Author: KRDO

Mackenzie Stafford

UPDATE: Nique Clifford was traded to the Sacramento Kings at pick No. 24 in the 2025 NBA Draft.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Wednesday, June 25, community members from across southern Colorado packed Bubba’s 33 to watch the NBA Draft on ABC.

All eyes were pointed at Nique Clifford, a Colorado Springs native. Clifford was not at the watch party himself, only his cardboard cutout, as he is in New York.

His old coach from Vanguard High School, Joe Wetters, also joined him in New York. KRDO13 had a phone call with Wetters prior to the draft, and he had the utmost positive things to say about his previous player.

Wetters said they always knew Clifford was special, from the way he moved on the court to his determination and drive to get better. He said he always had dreams of the NBA, and they spoke about it together.

A photo of Nique Clifford, right, and his coach Joe Wetters, left, at an all-star game when Clifford was playing High School basketball. Courtesy of Joe Wetters.

Wetters said Clifford took every step necessary to get to the draft. He said he had the immense drive to get intensely better. Clifford’s old coach says he deserves every second of the attention and recognition he gets.

KRDO13 also spoke with Nique Clifford’s uncle before the draft and got the inside scoop on what Clifford was like growing up.

Shawn Schwab, Clifford’s uncle, said Clifford’s first word was “ball.”

“He’s been playing basketball, honestly, since he was three years old when he could pick one up,” recounted Schwab.

Schwab tells KRDO13 that Clifford had the drive from a very young age to achieve his dream of going to the NBA. He says he also had a huge community supporting him along the way.

“We’d have to get a whole section for his games, starting at Vanguard. He probably had 40 or 50 people from the family and friends just to watch him,” shared Schwab, “My sister always said it takes a village. So going to those types of games, showing him support, just made him love the game so much more and so much more humble.”

Schwab said he’s been able to watch Clifford play live around 500 times over the years. His uncle also touted Clifford’s stellar attitude throughout his athletic journey.

“He’s always stayed humble, fought through adversity, and always stayed positive, always a huge role model to all, including myself. But like for the kids nowadays, the work ethic that he brings to every day to the gym is just a true testament of what happens if you put in the work and you get the rewards,” said Schwab.

Schwab also said it could not have been possible without Clifford’s parents encouraging him to follow his dreams.

“When you give the time and effort for your child to do something that he loves, then he’ll get rewarded for it and he’ll stay on track and reach those goals,” praised Schwab.

Now, the entire Clifford family and supporters of Nique are over the moon about his accomplishments and bright future.

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Scott Harrison

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — City leaders have revealed that they will build only three of the five planned roundabouts featured in coverage by KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior last year.

Two reasons for the change: The traffic circles are expensive — up to $1 million each — and officials decided that they could stretch their funding and be more efficient by focusing on intersection upgrades.

Andrew Hayes, the city’s former public works director, who recently moved into economic development, elaborated on the new strategy.

“We’re going to be looking at some signal improvements and lane improvements, rather than the roundabouts,” he said. “The roundabouts take up a lot more space. And so, in some of those cases, we just end up taking too much property from adjacent property owners, and not necessarily get the full benefit we want to see out there.”

It’s the city’s effort to reduce crashes and slow traffic at busy intersections.

“It could be anything from simple things like signal timing adjustments to lane improvements, or striping or signage changes,” Hayes explained. “All kinds of different things could be on the table to fix those issues.”

The city finished construction of a roundabout last fall at the intersection of Jackson Street and West Adams Avenue.

Design work is nearly finished for a roundabout at Dillon Drive and Eagleridge Boulevard, a heavily-traveled area between Interstate 25 and a Walmart.

Construction should start soon on a roundabout at Berkley and West Mesa avenues.

The two roundabouts that won’t be built are at 13th Street and Grand Avenue, between downtown and I-25; and Lake and Orman avenues, a popular route between the freeway, downtown, and the Colorado State Fairgrounds.

City officials have completed a citywide study of all city intersections — including some in Pueblo County — and have created a list of potential safety projects.

The public can see the study results and provide feedback at a public meeting on July 9, between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center, 210 North Santa Fe Avenue.

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Karla Sosa

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — According to officials, a 27-year-old man was trapped inside a trench for nearly two hours after falling in early afternoon, June 25.

Officials say a company was working on a sewer line when a trench collapsed. KRDO is told that Cimarron Hills Fire and Colorado Springs Fire worked together in the rescue.

The fire department told KRDO that crews had to figure out how to pull him back to solid ground safely.

“He was exposed down to his knees, and they were switching to a harness to pull him out at 12:23. And he was out at 12:27,” said Virpi Mattson, executive assistant, Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District.

