A Sneak Peak is out on the new Santa Barbara International Film Festival Film Center

KEYT on May 8, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A renovation plan is beginning next week to transform the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Film Center into a state-at-the art theatre.

SBIFF acquired the lease of the former Fiesta Five theatre back in October, and its temporary operations are coming to an end this weekend.

SBIFF Executive Director, Roger Durling, spoke with your News Channel for a detailed look at the renovation plans for the Film Center. He says the project is in the funding process, but the work will begin to meet deadline by this year’s holiday movie season.

In his personal tour, Durling gave a guide through images of both the entrance and lobby.

“The marquee will have the DNA that it has there, but we’re going to spruce it up and make it far more exciting,” said Durling. “If you recall the movie palaces, they create this excitement with, you know, the light bulbs up above the grand marquee and a tremendous entrance that was very inviting and adding to the excitement of going to the movies.”

“It’s going to look very, thrilling to arrive to the space. And we’re going to have this tiles on the floor that are going to have, a recall, like a red carpet.”

Structural plans include a wheelchair ramp – making it accessible to the entire community.

It will also be the prime location for the Film Festival taking place in February 2026 with the best equipment and seats. As well as plans to host educational programs and art exhibitions.

“We’re not trying to compete with the Granada and or the Arlington, the Lobero. This will be solely dedicated to movies, but it would I want it, we want it to be the premier movie going experience.”

“I feel that people are clamoring to go to the movies. I do feel strongly that you got to make the experience very exciting. You have to provide state of the art, and, the quality and, comfortable and exciting programing.”

Renderings for the film center have been released and are going through the review of the Historic Landmarks Commission.

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Expert speaks about the mental health toll on the “sandwich generation”

KESQ on May 8, 2025

Shay Lawson

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ)  – For adults in their 40s and 50s, mental health professionals say life can feel like a juggling act—caring for young children while also tending to aging parents.

Experts call this group the “sandwich generation,” and they say the emotional toll of multigenerational caregiving is rising.

According to Pew Research Center, more than half of Americans in their 40s are part of this caregiving group. Nearly a quarter of adults are providing financial support to both an elderly parent and a child.

“It’s a lot of extra stressors all at once,” said Dr. Evita Limon-Rocha, child adolescent and adult Psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente.

She said for example, people in this generation might be managing young kids with illnesses from school while also trying to keep parents on track with their medications and appointments.

Dr. Limon-Rocha also said she’s noticed an increase in this phenomenon among her patients.

“I see families all the time that are juggling,” she said.

To help ease the pressure, Dr. Limon-Rocha recommends caregivers prioritize self-care, seek help from family or professional resources and stay connected socially.

“I always encourage my family members and caregivers just kindness toward self,” she said.

As life expectancy increases, and families continue to share responsibilities across generations, experts said supporting sandwich caregivers is more important than ever—for their health and the well-being of those they care for.

Stay with News Channel 3 at 10 and 11 p.m. for the full report.

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City of Redmond to open application window for voter-approved retail marijuana dispensaries

KTVZ on May 8, 2025

Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Redmond announced Wednesday it will begin accepting applications for retail marijuana dispensaries on Tuesday, May 13. 

Interested applicants can learn more about the requirements for operating a dispensary in Redmond as well as obtain a Land Use Verification application, the first of a three-part application process, on the City’s website at www.redmondoregon.gov/retailmarijuana.   

Initial applications must be received by noon, Friday, May 23. The first step in the application process will be a zoning verification analysis by city staff to determine whether a proposed dispensary’s location meets the zoning regulations.  Applicants will be notified of the zoning verification no later than Friday, May 30.   

If a dispensary’s location meets the criteria, they will move to the second step, which will be a comprehensive application process. This will be qualitative rather than first-come, first-served.  It will include reviews of business plans, building design/merchandising plans, background checks and other criteria, such as applicant interviews. 

