for the week of December 31, 2008

by Eloise Campanella

Christmas 2008 report...

The Controlled and Contained Christmas Chaos at Casa Campanella was at its height on Christmas Day with no major incidents of injury, disappointment, or starvation. 

The Detention Center staff was happy and grateful to Deputy Chernak’s future mother-in-law for bringing individual Starbuck’s coffee for everyone.  Reporter Jon Pilsner from the Report Herald spent some time in jail on Christmas.  Hey, what are you thinking?  He was writing a story about inmates and deputies being away from their families on Christmas Day.   DC deputies reported that there were many tears with calls home to families, but no behavior issues.  They called it “Christmas gloom.”    http://reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=20621

Street deputies also reported a quiet day, thank goodness.

AT THE DETENTION CENTER...

Inmate made inappropriate comments and gestures about hurting himself due to the Broncos’ loss.

Inmate wanted his time out when HE wanted time out and let the deputy know.  He had already received four hours out.  So when he was told that deputy was taking 30 minutes off his out time for his attitude, inmate suggested deputy should just take all his time.  So he did.

Inmate received a 48-hour lockdown for contraband, 14 apples.  Another received a reprimand for contraband, five apples.  Deputies are still looking for that apple tree.

Inmate returned his razor to deputy in four pieces.  Inmate said he was using the blade to cut out one of his drawings.  He said that he accidentally stepped on his razor and that’s how it broke.  He said that since the razor was broken he thought he might as well use it to cut out a picture.  Inmate said he didn’t understand why he’s Pending Sanction and wanted a break because it was Christmas.  That request was denied.  All the pieces of the razor were found.

Uncooperative inmate made threats that he had better not be housed with any Nortenos or he would act out in a violent manner.

ON PATROL...

Subject reported unknown suspect broke his front and rear door windows with a vehicle jack which was still in the car.  He stated some Surenos were eyeballing him while at Club Osiris as he was wearing a red sweatshirt, apparently a rival gang color.  Silly me, I wear red all the time.  It’s good with my coloring.

Husband was not where he was supposed to be.  Wife found the car at the Hunt Club as well as her husband.  She entered the club and slapped him several times.  She said that she just “snapped.”  Then she was booked.

A large party on West Eisenhower caused a few problems.  Female began yelling and hitting her boyfriend.  When they left the residence, he kicked a few of the cars whose owners showed their discontent by shoving him to the ground and kicking him in the face.  He was transported to MCR bur refused medical and walked out.  She was arrested for the hitting part.  More fights and “he said, she said” stuff.  Deputies are trying to sort it out. 

This falls in the “eeewww” category.  Subject was stopped for weaving and failing to stop at a stop sign.  He admitted to drinking $20 worth of beer one hour before driving.  Then, and this is the “ewww” part, he admitted to drinking an unspecified amount of strong cologne upon being stopped to try to fool the breathalyzer.  It didn’t work, 0.179.  Booked. 

Fifteen-year-old female took her mother’s ATM card out of her purse and used it at a convenience store to withdraw $300.  Parents noticed the withdrawal and questioned daughter.  She admitted her actions and gave back what she hadn’t spent, $250.  She was taken to the Hub and booked for Unauthorized Use of Financial Transaction Device and Theft.  (I’m sure reporting that was a tough decision for the parents.)  That’s not the end of the story.  The next day the juvenile ran away from home which was in violation of her home detention order from the ATM incident.  But she got cold and returned home.  She again was transported to the Hub.

Subject was contacted for a traffic violation and was found to have a warrant for driving without a license and no proof of insurance issued from Fort Collins Police Services.  He still did not have a license or insurance.  Booked.

Female was contact for defective headlamp.  She didn’t have any identification and said she had an Idaho license.   Well, what a shock that she didn’t have a license at all.  Nor could she provide proof of insurance and the plates on her vehicle were canceled for a bad check.  What do you want to bet that somehow this is all someone else’s fault?

Mr. H reported that a friend of his brother stole his laptop and pawned it.  Meanwhile back at the ranch, an unrelated disturbance led to our interviewing the suspect in the laptop caper.  He admitted to the pawn of the computer which he says was done at Mr. H’s bidding.  Further interviews will be conducted. 

Disturbance at a local bar led to several arrests.  Deputy attempted to take one subject into custody when another grabbed the arrestee in an attempt to pull him away from deputy.  Deputy pushed the good friend away and friend shoved back.  He received a healthy dose of OC (pepper spray).   He faded into the crowd while deputies concentrated on keeping four or five other combatants at bay.  Once outside, that brilliant fellow who got sprayed didn’t know when to quit. He began fighting with bouncers in the parking lot.  He was subdued and taken into custody.   I lost count of how many were arrested but it obviously didn’t faze the combatants that law enforcement was there.  Me thinks alcohol played a part in this episode.               

