COURT RECORDS: Fort Carson soldier allegedly admitted to sexual assault in interview
Abby Smith
Editor’s Note: Content warning. This article discusses details of a reported sexual assault.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Court documents are shedding new light on the case of a Fort Carson soldier arrested in the case of an alleged sexual assault and kidnapping near Quail Lake.
On Wednesday, July 16, police say they spoke with 19-year-old Caden Meade, who was later charged with first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, and felony menacing.
PREVIOUS REPORTING: Fort Carson soldier charged with kidnapping, sexual assault in Quail Lake Park incident
CSPD says they were dispatched to Quail Lake Park, located at 915 E. Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard, for a reported kidnapping on July 8 around 1 a.m. According to the arrest affidavit, the victim told police that she was with a friend at Quail Lake when she walked to her vehicle in the parking lot to grab a jacket.
The affidavit says that the friend who reported the alleged kidnapping told police that they heard the victim screaming, which led them to run to the parking lot where they saw a pick-up truck leaving the area, and their friend was gone.
Another witness in the area told police that he also heard a female screaming from the direction of the parking lot and noted that he saw a truck leaving the area.
According to the affidavit, police say the victim walked into a hotel and also called 911, reporting that she had been kidnapped. Police say it was noted that the victim had injuries, including abrasions and bruising, on her left shin and left knee.
According to the affidavit, the victim told police that the suspect allegedly approached her while she was getting her jacket from her car, where he then forced her into his vehicle with a knife. The victim told police that he then drove her approximately two miles away. She said he then sexually assaulted her at knife-point before letting her go, according to police.
Police confirm in the affidavit that they were able to locate photos and video of a truck from the second location where the victim said the assault occurred. CSPD states that the Real Time Crime Center unit used the description of the truck to identify the potential suspect, Christopher Meade.
According to court records, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office obtained a past report in which Meade had requested service after his vehicle broke down in March. Upon investigation, EPSO discovered that the report included a description of his vehicle that matched the details of the truck that was reportedly involved in the sexual assault.
Court records state that, based on this information, EPSO discovered that Meade was enlisted in the United States Army and had ties to Fort Carson.
According to the records, Fort Carson’s main gate entrance camera footage showed Meade in the truck that matched the victim’s description on the day of the crime.
Police say the U.S. Army CID helped in the execution of multiple search warrants on June 16, escorting Meade to CSPD to collect DNA and photographs, as well as collecting Meade’s phone.
Court records state that Meade then participated in a recorded interview, where he initially stated that his parents were in town for the 4th of July weekend and that he dropped them off at the Colorado Springs airport at around 4 a.m. on July 8.
Police say they then showed Meade security footage of himself entering Fort Carson around 3:58 a.m. on July 8. Police say Meade was then shown images of the suspect’s truck in the sexual assault case, and he responded, “It is my truck.”
According to the police, they asked Meade to tell them the truth. Police say he responded to them, saying that after dropping his parents off at their hotel, he told them he was going to clean his barracks for inspection. Meade allegedly then said, “And, uh, incident, you know.”
Police say they asked him what incident, and according to the affidavit, Meade responded, “Uh, with the lady at the park.” Police say Meade then told police he sexually assaulted the victim.
Police say Meade then provided further details about the incident.
CSPD is asking that if there are any potential victims or witnesses, to come forward by contacting them at (719) 444-7000.