“While voters gave approval for dispensaries, Council’s goal is to make sure the City partners with owners who manage their businesses responsibly, safely, and with an intent to bring benefit to the community,” said Mayor Ed Fitch. 

As background, on April 8, the Redmond City Council took actions that implemented the ballot measures approved by voters in the November 2024 general election.  In November, 53.5 percent of voters approved allowing dispensaries in Redmond. 

A series of ordinances were adopted to establish the regulatory framework for operating marijuana businesses within the city, which outlined specific procedures for permitting and operating those businesses. These ordinances established a cap of one retail marijuana dispensary per 10,000 city residents.  With the city’s current population of around 37,000, the current cap is three. 

For more information regarding the application process, please contact Deputy City Manager, Steve Ashworth at 541-923-7750, or via email steve.ashworth@redmondoregon.gov. 

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Deliberations begin in trial of man accused of fatally shooting Cathedral City store owner

KESQ on May 8, 2025

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury deliberations began today in the trial of a man accused of gunning down a Cathedral City convenience store owner during a botched robbery, while testimony continued in the separate trial of his alleged co-conspirator.

Charles Lamar Campbell of Beaumont and Joel Ortiz Hidalgo of Desert Hot Springs, both 23, allegedly joined in the 2021 slaying of 61-year-old Chris Sgouromitis of Cathedral City.

Charles Lamar Campbell (Left) and Joel Ortiz Hidalgo (Right)

Both men are charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery and a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery. Campbell is additionally charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Two juries — one for each defendant — were convened to hear the matter, and after almost three weeks, testimony concluded in Campbell’s trial Tuesday. On Wednesday, the prosecution and defense delivered closing arguments at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling sent jurors behind closed doors to begin weighing evidence. They deliberated briefly, then broke for the day, slated to return Thursday morning.

Testimony in Hidalgo’s trial is expected to wrap up Thursday or Friday.  

Each man was being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center.    According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, on the night of Feb. 21, 2021, Campbell and Hidalgo were driving around the Coachella Valley in the latter’s Acura sedan, seeking to purchase a “plug” of marijuana. When a transaction fell through in Palm Springs, the men headed into Cathedral City, where Campbell directed Hidalgo onto Shifting Sands Trail and, ultimately, the Outpost Market at the intersection of Shifting Sands and Ramon Road, according to court papers.

While Hidalgo sat behind the wheel of his car, Campbell entered the convenience store, long owned and operated by Sgouromitis and his family, prosecutors said.

Although no one else was in the outlet, security surveillance video cameras inside were operating, capturing almost all of the ensuing encounter between the victim and defendant, according to the brief.

“The victim had the cash register open and appeared to be counting or organizing cash in the register as Campbell walked in … holding a semiautomatic handgun,” the narrative stated.

There were words between the men, which the video cameras did not record. The images, however, revealed Campbell allegedly raising the pistol, holding it with both hands and aiming it at the victim. The defendant fired a shot while backing toward the double doors, striking Sgouromitis in the left hip, prosecutors alleged.   

When the store owner tried to run away from the counter, Campbell allegedly fired two more shots, hitting the victim in the chest and lower back, according to the brief.

The gunfire evidently frightened Hidalgo, who sped away from the location as Campbell exited the store, the prosecution said. Campbell was forced to flee on foot through residences lining Shifting Sands, and during his getaway, he accidentally fired his 9mm pistol into a yard, where the homeowner was watching, according to court papers.   

Sgouromitis’ brother, who had been resting in a room at the back of the store when the shots rang out, initiated CPR on his sibling until Cathedral City Police Department officers arrived and took over, followed by paramedics moments later. However, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was a beloved member of the community, and CCPD released a statement within a few days of his murder, saying he was a “father of four with strong local ties, who was not involved in criminal activity and died in his longtime place of business.”