Subject was contacted for driving in the bicycle lane on Taft Hill Road.  He attempted to make a left turn into the concrete center median 1/8^th of a mile after deputy activated his emergency equipment while striking the median with his tires.  He then drove east on Harmony.  By now the lights and siren had been on awhile.  He finally stopped.  Failed roadsides.  Remember in last week’s Bull Sheet, I applauded our folks taken over 1000 DUIs off the streets in 2008?  This is why.

Subject attained BOLO (be on the lookout) status because of a hit-and-run in Loveland.  He was spotted on South College still driving too fast and making unsafe lane changes.  He took several blocks to pull over after deputy activated his lights.  He failed roadsides, refused testing and went uncooperative inside Booking.  Deputy says he was placed on the “naughty list.”

DUI deputy reported that his arrestee became combative at PVH during and after his blood draw.  Subject said he wanted to become a police officer.  Deputy thinks subject’s career path may have gone south.

Subject was test-driving a motorcycle in minus 10 degree weather.  He apparently saw our DUI deputy, turned off but failed to signal.  Said he couldn’t flip the signal with the big glove on.  He was booked for a DUI.  Bet that was the glove-maker’s fault.

Subject said she wanted to report her boyfriend for assault since he shoved her out of his apartment causing bruising on her arms and legs.  Further investigation revealed the bruising was the result of, as she put it, “wild sex.”  She recanted the assault accusation and was then arrested for DUI with a 0.129 breath test.

Subject was busy driving with his hands at ten and two on the steering wheel, concentrating hard on not making any mistakes.  After all, a deputy sheriff was behind him.  One big mistake, his passenger tossed a cigarette out the window.  That’s all he needed.  He was arrested for DUI, etc.

Another DUI drifted out of the traffic lane preparing for a launch off a curb.  He swerved at the last second to avoid becoming airborne.    Yep, folks, LCSO took over 1000 DUI’s to jail in 2008. 

Subject received a check for $17,000 for a vehicle he had listed on Craig’s List.  Problem was it only cost $10,000.  He was given directions to send the $7,000 to another address.  He didn’t fall for it.  I wonder how many do.  Must be a bunch because they sure keep doing it.

We were called to assist an ambulance at one of the motels in town.  Seems one of their patrons called in that he had too much to drink.  And he did.  His portable breath test was .231.  He was transported by ambulance.  His big concern was that we wouldn’t tell his mother.  He’s 42-year-old.

MISCELLANEOUS

The wind caused a bit of havoc for Emergency Services and other firefighting agencies early this week.  The Saddle Fire went to 1.1 acres and was caused by a tree and a downed power line.  One structure was threatened but came through unscathed.  The fire was controlled by 6:00 AM on December 30^th.  Once again Poudre Fire Authority, Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire and LCSO worked together in perfect sync.  They always do.

We handled a domestic violence in Pinewood Springs on Christmas night that very easily could have gone bad.   Subject ultimately came out of his hiding place in a vehicle parked in back of house and was taken into custody without incident although he was armed to the hilt.  On-scene deputy wanted to make note of the following:  “This incident was a prime example of officers working together and getting the job done without anyone getting hurt.  Everything went down without a hitch.  I'd like to thank everyone involved, including LCSO deputies,  Estes Park Police Officers Robertson, Allen and Sergeant Shoemaker, as well as our assorted sergeants, lieutenant and major.”   Another deputy wrote the following:  “Thanks in great part to Dispatchers Anne, Laura, Kelly, and Cindy that the Estes Park call was resolved without incident.  These ladies were superb in handling not only this call but several others that came in during this time.  Anne was on the telephone with the victim for over an hour and a half obtaining the necessary information to make it safe for our deputies to respond and resolve this call.  We have the best dispatchers in Colorado.”

One of our investigators just sent this to me and it is definitely a story for the holidays.  “A 56-year-old male left from Ft. Collins on 122408 en route to Arizona to spend Christmas with his son, but never arrived.  Through the cooperation of T-mobile it was determined his last phone call was made on 122508 near Albuquerque, NM.  The New Mexico State Police was contacted and an air search was initiated from Albuquerque.  Other Law Enforcement agencies from Arizona to New Mexico were alerted.  The missing motorist was eventually located near the New Mexico and Arizona border.  He had been involved in a one car accident and was stuck in a snow drift.  After spending four days trapped in his car, it appears he was in fair condition suffering from frostbite to his toes but otherwise OK.   It's great when so many agencies and businesses (T-mobile) can work together to accomplish a mission.  The family appeared to be very thankful to all involved for bringing them a late Christmas Present.  It's nice to have this case come to a very pleasant conclusion, as too often in these types of situations we become the bearers of bad news.”

Until next year, that’s all she wrote.