found.

After contacting possible relatives and gaining their DNA samples, it turned out to be a match.

For nearly 40 years, our family lived with unanswered questions and an unimaginable sense of loss, stated Richard Paskovich in the release. While nothing can bring Pete back, we are deeply grateful to everyone who refused to give up on him. Having our brothers identity restored brings us a measure of peace. We want to thank the investigators, forensic experts, and all those who worked tirelessly over the years to help bring Peter home to us. We continue to hope the truth surrounding his death will come to light, and ultimately, justice will be served.

During the sheriff's office investigation, they learned Paskovich had extensive ties to the area, as his father, who was a member of the United States Air Force, was stationed at Ent Air Force Base, which was formerly in the Knob Hill area.

Paskovich was also a member of Cub Scout Pack 173 and attended Widefield High School during his childhood before his family moved to San Antonio, Texas. It was also confirmed that Paskovich was in the Colorado Springs area in October of 1985 before his death.

In a Tuesday press conference, the sheriff's office said how they confirmed he was in the area around the time of his death remains part of their investigation and won't be revealed at this time.

EPCSO said they extend their sympathies to the Paskovich family and remain committed to seeking justice and identifying whomever might be responsible for his murder.

"This case is a powerful reminder we never stop seeking the truth, no matter how much time has passed, said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal in part. For nearly four decades, this man had no name, but he was never forgotten. My Detectives remained committed to finding answers, and through advances in investigative genetic genealogy and strong partnerships, we are finally able to restore his identity as Peter Joseph Paskovich Jr."

He was also known to have ties to Clark County, Nevada along with Valencia County, New Mexico. But EPCSO said they're asking the public in a wider swath to include Utah, Arizona, and Texas if they have any information about the homicide.

At the time of his murder, Cassandra Sebastian, EPCSO public information officer, acknowledged that Paskovich might have been on police radar 40 years ago.

"There are some facts in the case that we've connected that do indicate that, but he's a victim and so no matter what, we're going to every victim in the Pikes Peak region gets treated the same," said Sebastian. "They're a victim and we will treat them the same and we will restore justice the same for every single person."

Anyone who knew Mr. Paskovich is asked to contact the Sheriffs Office tipline at (719)520-7777 or Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at (719)634-7867. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers online here.

The sheriff's office said there remain 28 active cold case investigations.

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Police in Calhan are hoping for help from the public with tracking down a hit-and-run suspect.

The crash injured a pedestrian and happened on Thursday at the Loaf N Jug just off Highway 24. Calhan police shared photos of the suspect vehicle on Saturday on social media, which you can view below:

"We understand that the image quality is not the greatest, however this is what we have to work with at the moment and encourage anyone who has any other information, photos, or videos to please reach out to us," police posted to Facebook.

Anyone with information is asked to call (719)347-2586.

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A large police presence at the 7/11 on 21st Street in Old Colorado City Sunday evening is tied to a homicide investigation. CSPD confirmed one person is dead.

CSPD told News5 that they are conducting a homicide investigation after a reported shooting. This happened on 21st Street, just south of Highway 24, at a store along Bott Avenue.

The Phillips 66 gas station and 7-Eleven store is still closed to the public. There are no lane closures or traffic impacts at this time.

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Around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officers were sent to 25th Street and Colorado Avenue, within the boundaries of the Territory Days festival, for reports of a disturbance.

Police found that two men had gotten into a physical altercation, resulting in one person lying on the ground unconscious and bleeding.

According to CSPD, officers working security at the festival rendered aid to the unconscious man. The victim sustained serious bodily injury as a result of the fight.

CSPD says that the suspect fled the area before police could detain him, and no one has been identified at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation, and we will update this article as more information becomes available.

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A man has been arrested in connection to a hit-and-run crash that killed a moped rider two months ago, according to the Pueblo Police Department.

Police say 26-year-old Ramon Ortiz was arrested Wednesday on the following charges:

Background Information

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. on March 3 at the intersection of East Northern Avenue and Santa Fe Drive, which is located near Roselawn Cemetery.

According to police, officers who responded to the scene that day determined the crash involved a moped and a white Kia sedan. Officers say the Kia had left the scene before they arrived.

The moped rider, later identified as 42-year-old Richard J. Murillo, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The department's Real-Time Crime Center located the Kia in the 1300 block of South Queens Avenue, which is located near Pueblo RecycleWorks.

According to police, the Kia had been reported stolen the day before the crash happened.

This was the fourth deadly crash in Pueblo this year, according to police.

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A man out on parole was arrested after drugs were found in his vehicle during a traffic stop, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.

Chad Hurley, 53, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and taken to the Pueblo County Jail. Following his arrest, the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant for his home along Calle de Cabellos in Pueblo West.