Hidalgo’s Acura was soon identified as the vehicle that had parked outside the convenience store, and the license plate was confirmed via Flock law enforcement camera recordings in Palm Springs, leading to his being tracked down and detained for questioning less than a week later.

The defendant provided details regarding what allegedly had transpired, insisting that he was only giving Campbell a ride to get some marijuana and had no foreknowledge of the planned robbery, according to the brief. He was formally arrested at the police station.

Campbell was located staying in a Beaumont motel, where detectives went to serve an arrest warrant, listening through the door as he conversed via speaker phone with his mother, allegedly telling her, “The driver was arrested, and all he has to do is give me up,” according to the prosecution.  

Officers ordered him out of the room, at which point the defendant was taken into custody without incident.   

Neither man has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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The requirement for Real ID’s officially goes into effect

KEYT on May 8, 2025

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 7 is the official date Real ID’s are required.

“In California as of may 1st, over 19 million Californians had upgraded to a real ID. That’s about 58%.” said Eva Spiegel, Deputy Director in Public Affairs at DMV.

The date has been extended several times due to COVID-19 and logistics issues, but moving forward a real ID or a passport as well as enhanced ID cards will be acceptable.

At the Santa Barbara airport Wednesday, it was smooth sailing as the requirement for real ID’s went into effect.

“Here at the Santa Barbara airport, we’ve been seeing great compliance,” said Angi Daus, Santa Barbara airport Marketing Supervisor. “We’ve had very few individuals who had come to the check point and did not have a real ID and TSA has worked with them seamlessly and easily to make sure that they have the proper security compliance to be able to fly.”

The real ID is federally mandated to create security consistency through out the United States.

“The process was very easy,” said Robert Scott Jr., who was traveling to Louisiana. “I went in and had all of my paper work and I was able to get it very quickly and I’ve been traveling with it ever since.”

The TSA says that prior to Wednesday’s deadline, about 81% of all passengers already used a real ID or another acceptable form of identification.

“There has been a rush, we’ve been extra busy, but people are getting processed and they’re getting their real id applications through,” said Spiegel.

To apply for a real ID visit their website.

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Former Macon County deputy charged with domestic assault

KMIZ on May 8, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Macon County Sheriff’s deputy was charged on Thursday with several felonies after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.

Brody Clarence Lewis, 26, of Tina, Missouri, was charged in Macon County with second-degree domestic assault, third-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor fourth-degree domestic assault. He is being held at the Randolph County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

According to the probable cause statement, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was notified by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday that Lewis was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office asked MSHP to investigate the claims. Law enforcement met with the woman at Troop B headquarters and she had several bruises.

Lewis is described as a deputy in the probable cause statement, but is referred to as a former deputy in a Missouri State Highway Patrol press release. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office also shared the release on its social media.

The woman allegedly told troopers that she had fought off multiple assaults from Lewis since December, including 10-15 times over the past three weeks.

She allegedly described a February encounter where Lewis called her a demeaning name, she slapped him and he choked her, court documents say. She allegedly said that he also pointed a gun at her “in an angry and threatening manner” up to five times and also threatened to kill himself at least once, the statement says.

Lewis allegedly assaulted the woman on Monday after learning items from the woman’s previous relationship were in her home, the statement says. Lewis allegedly punched the victim in the back of her head and kicked her in her back, the statement says. The victim told law enforcement that she was afraid Lewis would kill her while he kneeled on her, court documents say.

An incident where Lewis threatened the woman with a baton was also described in court documents.

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La Pine neighborhood has an ‘interesting’ guest drop by – a wolf on the run. A security camera captured it

KTVZ on May 7, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Paul Lamb was outside his La Pine home, raking up pine needles, when he spotted something “weird” and interesting: a wolf, running down their street.

“The wolf came from the south, going north” along Center Drive on Tuesday afternoon, Lamb tells KTVZ News.

“Then it saw me and kind of went across, going into the neighbor’s yards into the trees, kind of like trying to avoid us.”

