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Douglas official named in inquiry
Published November 10, 2007 at midnight
Douglas official named in inquiry
The Douglas County District Attorney's Office is investigating a sheriff's official suspected of awarding county contracts to clients of his private consulting business.
According to Denver's 7, Mike Coleman, chief of administration for the sheriff, awarded a $200,000 contract to update the 911 emergency call system to a client of his.
Coleman, according to Denver's 7, operates a marketing business in addition to to his sheriff's job. Coleman, who gave his retirement notice three weeks ago, told Denver's 7 he did nothing wrong.
Douglas County Sheriff Dave Weaver told Denver's 7 that internal affairs is investigating and that he contacted the district attorney.
CHASE NEAR EVERGREEN
Man arrested after shooting at deputies
An armed robbery suspect was arrested Thursday night after he shot at Jefferson County deputies and was chased at high speed on Interstate 70 near Evergreen.
Jacob Anthony Avila, 22, is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on charges of attempted murder of a police officer.
At approximately 11:45 p.m. deputies observed a suspicious pickup in a construction area near Evergreen Parkway and I-70. A license plate check showed the pickup was stolen during an armed robbery in Topeka, Kan. As deputies approached the pickup, the driver shot at them and drove away, heading east on I-70, authorities said.
Deputies chased him as he turned off the Lookout Mountain exit and crossed over, heading west on I-70. The pursuit reached speeds of more than 100 mph before the pickup drove over spike strips placed by Idaho Springs police.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS
Clinton, Romney name state chiefs
Two presidential campaigns, one Democratic, one Republican, announced their political directors for Colorado on Friday.
The Clinton Campaign named Tyler Chaffee as Colorado state director, while Romney for President announced that Katie Witt will serve as the state political director.
Chaffee's most recent job was as senior associate with RBI Strategy and Research in Denver. Previously he had served as a national political analyst for the Service Employees International Union and as political director for the Colorado AFL-CIO. He worked on Diana DeGette's congressional race in 1996 and Dottie Lamm's 1998 run for the U.S. Senate.
Witt was the executive director for the Colorado Family Leadership Network until recently. She had served as chairwoman of the Longmont Human Relations Commission and as facilitator for the Longmont Community Justice Partnership before running for Boulder County Commissioner in 2000. Witt also was the statewide field coordinator for Coloradans for Marriage in 2006.
RESIDENTS NOT HURT
SUV crashes into home in Aurora
An Aurora family had a rude awakening and narrowly escaped injury early Friday when an SUV crashed into their home.
Homeowner Chris Giebler said everyone had been asleep until they got up to let their dog out. They were about to go back to bed when they heard a "kaboom" sound about 3:15 a.m. Giebler said it sounded like an airplane had hit the house. A 2001 black BMW had broken through the master bedroom wall of the home in the 11200 block of East Colorado Drive.
Police said the SUV was apparently traveling at a high rate of speed when it lost control and skidded though an open area adjacent to Ponderosa Elementary School then crashed though a fence and into the home. The vehicle came to rest just inches from the headboard in the master bedroom, authorities said.
The trapped driver, identified by police as Jonathan Webb, 24, was extricated by firefighters and transported to The Medical Center of Aurora, where he was treated for a possible fractured ankle.
No charges have been filed, police said, pending toxicology reports.
CAR DEALERS TARGETED
Man convicted in fraud scheme
A former salesman who bilked investors of more than $1 million faces nearly 400 years in prison after a Denver jury convicted him Friday on multiple charges.
Adelbert Bassford, 53, bilked investors who gave him money for several ventures, including Autobucks, a customer loyalty program that never got off the ground.
Bassford, indicted in 2002, was convicted of racketeering and multiple counts of theft and securities fraud.
His victims included some of Denver's best-known business people - car dealers "Dealing Doug" Moreland, Mike Naughton and the owners of Ralph Schomp dealerships and Hyde Park Jewelers. Bassford persuaded Moreland to invest $300,000 in the program. Mike Naughton invested $50,000; Lisa Schomp and her husband invested $50,000.
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