Upon searching the man's home, the PCSO says they discovered and seized several guns, suspected controlled substances, cash, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Todays arrest and the seizure of drugs, money, and guns show our commitment to protecting this county and makes it clear that we will not tolerate this criminal activity, said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero. If you come here to sell drugs and endanger our residents, we will find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable.

Additional charges are expected to be filed upon the seizure at the home, according to the PCSO.

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Police in Colorado Springs are investigating a suspicious death after a person was found dead Wednesday morning at a motel on South Nevada Avenue.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, officers were dispatched around 11:37 a.m. to a motel in the 1700 block of South Nevada Avenue on a report of a deceased person inside a room. The motel is a few blocks away from I-25.

Police said suspicious circumstances surrounding the death prompted detectives with the departments Homicide Unit to take over the investigation. Authorities have not identified the deceased person, and the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department Communications Center or Crime Stoppers at (719)634-7867.

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The man who was killed following a shooting at a gas station in Pueblo over the weekend has been identified.

According to the Pueblo County Coroner, he was 45-year-old Fernando W. Vigil III.

Background Information

The shooting happened around 11 a.m. Saturday at the Shell gas station on Highway 50, which is located near Baltimore Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found a man, later identified as Vigil III, had been shot several times. Vigil III was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Police say no arrests have been made, but all parties involved have been accounted for. They also say there is no threat to the public.

This was the seventh homicide in Pueblo County this year, according to police.

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MOFFAT COUNTY, Colo. Deputies with the Moffat County Sheriffs Office seized about 90 bison and a mule from the Lay Valley Bison Ranch on Sunday amid an animal neglect investigation.

The seizure comes after weeks of concerns regarding the care and condition of the animals, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

The sheriffs office said it has been working with the owner, 83-year-old Daniel Martin, to improve the animals' health.

However, investigators determined conditions had not improved enough to protect the animals.

The sheriffs office said during the investigation, one mule had to be humanely euthanized, and during the seizure operation, two bison died, and two others were humanely euthanized due to severe suffering.

The remaining animals are now being evaluated and cared for by veterinarians and partner agencies.

Martin is facing multiple misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals, according to the sheriffs office.

No further information is being released at this time as the investigation remains ongoing.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. Douglas County law enforcement officials on Monday lambasted Gov. Jared Polis, calling his decision to commute a man who was sentenced to prison for shooting a deputy almost 20 years ago a "slap in the face of every law enforcement officer that puts on this uniform every day, and for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice."

Brandin Kreuzer, who will be released on parole June 1, was convicted of first-degree assault of a peace officer, motor vehicle theft, burglary, robbery and second-degree kidnapping, among other charges, for taking part in a series of crimes in Douglas County over the span of several months in 2008 with his co-defendant, Taylour Moudy.

Watch Danielle Kreutter's report about the fallout of this commutation in the video player below:

Documents in the case show Kreuzer and Moudy assaulted two deputies on June 28, 2008. One of those deputies, Deputy Todd Tucker, suffered permanent limb damage, according to Dencer7's news partners at The Denver Post. Kreuzer had fired shots through a broken-out window of a stolen car driven by Moudy. The men, both 19 at the time, ran from authorities and were arrested in November 2008.

Kreuzer was also charged with several counts of attempted murder of a police officer, but those charges were dismissed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney at the time. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his crimes in late 2010 at the age of 21, according to the

"You have served over 15 years of your 50-year sentence. The crimes you were convicted of are very serious," Gov. Polis wrote in a clemency letter dated May 15 addressed to Kreuzer. "Nonetheless, I believe you deserve clemency for several reasons."

In his letter, Polis wrote that Kreuzer's sentence for the crimes "you committed in your youth is disproportionate" because Moudy, who was only six months younger than Kreuzer at the time, was sentenced to seven years in the Youthful Offender System.

But George Brauchler, the District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, said during a news conference Monday that the information that the governor relied on to issue Kreuzer clemency was inaccurate.

"The only true part of that entire sentence is that he was, in fact, six months younger than the trigger puller, Mr. Kreuzer," Brauchler said. "The co-defendant, Moudy, who's not the trigger puller, got a 45-year sentence."

Brauchler said that information was made clear to the governor before he signed Kreuzer's commutation letter. Outraged upon learning that Kreuzer would be commuted, Brauchler told reporters he then sent a letter to the governor asking him why he based "his decision, in part, on a lie, on this bad information?"

A new version of Kreuzer's clemency letter, dated May 16, shows the paragraph about Kreuzer's co-defendant serving a sentence of only seven years in the Youthful Offender System stripped from the copy.

When Denver7 asked about that part of the Governor's letter, the governor's office released this statement:

Kreuzer's work in establishing the Redemption Road CrossFit Program has expanded to several prisons as a rehabilitation and fitness opportunity for inmates. The governor wrote in his initial letter, "My office has heard repeatedly from individuals about the profound positive impact that you and this program has had on them."