It’s not something Paul or Margaret Lamb have seen in their 20 years of living there.

“It was interesting,” he said Wednesday. “It didn’t seem threatening at all. It actually tried to get away.”

“I thought, ‘Well, that was weird.'”

His wife suggested that maybe it was caught on their home’s security camera – and it was.

Was it really a wolf, not a dog or hybrid? We turned to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to see.

 An ODFW wildlife biologist in Bend said “he believes it’s a wolf, based on what we know about this pack’s movements and the physical characteristics of certain wolves in the pack (e.g. color),” agency spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy told KTVZ News on Wednesday.

“This is in the known area of the Upper Deschutes Pack and good habitat for wolves (national forest nearby, deer and elk in the area),” Dennehy added.

She noted that “the wolf was seen in daylight but also appears skittish in the video (e.g. wary of people not habituated) and is moving through the area, not sticking around. We have no reports of livestock damage or public safety issues from this pack, though we’ve had other sightings in this general area.”

Dennehy also shared “some good tips for people in areas with wolves, similar to advice we give for bears, cougars and coyotes  https://dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/docs/oregon_wolf_country_flyer.pdf.”

The ODFW official also had some advice.

“Residents in the area should not leave pet food outside and keep pets indoors at night – standard advice that reduces the risk of problems with all wildlife, including coyotes and cougars. If the wolf threatens pets or livestock or displays other concerning behavior, call US Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the ODFW Bend office.”

The surprise visit occurred in an area of the state where wolves are federally listed as endangered.

Paul Lamb said others in the neighborhood also saw it, including a woman who lives across the street and stopped her car to ask if he’d seen it.

“The people who live right south of us rent a house from us,” he said. “They saw it – they actually got in a car and followed it up the street.”

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Study looks to construction noise as reason for Seal population decrease

KION on May 7, 2025

jose.romo

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION – TV) — A recent study is looking at potential reasons for a seal population decrease in Pacific Grove. Researchers are pointing to overall noise from construction and nearby traffic as potential reasons. 

Imagine sleeping while hearing the noise of traffic, construction, and heavy machinery. Perhaps a constant complaint for many who live near congested streets, yet we often don’t think that loud noises can affect marine life. 

“I didn’t realize that they needed quiet for the babies, so moms just staying and all that,” said Cindy Nachtman, who used to live in the area and was visiting today. 

“So we were just watching and there’s definitely not as many (seals) as there usually are, but I don’t know if that has anything to do with the noise or anything.”

A recent study by the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University at Pacific Grove joined various local researchers who study the population of harbor seals in the region. 

From 2022 to 2023, the study found a nearly 30 percent decrease in seal population as compared to projected numbers based on prey fish availability. Some, like Sean, who lives down the street from this beach, mentions he’s seen a decrease. 

“It seems like this year there are definitely fewer pops. There are definitely fewer seals.” He adds, “When there are people around and there are a lot of people, especially when it gets busy down here, you can tell that the noise does disturb them.”

Researchers say the seal population saw a peak in 2009 and has steadily decreased since then. They say construction in 2022 led to various miscarriages, taking pupping success rates from 94 percent in  2021, to 67 percent in 2022. 

“It’s terrible because this is like one of the only areas that’s super protected for them,” says Sean. “They know that it’s kind of safe to come here and have pups, but at the same time, there are a lot of people coming around.” 

Experts say seals often don’t return in full numbers to beaches where their populations decrease. Some, like Nick Nachtman, say more should be done to protect them.

“I think whatever you can do to make sure that they get to stay here, not only so that we can watch them, but so that they can continue to thrive. I think is very important.” This fawning season, various signs have been placed reminding visitors to remain quiet.

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Stabbed at Random: 3 attempted murders, a mother’s plea, and the push to improve downtown safety

KRDO on May 7, 2025

Josh Helmuth

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Many flaunt downtown Colorado Springs as one of the best in the country. It’s certainly grown considerably in recent years. But with that growth has come a shrinking safety, at least that’s the belief of Tina Brookins. 

