NEWSPEAK Blog

This isn't a post about gun control

However, it should be pointed out that you can't shoot yourself in the ass if you don't have a gun tucked into the small of your back or if you aren't deliberately trying to shoot yourself in the ass:

February 24, 2008 12:45 AM Falcon Shift III 1966 Erin Lp

On the date and time listed above, Officers were dispatched to 1966 Erin Lp to investigate a possible shooting. Upon arrival on scene, Officers discovered a 23 year old male had a single gun shot wound to his buttocks. The male was removing a .45 cal handgun from a holster in the small of his back when the handgun discharged. The male was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Prisons: The Time to Invest is Now

From the G'zoo's biz sexion:

On Aug. 13, two guards suffered minor injuries quelling a disturbance at a private Texas prison. The prison operator, Corrections Corp. of America, saw its stock price slide 10 percent that week. But analysts say such “headline shock” is becoming less severe, and profit growth is expected to climb next year.
“Disturbances are part of the prison business, public or private,” says analyst T.C. Robillard of Banc of America Securities, who has a “buy” on Corrections Corp. There’s still a business imbalance that these companies take advantage of, he says —too many inmates, not enough cells. Many analysts predict strong growth in 2008 and 2009, despite already-high price-earnings ratios. The margins for private prison operators are thin, and profits could be modest the rest of this year before new contracts and cost adjustments take hold. But two of the three main players are positioned well for strong growth, analysts say. Corrections Corp. is the largest private prison operator in the United States, while GEO Group has branched out into criminal mental health facilities and illegal immigrant detention.
“We would rather put our money in CXW and GEO at this point in time,” says Lehman Brothers analyst Jeff Kessler. He’d avoid Cornell due to inconsistent earnings and problems that led to the closure of a Texas facility in 2005.

GEO, alert readers will recall, is the company that operated the private women's prison up in Brush, the one which hired guards without bothering to do criminal background checks, where several inmates complained of sexual abuse by said guards. State of Colorado then had to take over, more proof that private prisons really do save the state money!

Army Raids "Medical" Ganja Grow in Colorado

From today's PeeEbLow Chieftain:

Assisted by the National Guard, narcotics detectives from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department conducted an aerial search of rural Pueblo County with the aim of scoring some weed. Sheriff Kirk Taylor said they succeeded by recognizing, then seizing, 140 marijuana plants that purportedly belong to 53-year-old Tom Sexton.

But Sexton contends that the sheriff's department wrongfully raided the garden where he grows medicinal marijuana for himself and a number of seriously ill patients who rely on the drug and have the state's approval to use it.

Full story at the Chieftain's website

I'm So Broke, I Could Rob an Arby's!

This is the Arby's that's occupying the building formerly known as Sencha. Aaron informs me that it's also the building that used to be a Jack In The Box, which was also robbed at gunpoint and somebody got capped.

June 4, 2007, 11:24:00 PM

Location: Arby's 331 S. Nevada Ave

Gold Hill Officers responded to a robbery at the Arby's Restaurant. Investigation revealed that 3 males entered the restaurant after hours while employees were cleaning up. One of the males was armed with a possible handgun. The males demanded money and left the area on foot. The males left with an undisclosed amount of money. Suspects were described as #1 Blk male, in his 20's 6'1", heavy set wearing a clown mask. Suspect #2 was described as being a white or hispanic male, 6'0", thin build with a bandana across his face. Suspect #3- black male in his 20's 5'6" with the collar of his jacket covering his face. Officers checked the area but did not locate the suspect.

Wow.

Haven't checked in on ye olde blotter much lately, but when I did this morning I was greeted with this:

April 18, 2007, An employee of the City of Colorado Springs was on his way to work and stopped off to make a withdrawl from the US Bank's ATM at the above address. After retrieving his money, he departed and was driving toward the 4-way stop within the shopping complex, when a vehicle pulled directly in front of him blocking his egress. The doors to the vehicle, he described as a late 90's, dark colored Saturn or Honda 4-door, opened and three males exited the vehicle. The right front passenger had a long rifle or shotgun, while the two others wielded what appeared to be silver-colored semi-automatic handguns. The suspect with the rifle approached the 45 year old male victim; however, before he could get too close, the victim threw his vehicle into reverse and drove approximately one-quarter of a mile at a high rate of speed to escape. The suspects did not pursue. No injuries were sustained by the victim due to his quick thinking and reactions to this volatile situation. The male wielding the rifle/shotgun was described as a 6 ft Hispanic male wearing a dark sweatshirt and pants. The others were also wearing dark clothing. All suspects were estimated to be in their early twenties. Investigation is continuing.