Nick Wells, President of Redemption Road Fitness Foundation, met Kreuzer while in prison and took part in creating the program.

"I needed to change, and I got sober, and I started changing the way I ate, and started exercising," said Wells. "Redemption Road CrossFit is a program inside the Colorado Department of Corrections that brings CrossFit and its training and its methodology to the population that's incarcerated, and so the belief is that we can change the prison culture through mentorship, accountability, and community through CrossFit being the outlet."

He said while he understands the frustration of the victims in this case, he believes that when inmates change while incarcerated, that should be recognized. Wells had his prison sentence commuted by Gov. Polis a few years ago, as well.

Wells credits Redemtion Road with helping make the most of his fresh start.

"I'm a business owner, that's exactly what [Kreuzer's] going to do. He's going to get out. He's going to serve the community. He's going to continue to do exactly what he's been doing inside all these years," Wells said. "At what point is it the Department of Corrections or the Department of Punishment? When punishment is the ultimatum, you're no longer correcting the situation that needed to be corrected. I feel like it's time for a second look."

News of Kreuzer's commutation on Friday was overshadowed by the governor's announcement that former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was among the 44 individuals to whom he was granting clemency.

That didn't stop Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly from immediately voicing his displeasure at the governor Friday night. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Weekly, who worked as an investigations commander on the original case, said he was "absolutely furious" by the decision.

"It's very clear reading that letter, and it's very clear in the days since that happened, he had no clue about this case, the details of this case, and what he was signing," Weekly said during Monday's news conference. "Further, (that) the governor decided to do this on National Law Enforcement Memorial Day just shows that he is completely tone deaf to the situation and the dangers the men and women of law enforcement put themselves in day in and day out."

Watch the news conference from Douglas County officials in the video player below:

One of the deputies involved in the June 28, 2008 incident, Corporal Mike Adams, also spoke about a decision, describing it as "appalling."

"If it wasn't for that windshield stopping that bullet, that first round that they shot at me that centered that windshield, it almost would have hit me and struck me in the face," said Adams. "If that windshield would not have stopped that bullet, I would not be standing here today speaking to you, and my boys would be who had grown up without a father. It's just appalling that the governor would grant clemency to someone that tried to kill two police officers."

Deputy Tucker, who no longer works in Colorado but has remained in law enforcement since then, said the governor's decision "sends a dangerous and demoralizing message that attempting to murder a police officer no longer carries the weight or accountability it once did."

"It tells violent offenders that even the most serious crime can eventually be excused or minimized through politics," he said in a statement read by Weekly. "I strongly believe this decision reflects a disturbing lack of judgment, accountability, and respect for victims of violent crime and for law enforcement."

GREELEY, Colo.  Greeleys stolen Glenmere Park statue, "The Prize Catch," has been recovered after staff at Rocky Mountain Recycling recognized it from a police alert and notified detectives.

The life-size bronze piece was stolen the afternoon of May 12, with thieves cutting it off at the feet to remove it from its base.

A white box truck seen in the area is believed to be connected.

Detectives have returned the statue to the parks department, and the investigation continues.

Police are asking anyone with dashcam or security footage that might have captured a white box truck or suspicious activity at or near the park on May 12 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., to contact them at 970-350-9605.

WELD COUNTY, Colo. Hunter Rivera, the 24-year-old chairman of the Weld County Republican Party, was one of two men arrested Thursday on suspicion of trying to buy sex from Larimer County Sheriffs Office investigators who posed as minors as part of an operation targeting child predators.

Larimer County deputies arrested Rivera and Ismaaeel Abdur Rahmaan, 22, during a Thursday undercover operation targeting people seeking to exploit children, according to the Larimer County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office said investigators posted ads online posing as minors offering sexual acts; dozens responded, and the two suspects arrived at a meeting location where deputies took them into custody.

Both men face four felony charges: soliciting a child prostitute, internet luring of a child, cybercrimesoliciting to arrange a minor prostitute, and attempted sexual assault on a child.

Rivera received a $6,500 cash-only bond; Rahmaan received a $7,500 cash-only bond.

The Weld County Republican Party said Sunday that it has accepted Rivera's resignation as county chair, effective immediately.

Colorado House and Senate Republicans released a statement Friday, denouncing Rivera and calling the charges "sickening."

"These charges are sickening, horrifying, and beyond reprehensible. There is no defense for anyone who preys on children, no excuses, and no place for that anywhere near public life or our party," the statement read.

The state GOP added in a separate statement that the allegations against Rivera are "deeply disturbing and, if proven true, deserve the strongest possible condemnation."

First Vice Chair Adrienne Sandoval will serve as acting chairman until a successor is elected.

The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) is investigating the city's 7th homicide this year.

According to police, officers were dispatched to the Shell Gas Station (1812 W US Highway 50) around 11:00 a.m. Saturday for reports of a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

The other people on the scene were transported to PPD for questioning.