“[He] couldn’t even turn around,” Tina Brookins said to KRDO13 Investigates.  [He] thought [he] had been punched or something … when he put his hand back there, he knew.” 

A man allegedly stabbed her 20-year-old son, David Brookins, downtown last summer while he was with a group of friends, waiting for a light to change, at Cimarron and Tejon.  

Tina Brookins says her son will never be the same. 

“He heard somebody shout ‘knife,'” said Tina Brookins. “They were all fleeing. They were all running in [different] directions.” 

David nearly died that night, June 20, 2024. It took exploratory surgery to save his life. Emergency surgeons found he was bleeding internally, and David lost a kidney.  

“His roommate actually jumped into the street to save himself,” said Tina Brookins. “And my son didn’t have time to even turn around. So he was stabbed in the lower right side directly into the kidney,” she said. 

David’s father, John Brookins, praised how quickly police responded.  

“My view is the police did a pretty good job that night,” said John Brookins. “And if it wasn’t for the police on scene that helped him and the EMS people that showed up, I don’t know whether you’re [sic] going to [have] made it or not.” 

According to Tina Brookins, the stabbing was unprovoked. Police noted it was certainly “random.” It was also brazen. 

The alleged stabbing wasn’t too late at night; it was in the 10 o’clock hour. David was with a group of friends in a popular area of downtown near several bars and restaurants. Even more alarming is the fact that David wasn’t the first victim, according to police.  

Just 11 days earlier, shortly after 9 pm, police say the same suspect stabbed a man vaping outside Gasoline Alley on North Tejon. But the attacker got away. It wasn’t until David and his friends were attacked that police arrested a 35-year-old named Tommy Lavery, a man with a violent criminal record, previously found guilty of felony assault and domestic violence.  

According to arrest records, Lavery was homeless, living out of his car, “targeting citizens in the downtown area of Colorado Springs and stabbing them.” Lavery is currently facing 16 charges, including three counts of attempted murder regarding the stabbings downtown.  The third count of attempted murder stems from his alleged attempt to stab one of Brookins’ friends, according to a police report shared with KRDO13.

“My surprise was like, ‘Why was there no warning?'” asked Tina. “Isn’t that an area in the summer that when you know something is happening with all the tourists to be better protected? I mean, have police out there?” 

Violent downtown crime since 2020

Last summer’s random stabbings aren’t the first for downtown Colorado Springs.  

In 2020, a man claiming to be “Jesus Christ” stabbed eight people while walking the Midland Trail into downtown and was only caught after citizens held him down outside of a bar. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. 

So, what’s crime been like downtown since 2020? KRDO13 Investigates did some digging. 

Overall, downtown crime ebbed and flowed in the five years from 2020-2024, averaging 1,058 arrests per year. However, over that same time, felony assault jumped 105 percent.

What is CSPD doing to keep downtown safe?

KRDO13 spoke with police to see what’s being done to prevent violent crime downtown, especially regarding those on the streets who may be suffering a mental health crisis.  

CSPD declined an interview, but did send us an in-depth response to our questions via email.  

They note in part, “CSPD seeks to address all crimes committed in the downtown area, regardless of anyone’s housing status,” and that they are “continually working to enforce the city ordinance that makes camping illegal across the city.” 

We asked CSPD if they track homeless crime. They said they do not track it, saying “it would be a form of profiling.”

How many homeless individuals get arrested?

But the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice does track homeless bookings and inmates. In 2018, they surveyed over 500 inmates in seven Colorado jails, including El Paso County, focusing on the homeless population. The study found 61 percent of inmates were experiencing homelessness within 30 days prior to entering jail, and 64 percent had a mental illness. However, they also noted that homeless inmates had “significantly fewer violent crime charges than non-homeless inmates.” 