Blotterama, Feb. 13, 2007

This:

February 12,

On the above date and time, Officers were dispatched to the McDonalds located at 3535 Hartsel Drive in regards to a Robbery with a weapon in progress. While enroute, Officers were advised that the suspects had left the scene and taken a hostage with them. A customer of the business followed the suspect vehicle and Officers were able to locate the vehicle in the area of Union Blvd and Dublin Blvd. A high risk stop was completed and one individual was taken into custody. Investigation revealed that a robbery did not take place. The 5 juveniles involved and entered the business dressed in “Ninja” and cowboy outfits. One of the individuals was video taping the incident however, none of the suspects ever threatened or asked employees for anything. The parties involved indicated that they were doing the stunt as a school project and did not realize that they had put the other individuals in the business in fear. No weapon was seen or recovered from the suspects. No parties indicated a willingness to sign a complaint and the suspects were released to parents.

What's this?:

February 12

At approximately 2:53PM, Gold Hill officers were dispatched to the City Bus Terminal reference a possible assault. When officers arrived, the male victim was already in an ambulance and AMR personnel advised the victim had been stabbed. Initial investigation revealed the incident occurred in the alley to the south of the bus terminal. The victim was transported to memorial hospital and was being treated for multiple contusions and abrasions as well as a puncture would to his rectal area that perforated his colon. He is currently in stable condition. Officers did obtain surveillance video from the alley. The incident is still under investigation.

Crashing Into Police Cars Seems To Be Popular These Days

From Le Blotter:

December 31, 2006

On December 31st at 3:22PM, Officer Kathryn Terrell advised police dispatch she had just been involved in a head-on traffic crash in the 800 block of W. Colorado Ave. Officer Terrell, age 30 was driving a fully marked police cruiser (#2514) eastbound in the left thru lane of W. Colorado. Laura Nelson, age 38 of CS was driving a 1992 Chevrolet westbound in the left through lane when she crossed over the double yellow line entering the eastbound left thru lane striking the front of the police cruiser. Officer Terrell was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. She is expected to be treated and released. None of the occupants of the Chevrolet were injured. The Chevrolet had extensive front end damage and the police cruiser had moderate front end damage. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Alcohol/drugs were not factors; speed was not a factor; weather and roadway conditions were not factors. Laura Nelson was cited for driving under restraint and careless driving, and was transported to the Criminal Justice Center for an unrelated misdemeanor warrant.

January 7, 2007

Dispatch advised Officer Jason Reeser of a DUI driver that was westbound on E. Fillmore Street. Officer Reeser found the vehicle, observed erratic driving behavior and initiated a traffic stop on Fillmore Hill. The vehicle slowed to a stop and began to roll backward. Officer Reeser backed up and avoided the collision. The vehicle travelled a short distance west on Fillmore and came to stop. On two occassions, the vehicle again rolled backward and struck Officer Reeser's police vehicle. There were no injuries and only minor damage. The driver was arrested for DUID. If it were not for the police vehicle stopping the rolling vehicle, the accident had the potential to be very serious due to the incline, driver condition and heavy traffic.

Blotterama: December 26, 2006

From the Department of Meat Grinder Malfeasance:

On 12/22/06 at approximately 2115 hours, Stetson Hills Officers were sent to the 7600 block of Amberly Drive, regarding an accidental injury. When officers arrived they discovered that a small child climbed up on a chair in the kitchen and stuck their hand inside of a meat grinder. The child had several fingers severed as a result. The child was taken to a local hospital, then later transported to Denver where the child underwent surgery. The status of the child is unknown. Major Crimes and DHS were notified.

From the Department of Unfortunate Addresses:

Officers from the Falcon Division were dispatched to 2655 Purgatory Drive reference a subject with a self inflicted gunshot wound. Officers arrived and found the victim in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to his head. Investigation revealed that the victim had recently made suicidal statements and this morning he was in the kitchen with two family members when he left to go lay down in the bedroom. Family members heard the gun shot and found him in the bedroom. Victim was transported to Penrose Main and pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m.