They say that no arrests have been made, but there is no threat to the public. All parties have been accounted for.

The Pueblo County Coroner's Office will release the identity of the man who died at a later time.

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The Pueblo County Coroner has released the identity of a man killed in an officer-involved shooting on Thursday.

19-year-old Tayshawn Redford was shot by a Pueblo Police Officer after he allegedly brandished a handgun when officers first contacted him and two others in a vehicle near Drew Dix Park on Pueblo's northeast side of town.

Officers were first called to the park around 12:18 a.m. following reports of multiple people fighting, and that weapons were involved. When officers first responded to the scene, they said nobody was around.

After a brief investigation, they learned a description of a suspect vehicle potentially involved in the fight and located it near the park along Carousel Lane.

When the officers approached the van and contacted the three people inside, that's when they said Redford revealed the handgun.

The department said that Redford was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

The 10th Judicial District's Critical Response Incident Team is in charge of the investigation. They will release their findings at a later date.

The officers and dispatcher involved in this incident have all been placed on administrative leave.

If you have any information that you would like to share with our newsroom about this shooting, send us a message.

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The Colorado Springs Police Department had issued a shelter-in-place for a block of North El Paso Street between East San Miguel Street and Columbia Street on Thursday.

As of 4:51 p.m., the department said that the order has been lifted. We now know a little more about the police activity that was unfolding in the area.

CSPD says they were working to execute a search warrant for a man wanted on a felony narcotics and firearm warrant.

They learned during their investigation that the man identified as Jorge Rodriguez made his way to the basement level of an apartment and refused to leave despite police commands.

Officers eventually deployed a chemical irritant, and upon a search of the building for Rodriguez, hiding in the laundry room. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the El Paso County Jail.

The Peak Alerts message reads, "The Colorado Springs Police Department has issued a SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER for 1 Block radius of 1300 N El Paso St due to LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY near 1300 N El Paso St.

SECURE your home/business and STAY AWAY from doors and windows. SHELTER in a safe place until further notice. You will receive an alert when the order is lifted."

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The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says they have arrested a man following a month-long animal cruelty investigation.

The sheriff's office responded to a property in unincorporated El Paso County on South Lauppe Road south of Yoder after a call for an animal welfare check on April 8. The caller said they could see a dead horse from the road and other horses with no access to food or water.

When deputies arrived, they found the dead horse and determined that immediate action was needed if they were to rescue the other horses. Water was provided to the remaining horses, as there was none on the property.

On April 9, members of the Sheriff's Office Specialized Patrol Unit, who are trained in animal welfare guidelines for equines, assumed the investigation and returned. With them came a veterinarian and brand inspector, a drone was deployed to survey the property, and another dead horse was found.

The two remaining horses were transported to a local veterinarian, but one of them had to be euthanized due to the severity of its condition. One other horse remains in critical care due to advanced malnutrition.

Following a necropsy of the animals, Robert Wilson, 51, the property owner, was taken into custody on Cruelty to Animals charges.

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A person is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Pueblo overnight Thursday.

Around 12:15 a.m., the Pueblo Police Department says that they received multiple reports of a fight happening at Drew Dix Park and that multiple weapons were involved.

Officers said that by the time they arrived in the area, all the people involved had left the scene. Police obtained a suspect description of the vehicle and later located it along Carousel Lane, right next to the park.

The Pueblo Police Department says that when officers approached the van, one of the three people inside allegedly brandished a handgun. In response, an officer discharged their weapon according to the department.

The person was taken to a hospital, where they later died.

According to the department, the 10th Judicial District Critical Response Incident Team has been activated to take over the investigation and determine if the officer's actions were justified.

The department says that all the officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, and one dispatcher was also placed on leave as a result of the incident.

The Pueblo County Coroner will release the identity of the person killed at a later date.

This investigation is ongoing. If you have information on this and would like to speak with our newsroom, send us a message here.

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A Fort Carson soldier accused of stabbing a Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) K9 pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in a courtroom Wednesday.

The incident happened on October 15 when CSPD responded to a domestic violence call that escalated into a barricaded suspect. According to arrest documents, officers released K9 Roam into the home to apprehend Sergeant First Class Anthony Bryant.

Bryant allegedly stabbed Roam several times, severely injuring him. He is facing the following charges:

On Wednesday, Bryant's defense team argued he was experiencing a psychotic episode when he stabbed Roam.

Bryant is scheduled back in court in July.

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The Attorney General's Office of Colorado says that two people who were circulating petitions to get the school choice initiative on the ballot in Colorado during the 2024 election have been indicted for submitting fraudulent signatures.

Attorney General Weiser said in a news release that the two people, Cherell Long of Nevada and Martin Arellano of Texas, were working as paid circulators with a Colorado Springs-based canvassing company, Victor's Canvassing, LLC.