The DCJ also has a jail population dashboard that tracks inmates experiencing homelessness.  In fact, according to the DCJ, El Paso County had 325 homeless individuals jailed in the first quarter of 2025 – nearly 9 percent of the inmate population. 

The “HOT” Team

It’s also important to note that CSPD has a small staff of nine officers called the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT).

KRDO13 followed them during a homeless camp cleanup in April. 

“Yes we want them to succeed in life. We’ll do everything we can to get them there. But we also have to hold them accountable,” said Sgt. Olav Chaney, who leads the team. 

The HOT Team has been around since 2009, saying that homeless camps dramatically increased in Colorado Springs over the summer of 2008. They say they are a compassion-first unit, offering services and resources to all those they come across, while also giving notice before their arrival. If they discover someone with a warrant, they then make an arrest.

This past April’s cleanup was near America the Beautiful Park. It resulted in 60 arrests that included a violent sexual predator from Texas.

In fact, the HOT Team arrested 1,918 people last year, 233 of those were felony arrests. In 2023, they arrested over 2,000 people, roughly 300 of them were felony arrests.

While not all who are homeless are dangerous, Sgt. Chaney noted what they’re up against is in this Youtube video posted last year. 

“There’s a lot of crime within the homeless community. There’s a lot of folks, felons in the homeless community that you just have to be careful with,” he says in the video. 

What’s not working?

Despite the HOT Team’s efforts, why do they feel violent crime is still a big issue? 

Researchers at CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus analyzed involuntary sweeps of homeless camps for four and a half years in Denver. Their study says the sweeps had no effect in reducing crime. In fact, in some cases, rates of violent crime went up following sweeps.  

Some feel laws need to be stronger. 

CSPD Chief Adrian Vasquez said “poor legislation (at the state level) has made our city streets a more dangerous place for our citizens and officers.” 

Chief Vasquez is referencing three measures from this letter in particular: Bail and Bond reform from 2019 (HB19-1225) that made it easier for offenders to be released on no bond for low level offenses, a bill from 2021 (HB21-1280) that requires a court to hold a bond setting hearing within 48 hours after an arrest, and two bills passed in 2021 and 2023 (SB21-271, HB23-1293) police say weakens sentencing for weapons, drug and theft crimes.  

Last summer’s stabbings have certainly caught the attention of City Hall. 

“I think it’s unacceptable,” said City Councilman Dave Donelson. 

Donelson spoke with Tina Brookins and believes more can be done to help public safety downtown, especially regarding homeless crime.  

“If you’re homeless and you want help, Colorado Springs should be a good place, and we should help people. If you don’t want help, if you really just want to live in your car on the street, this should be the worst place to live,” said Donelson.  “I think the mayor needs to take a stance that this isn’t going to we’re not going to accept this anymore.”

The Springs Rescue Mission’s Stance

It’s already illegal to camp in a public space in Colorado Springs, including near parks and waterways. There’s also a sit-lie ordinance that makes it illegal to sit or lie down on a sidewalk.  

KRDO13 went to The Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) to get their take on local laws. After all, they serve over 6,000 homeless people every year.  They support the current city ordinances and call laws like them “wise compassion.” 

“Some of those things really do help provide the opportunity for engagement to for individuals to be seen,” said Travis Williams, President and CEO of the SRM. “I think that’s probably the best thing that we can do as a community, is how do we help individuals to be seen?” he said. 

Williams believes offering shelter or housing is the most effective way to reduce homeless crime, saying allowing people on the streets to isolate only leads to more harm to themselves and others.  

“We have to be strong in order to really provide and create the best space for for everyone,” said Williams.  

“We find folks who are struggling with severe mental health challenges, severe behavioral health challenges, addiction challenges. And then undergirding that is a lack of relationship, the connectivity,” he added. 

The Springs Rescue Mission offers a multitude of services to help people with their physical and mental well-being, on top of everything it takes to find housing and work stability. That being said, they’re also no stranger to those who are dangerous. 

Police say an SRM client stabbed and killed a man at the Springs Rescue Mission last summer. Williams says that of the thousands of homeless individuals they see each year, violent crime is still relatively rare.  

“I’d say that, for the majority of people that we see, in any given sphere of population, those folks that choose to be malicious are relatively a small population,” said Williams. “It’s just when it happens, it creates a lot of concern.” 

Meanwhile, until laws are changed or enforced more strictly, the Brookins family says they’re avoiding downtown Colorado Springs altogether.  

“It needs to come from our local government because they want to build. They want to expand,” said Tina Brookins. “You have to make this place safe before you can bring in more people.” 

Colorado Springs Police Department’s complete, unedited response

CSPD declined an on-camera interview with KRDO13 regarding downtown homeless crime. However, KRDO13’s Josh Helmuth emailed the department all the questions that would have been asked during the interview and, in response, sent this very lengthy, detailed reply. 

Below is the full, unedited, written interview. 

What is CSPD doing to combat homeless crime downtown?  

CSPD seeks to address all crimes committed in the downtown area, regardless of anyone’s housing status. In the homeless community, there are both victims of crime, those who commit crime, and those who are law-abiding community members.  

The HOT team and the DART team have a focus on contacting members of our homeless community, identifying who they are, and offering to connect them with resources available in our community to help them with mental health issues, addiction issues, with the ultimate goal of getting them into housing. Through these contacts, officers do become aware of individuals who are illegally camping or may have arrest warrants and take appropriate action. 

CSPD address crimes across the community regardless of the housing status of those who commit the crimes. It is important to remember that our homeless community is also an incredibly vulnerable community and our HOT and DART units not only work to address crime committed downtown, they also work to protect victims of crime who may be homeless too.  

The DART team specifically works in a proactive measure, doing walking patrols throughout the downtown area during the day time and advanced patrols during the evenings. They work to cultivate relationships with business owners and community members downtown, including those who are experiencing homelessness.  

What does it mean to “clear warrants” during a HOT team cleanup? Are those with warrants jailed or just ticketed and let go immediately? 

The recent 2-day effort was a focus to *clean trash from our cities trails and parks. As part of this collaborative clean-up effort, CSPD officers contacted members of the homeless community who were discovered to have warrants for their arrest. 

Clearing a warrant means that if there is a warrant for someone’s arrest, and officers contact them and place them in custody and take them to jail, the warrant is then cleared, and that person is then in the judicial system, and not wanted on a warrant.  

Under current city code, 9.6.110 – 9.6.111, when an officer contacts an individual found to be illegally camping, if they don’t have a warrant, then it’s a cite and release ticket. We are not allowed to take that individual to jail for a first offense, or second, or third ect. When they are given the ticket, they are also given a court date to appear before a judge on the charge of illegal camping. If that person does not appear, then the city judge can issue a warrant for their arrest. If we encounter that person again and discover the warrant, we can take them to jail, and that warrant issued is “cleared”.   

Clearing a warrant can mean a number of things, depending on what the warrant is for and the type of crime that has been committed. For example, many of the warrants our homeless population has are “failure to appear” warrants or lapsed fines from illegal camping violations. These offenses are not jailable offenses – we inform the individual of their lapsed fines or missed court date, assign a new court date, and move on. Other warrants for more serious crimes like violent crimes, drug crimes, etc. may come with jail time. When we are able, we identify those individuals and place them into custody, clearing the warrant.  

How does CSPD try to crack down on those illegally camping– even if it means sleeping in their cars at parks? And what does CSPD need in order to improve that enforcement?   