Petition circulators who submit fraudulent signatures to the state to put a candidate or initiative on the ballot must be held accountable for their unlawful conduct. We are committed to protecting our elections and safeguarding the process for petitioning onto the ballot, said Attorney General Weiser in a news release.

The grand jury indictment, which was returned on April 16, stated that the two individuals were part of the ongoing efforts of petitioners working in Southern Colorado to get the School Choice Initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

Both of the people involved appeared before a notary and swore at the time under penalty of perjury that their petitions they submitted were valid.

The internal post-review of the signatures by the Colorado Secretary of State's Office found concerns about several signatures not matching voter files, as well as several signatures of deceased voters, or those who had cancelled their registration.

Those advocating for school choice submitted more than 190,000 signatures in total, and of that, 131,000 were found to be valid, still reaching the threshold needed for Amendment 80 to have made the ballot.

Both Arellano and Long are charged with one count each of the following:

Anyone who may have information a bout the whereabouts of Long and Arrelano is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.

In Colorado, a grand jury indictment is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime under Colorado law. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office is asking for the community's help in identifying a man connected to a theft case.

We are seeking help from the public to identify this man in connection with an identity theft case. If you know who he is, please call our office at (719) 583-6250 and reference #6552 or call Pueblo Crime Stoppers at (719) 542-7867. pic.twitter.com/TF2ohdqwzf

If you know who he is, you are asked to call the sheriff's office at (719)583-6250, reference number 6552. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call Pueblo Crime Stoppers at (719)542-7867.

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Three people are suspected of DUI after Pueblo police found each of them unconscious behind the wheel of running vehicles within about 20 minutes, authorities said.

According to the Pueblo Police Department, officers were first dispatched around 1:52 a.m. on Saturday to the 200 block of Santa Fe Dr. on a report of a man passed out in the drivers seat of a vehicle. The area is just south of Runyon Lake.

Police said officers found 27-year-old Quindell Bryant unresponsive inside the vehicle. Bryant was arrested on suspicion of DUI, DUI Per Se, resisting arrest and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.

In Colorado, a DUI per se charge means a driver is considered legally impaired solely because their blood alcohol content was measured at .08% or higher within two hours of driving, regardless of whether officers observed signs of impairment.

While officers were taking Bryant into custody, police said they discovered another man unconscious behind the wheel of a separate running vehicle nearby. The man was identified as 38-year-old Meliton Duran, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

After Duran was detained, security personnel alerted officers to a third driver who was reportedly unresponsive in a running vehicle in the parking lot, according to police. Officers identified the woman as 38-year-old Ali Gonzalez, who was also arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Police said the three arrests happened within roughly 20 minutes of each other.

The incidents came less than a day after a fatal DUI hit-and-run was reported in Pueblo, authorities said.

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The preliminary hearing for a Colorado Springs mom accused of killing two of her children and injuring a third has been postponed to the end of next month.

That hearing will decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial.

Kimberlee Singler is facing murder charges after her two children were found dead in their apartment on Palomino Ranch Point, which is located near the intersection of Stetson Hills Boulevard and Tutt Boulevard in December, 2023.

It was initially reported as a burglary, however, investigators say they later found evidence indicating Singler, who was in a custody battle with her ex-husband at the time, was responsible.

A judge delayed Monday's hearing after Singler's lawyers said they received 500 pages of new documents on Friday.

The prosecution is also asking for new DNA swabs, fingerprints and photos, saying Singler's appearance has changed since she fled to the UK following the murders.

The defense is arguing this is invasive and a violation of Singler's Fourth Amendment rights.

Singler's preliminary hearing is now scheduled for June 30.

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The Alamosa Police Department said a multi-agency narcotics investigation this past week led to the seizure of thousands of fentanyl pills, other illegal drugs, firearms and multiple arrests across the San Luis Valley area.

According to police, the investigation took place May 7 and 8 with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Police said detectives conducted a traffic stop on Highway 160 at Colorado Highway 159 after an APD K9 alerted officers to the vehicle. The area is near Fort Garland. Investigators said they found more than 6,000 fentanyl pills and an undisclosed amount of money.

Authorities arrested 42-year-old Dale Tardona and 45-year-old Ileaha Gallegos, both of Manassa, on felony drug charges.

Investigators later executed two search warrants in Manassa. Manassa is south of Alamosa near the New Mexico border.

At a home in the 200 block of Morgan Street, officers seized methamphetamine, fentanyl and several firearms, according to police. Authorities said an 18-year-old woman at the scene was provided substance abuse recovery resources by an APD specialist.

During a search of a home in the 300 block of North Fourth Street, detectives found a juvenile girl alone inside the residence, police said. Authorities said she was medically evaluated and placed in the care of Child Protective Services.

Police said the search also uncovered a large amount of U.S. currency, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and items used to conceal and transport narcotics.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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MONTROSE, Colo. An investigation is underway after police in Montrose opened fire on an armed man on Saturday afternoon, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The 7th Judicial District Critical Incident Team, led by CBI, is investigating this shooting.

Around 12:29 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Montrose Police Department responded to the 100 block of Spruce Drive after learning about a man armed with a rifle in the area.

At the scene, two officers found the man and fired their weapons, CBI said. No details are available as of publishing time about what led up to the shooting. Both officers had their body-worn cameras activated, which will be reviewed by investigators, CBI said.

The man was brought to a hospital and underwent surgery.

No officers with the police department were injured.

CBI says there is no threat to the public.

Anybody with information about this incident, or who may have witnessed it, is asked to contact WestCO Dispatch at 970-249-9110.

No other details are available.

Drone technology helped deputies arrest a burglary suspect, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

The incident happened around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at a home in the 1200 block of Maxwell Street, which is located in the Stratmoor Valley area near the I-25 and South Academy Boulevard interchange.

A caller told deputies they saw a suspect, later identified as 43-year-old April Gonzalez, wearing a black or blue sweater and driving a blue sedan.

When deputies arrived, they say a detective launched a drone, and they were able to locate Gonzalez walking near the front of the home loading boxes into the blue sedan.

The sheriff's office says when Gonzalez got in the car, detectives with the drone unit told deputies she was about to leave, and they were able to stop her.

According to the sheriff's office, an investigation revealed Gonzalez unlawfully entered the home and stole items.

Gonzalez has been released on bond. According to the sheriff's office, she is facing second degree burglary and theft charges.

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Three people were arrested Wednesday following a months-long investigation into an organized retail crime crew accused of stealing from stores across Colorado Springs, according to police.

The arrests were made by the Metro Regional Patrol Division, working alongside Metro Theft, Burglary, Intelligence and the El Paso County Sheriffs Office SWAT team. Police said the suspects face a variety of felony charges, including theft, money laundering, robbery and narcotics-related offenses. Police did not share details on what specific stores were targeted by the suspects.

Authorities identified those arrested as 55-year-old Donald Stettnisch, 31-year-old Jessica Trujillo, and 32-year-old Chad Lavely.

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BOULDER, Colo. The suspect in the Boulder June 2025 firebombing attack on protesters on Pearl Street pleaded guilty Thursday to all state charges.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 2,128 years in Boulder District Court after Judge Nancy W. Salomone handed down the maximum sentences for each count.

Soliman, 46, was charged in both state and federal court for throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of peaceful protesters who were demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages on June 1, 2025.

"To me, it reflects the harm he caused to each and every one of those victims, and they each deserve justice," Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.

After the attack, the Boulder County District Attorney's Office identified more than 20 victims, about half of whom were physically injured. One of those victims, 82-year-old Karen Diamond, later died of her injuries.

According to Soliman's arrest affidavit, he said he had been planning the attack for a year. He clarified during his comments at sentencing that he had been thinking about the attack for a year.

More than a dozen victims either spoke or provided impact statements that Dougherty read, including a statement from Diamond's sons.

They noted the terrible pain their mother experienced in the final weeks of her life after the attack and the future of which she was robbed. They said that just days before the attack, Diamond had finished fourth in her age group in the Bolder Boulder race on Memorial Day.

Other victims said their lives have been greatly impacted by the attack and routine activities now come with a heightened sense of anxiety.

Later in the hearing, Dougherty called Soliman's actions "cowardly."

Michelle Goldman spoke with Scripps News Denver after the sentencing and said she is still recovering from the trauma of the attack. She remembers seeing the defendant, feeling the heat and running to get water for the people burned.

"Well, I was hoping he would get the maximum, partly for deterrence for others who might wish to commit other heinous crimes," she said.

During the sentencing, Soliman spoke for more than 30 minutes. In his comments, he expressed his condolences and apologized to victims.

He asked prosecutors to impose the death penalty and said that he did not act with hatred against the Jewish community, but he ultimately expressed a message of anti-Zionism.

"End Zionism before it ends you," he said.

Dougherty addressed the defendant's statement during his news conference, saying, "when his statement started, I thought we were actually going to hear contrition. Instead, from my perspective, we heard exactly why we're here today."

Scripps News Denver reported on Monday that Soliman was expected to make this plea.

The 101 substantive charges against Soliman include murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault, attempted assault, possession of an incendiary device and attempted possession of an incendiary device.

The judge also noted Soliman was charged with 68 sentence enhancers related to crimes of violence.

At the federal level, he is also charged with 12 hate crime counts.

On Aug. 27, 2025, Soliman offered to plead guilty in his federal case and accept a sentence of life in prison, according to federal court documents. As of Thursday, the government had not yet decided if it would accept this because it is still considering whether it will pursue the death penalty.