CSPD is continually working to enforce the city ordinance that makes camping illegal across the city, and not just in the downtown area. The definition of illegal camping is defined in the city code, 9.6.110 – 9.6.111. CSPD does this through a number of ways like proactive enforcement through our HOT or DART units, responding to community complaints, and more. The important thing to remember, is that illegal camping is not a jailable offense under current city code; it comes with a fine and an order to vacate the premises. The other aspect that should be noted is that illegal camping on publicly owned land is different than camping on private property. With private property, CSPD is able to work with property owners to upgrade the fines/charges to include trespassing. If someone is found “sleeping in their car” and an officer discovers other evidence that indicates camping, then they can be cited for illegal camping.  

 Is CSPD considering tracking homeless crime, especially downtown? 

CSPD is responsible for policing across the city and currently does not track crime rates by any given population or socioeconomic groups of people, including those experiencing homelessness. Doing so would be a form of profiling.  

What would CSPD like to see from lawmakers that would make their jobs easier in cracking down on homeless crime? 

CSPD enforces city ordinances as they are written by city council. CSPD seeks to enforce the law equally and hold those who commit a crime accountable for their actions, regardless of that person’s housing status.  

Recently, Chief Vasquez had this to say regarding how state lawmakers could help policing efforts in reducing violent crime across the board.  “In recent years, legislative changes out of the Capitol have significantly limited law enforcement’s ability to hold prolific and violent repeat offenders accountable for serious crimes. These restrictions have impactful and ongoing consequences. The bottom line is that poor legislation (at the state level) has made our city streets a more dangerous place for our citizens and officers, who are committed to doing whatever they are called to do to protect the Colorado Springs community every day.” – Chief Adrian Vasquez  

What are CSPD’s staffing numbers? Are you near full staffing or still short of officers? If short, by how many? 

CSPD authorized strength is currently 839 sworn officers. As of Tuesday, April 22, CSPD has 802 sworn officers. Staffing numbers are a fluid and complex because, as our city is continually growing, working in concert with the Mayor and city council, the Chief of Police for the foreseeable future will continually be looking to raise our authorized strength number to better protect and serve our city. 

Tina Brookins asked why there was no warning regarding the alleged stabbing suspect. Why wasn’t the community warned about the downtown stabbings? 

CSPD did warn the community using our usual channels. CSPD uses our public blotter as a way to communicate information about CSPD activity and criminal activity to our community, as well as with our media partners who we hope will amplify the information appropriately. 

The first stabbing on June 9 – which our investigation indicates was tied to the June 20 stabbing, was posted on our public blotter to make our news partners and community members aware of the June 9 stabbing in the downtown area. 

CSPD notified the community with the relevant information we had at the time of June 9, regarding the first stabbing on the blotter. The investigation was continuing on the 20th of June, when the same officers who responded to the June 9 stabbing, heard the information over the radio about the June 21 stabbing in the down town area, and responded and quickly and were able to identify that the suspect from the June 20 stabbing may have been linked to the June 9 stabbing and were able to take quick action, which allowed officers to located the suspect that night and take him into custody. 

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2 people with warrants arrested after standoff in neighborhood north of I-70

KMIZ on May 7, 2025

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people with active warrants were arrested following a standoff in north Columbia on Wednesday evening.

Columbia Police Department Lt. Neal Segwick said at the scene that the street crimes unit received a tip that someone with a warrant in the area. The man was not from Columbia. The man barricaded himself in a home in the 1400 block of Lambeth Drive and after several hours, he came out peacefully.

Segwick said a second person who was detained also had a warrant for their arrest. An ABC 17 News photographer saw three people detained, however Segwick said the third person was let go.  

Caution tape was up around the home in the 1400 block of Lambeth Drive. At least seven Columbia Police Department and Boone County Sheriff’s Office cruisers were at the scene and some law enforcement officers were armed with rifles.

Police told an ABC 17 News reporter that the scene remained active just before 6:30 p.m. The reporter saw a man being led away by police in handcuffs earlier at the scene. SWAT team and negotiators were on scene, as well as a K-9 unit.

Police tape came down around that 7:55 p.m. and officers started leaving shortly after.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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