Federal authorities said at the time of the attack in Boulder, Soliman, an Egyptian national, was living illegally in the United States with his wife and five children.

The attorneys for the family said they "entered the United States legally in August 2022 and subsequently overstayed their visas awaiting determinations on their affirmative asylum applications."

Shortly after the attack, now-former Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Soliman's family was taken into immigration custody.

The White House posted on social media that the family was in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for "expedited removal."

In April, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, an immigration judge based in Texas, ordered ICE to release Soliman's detained family, as long as they appear at future immigration hearings.

The family had been detained at a Texas immigration center for more than 10 months. Judge Biery said in April that he had found no evidence that the family knew about Soliman's plot to attack.

Sunday's filing reads that the court has the authority to order the government not to remove the family because they are considered "critical material witnesses" and would be required to testify in court if the federal government decides to continue with the death penalty.

"If they (the federal government) choose to pursue the death penalty, Mr. Soliman will need to present testimony from his ex-wife and their children during a sentencing trial," it reads. "However, while one arm of the executive branch the Department of Justice is deciding whether to seek Mr. Solimans death, another the Department of Homeland Security is trying to permanently remove these critical material witnesses from the country."

"If the government removes these key witnesses and seeks the death penalty against Mr. Soliman, the ensuing proceedings will violate Mr. Solimans Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment rights," the filing continues. "This Court must protect those rights, and the integrity of these proceedings, by preventing this problem before it happens."

The family returned to Colorado in late April.

Soliman said in court that his family did not know anything about his plans for the attack.

Soliman's wife has filed for divorce, according to a statement from the family's attorneys.

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A man accused of a firebomb attack that killed one person and injured a dozen others during a demonstration last year in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza, was scheduled to plead guilty Thursday to murder and other charges.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the attack in downtown Boulder last June 1.

Soliman's attorneys revealed he would plead guilty in a recent court filing in a related federal case. He was set to appear Thursday before state District Judge Nancy Salomone to do so.

Soliman has pleaded not guilty in federal court to hate crime charges and prosecutors have been weighing whether to seek the death penalty in the federal case, according to his attorneys.

Soliman initially pleaded not guilty in state court to murder and dozens of attempted murder and assault charges for throwing two Molotov cocktails at demonstrators at a pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder, a city of 100,000 people northwest of Denver that's home to the University of Colorado.

An 82-year-old woman who was injured in the attack later died. A dozen others also were injured.

Soliman is an Egyptian national who federal authorities say was living in the U.S. illegally. Investigators allege he planned the attack for a year and was driven by a desire "to kill all Zionist people."

Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Tara Winer said the attack was horrific and victims included close friends.

Soliman had been living with his family in a two-bedroom apartment in Colorado Springs about 97 miles (156 kilometers) away at the time of the attack. He had moved to the U.S. from Kuwait in 2022 with his wife and their five children and worked in a series of low-paying jobs.

The couple divorced in April.

Investigators allege Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration at Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall. He threw two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, "Free Palestine!"

Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. Soliman's federal defense lawyers argue he should not have been charged with hate crimes because he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel.

An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law.

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A 24-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly trying to run from Colorado Springs police twice in a stolen vehicle investigation.

The Colorado Springs Police Department said detectives with the Motor Vehicle Theft Unit located a white Mazda 3 reported stolen on April 12 from the 3800 block of Somerset Street, which is located near the intersection of Austin Bluffs Parkway and North Union Boulevard.

The neighborhood is south of the UCCS campus. Detectives identified Tyler Green as the driver and attempted a traffic stop near Constitution Avenue and Tutt Boulevard about seven miles to the east of where the car was taken, but police said Green fled.

Investigators later found the vehicle in the 1400 block of Atoka Drive in the Cimarron Hills area, where police said Green rammed a police vehicle while trying to escape, damaging the stolen car, private property and a police truck.

Police later found the Mazda abandoned in the 500 block of North Murray Boulevard just east of Academy Boulevard and Platte Avenue and took Green into custody nearby without incident.

Green was booked on charges including motor vehicle theft, two counts of felony eluding and criminal mischief.

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The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the sketch of someone they believe to be a person of interest for a July 2024 homicide.

The person is connected to the homicide investigation of 60-year-old Dwayne Easterling.

On July 31, 2024, CSPD was sent to a call for an assault. When officers arrived, they learned a man, later identified as Easterling, had been assaulted by unknown individuals, who stole items from him.

Easterling was transported to the hospital, and two weeks later, he died from his injuries.

CSPD Detectives worked with a forensic sketch artist in hopes of finding someone in the community who might recognize the person and provide information to law enforcement.

Anyone with information or who recognizes the person in the sketch is asked to contact CSPD at (719)444-4000. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (719)634-7867.

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A man has been sentenced to 224 years in prison for murdering a UCCS professor, according to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's (DA's) Office.

The DA's Office says that in August 2024, 54-year-old Caesar Wilson entered 54-year-old Haleh Abhari's home through an open garage door and intended to steal items.

He encountered Abhari, and a struggle ensued. The DA's Office says Wilson stabbed her several times, stole her car, and drove off.

Seven months after the incident, law enforcement officers tracked down Wilson, who was being held in another state under a different name on unrelated charges.

Wilson was extradited to El Paso County. In February, a jury found him guilty on the following charges:

The jury also found Wilson to be a habitual criminal based on 14 prior felony convictions in North Carolina between 1991 and 1994.

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BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. The man accused of a terror attack on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall in June 2025 will plead guilty to the state charges filed against him, according to federal court documents filed on Sunday.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 46, an Egyptian national, was charged in both state and federal court for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of peaceful protesters who were demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages on June 1, 2025.

In total, the Boulder County District Attorney's Office identified 29 victims, about half of whom were physically injured. One of those victims, an 82-year-old woman, later died of her injuries. According to Soliman's arrest affidavit, he said he had been planning the attack for a year.

In Colorado, he was charged with more than 180 counts, including murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault, attempted assault, possession of an incendiary device and attempted possession of an incendiary device. At the federal level, he was also charged with 12 hate crime counts.

"In the state case, Mr. Soliman will plead guilty to all charges on May 7, 2026," the court docs read. "The Boulder County District Court will be required to impose prison sentences of Life Without Parole, plus at least 400 years, based on his guilty pleas."

The court documents were filed on Sunday, according to the time stamp on the filing. Scripps News Denver independently obtained the documents.

On Aug. 27, 2025, Soliman offered to plead guilty in his federal case and accept a sentence of life in prison. As of Sunday, the government had not yet decided if it would accept this because it is still considering whether it will pursue the death penalty.

The death penalty was repealed in Colorado in 2020.

Federal authorities said at the time of the attack in Boulder, Soliman was living illegally in the United States with his family, which includes his wife and five children.

The attorneys for the family said they "entered the United States legally in August 2022 and subsequently overstayed their visas awaiting determinations on their affirmative asylum applications."

Shortly after the attack, now-former Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Soliman's family was taken into immigration custody.

The White House posted on social media that the family was in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for "expedited removal."

In April, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, an immigration judge based in Texas, ordered the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Soliman's detained family, as long as they appear at future immigration hearings.

The family had been detained at a Texas immigration center for more than 10 months after ICE raided their Colorado Springs home after the firebombing attack in Boulder.

According to an emergency motion filed by the family's attorneys, they were detained from June 3 through April 23. Judge Biery said in April that he had found no evidence that the family knew about Soliman's plot to attack.

Sunday's filing reads that the court has the authority to order the government not to remove the family because they are considered "critical material witnesses" and would be required to testify in court if the federal government decides to continue with the death penalty.

"If they (the federal government) choose to pursue the death penalty, Mr. Soliman will need to present testimony from his ex-wife and their children during a sentencing trial," it reads. "However, while one arm of the executive branch the Department of Justice is deciding whether to seek Mr. Solimans death, another the Department of Homeland Security is trying to permanently remove these critical material witnesses from the country."

"If the government removes these key witnesses and seeks the death penalty against Mr. Soliman, the ensuing proceedings will violate Mr. Solimans Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment rights," the filing continues. "This Court must protect those rights, and the integrity of these proceedings, by preventing this problem before it happens."

The family returned to Colorado in late April. Soliman's wife has filed for divorce, according to a statement from the family's attorneys.

Their attorneys have repeatedly stated that the family had no knowledge of Soliman's plan for an attack. The court filing from Sunday also reads that Soliman's family was not aware of or involved in the actions that led to his charges.

"An FBI Agent was asked during Mr. Solimans preliminary hearing if the family 'expressed shock' at what they learned about Mr. Solimans involvement, and he responded, 'Thats correct,'" the document continues.

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A Colorado State Patrol (CSP) trooper has been transported to the hospital after being struck by an alleged drunk driver on Saturday afternoon.

According to CSP, they received a call around 1:00 p.m. about a van driver who was speeding and "actively drinking a beer" on northbound Interstate 25 near Walsenburg.

CSP troopers were able to find the van traveling north just south of Pueblo.

The van stopped on the off-ramp at exit 91, and a trooper was speaking to the driver, who was allegedly behaving uncooperatively.

The trooper noticed a shotgun in the van, and shortly after, the van driver accelerated, knocking the trooper to the ground, and fled northbound on I-25.

Another trooper was able to conduct a Tactical Vehicle Intervention and ram maneuver on the van, successfully disabling the car.

The driver, a 32-year-old man from Weston, was arrested and booked into the Pueblo County Jail on the following charges;

The first trooper was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure but sustained minor injuries. He's since been released from the hospital.

CSP is investigating the incident and will release more information at a later time.

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