The Cimarron Hills Fire Department said he wasn’t the only person who fell in, but the other was able to get out of the trench without extra assistance.

Trenson said that the trench was approximately 10 feet deep.

“I can tell you that he was awake, breathing, and talking when they did transporting. So that’s good news,” said Mattson.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says they arrested a woman who was allegedly trying to enter homes by pretending to be an officer.

According to police, officers were called out on a burglary call in the 1400 block of Bowser Drive early Wednesday morning.

CSPD says the suspect, now identified as Adrianna Wallmueller, was posing as a police officer. The department says while she was not dressed as an officer, she was announcing herself as one to try and get people to open their doors.

Officers say they arrived and were able to arrest her. However, once in custody, police allege that she assaulted an officer.

The department says that the officer had minor injuries from Wallmueller. She was charged with impersonating a police officer and 2nd Degree Assault of a peace officer.

CSPD says that if someone approaches your door and you’re not sure if they are officers, you can call the non-emergency line to verify.

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Sadie Buggle

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – The 10th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team is investigating an overnight officer-involved shooting in Pueblo County that sent a deputy and two suspects to the hospital.

According to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), at about 11:30 p.m. on June 24, deputies responded to a call made by an employee at the Loaf ‘N Jug at 31918 E. Highway 96, reporting a “suspicious vehicle.”

The employee told officials that a customer had reported being approached by the driver of a gold Ford Explorer and asked for money. When the customer told the man he didn’t have any money, the man said he was going to “rob the next customer who came to the store,” PCSO said.

The Loaf ‘N Jug is located approximately a mile east of the Pueblo city limits, near the Pueblo Airport, at the intersection of 32nd Lane.

When two deputies arrived on the scene and attempted to contact the occupants of the Explorer, the driver, trying to elude law enforcement, hit two of the patrol vehicles – injuring a deputy in the process.

According to PCSO, deputies responded by firing shots at the vehicle as it fled westbound on Highway 96 toward Pueblo.

The deputies pursued the car and conducted a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver, causing the suspect’s vehicle to roll near Highway 96 and Victory Lane, the sheriff’s office said.

The 23-year-old driver and 42-year-old passenger of the Explorer were taken into custody. PCSO said deputies treated the driver, who had two gunshot wounds, until medical personnel arrived.

Both the driver and the passenger were transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was later taken to a Colorado Springs hospital for further treatment. He will be arrested following his release, PCSO said.

Meanwhile, the deputy injured when his patrol car was hit by the suspect’s vehicle was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

PCSO said that the Critical Incident Response Team, led by the Pueblo Police Department, is now investigating the incident.

The deputy involved in the shooting, who has not been named, was placed on paid administrative leave per the office’s standard operating procedure, PCSO confirmed.

“Our deputies responded to a dangerous and rapidly evolving situation with the goal of protecting thepublic,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero. “We’re grateful no lives were lost, and wecontinue to prioritize the safety of everyone in our community.”

The circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting are still being investigated; PCSO said more details will be released as they become available.

KRDO13 crews reported seeing a heavy law enforcement presence beside the gas station on 32nd Lane; the street was closed during the investigation, and evidence markers filled the middle of the street.

Authorities left the scene shortly before 7 a.m.; the store remained open for much of the overnight.

Steven Moore lives several blocks away from the scene and said that he didn’t hear gunfire, but says he’s not surprised the incident happened in his neighborhood.

“It’s getting a little too close,” he said. “Even the Sinclair convenience store next door has been robbed or vandalized a couple of different times.”

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is searching for three people they say were involved in an assault early Tuesday morning. Two people are in custody after the fight.

CSPD said it happened near North Academy Boulevard, at The Commons apartment complex. The complex is where police say they got around ten 911 calls just before one o’clock in the morning. CSPD said two groups of people were causing multiple disturbances and hitting each other with kitchen pots and pans.

Homeward Pikes Peak, a non-profit, manages The Commons.

“Homeward Pikes Peak has been working here in the Colorado Springs community for 23 years, providing solutions to people who are experiencing homelessness and recovery services. So we do clinical, mental health and substance abuse treatment, street outreach, and supportive housing,” explained Roalstad.

Their CEO tells KRDO13 The Commons housing for people who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of becoming.

She says this was a one-off issue and that, to her knowledge, it’s the first time there’s been a police response such as Tuesday morning. 

“There was a disturbance at the apartment building that we call the Commons, which is a building that provides housing for people who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of housing instability. So we have families and veterans and individual adults who live there. And I understand that the disturbance last night was among a young group of teenagers and some young adults, and it kind of was protracted through the whole evening. It did escalate to the point that the police had to be called multiple times to address some fighting that was happening on the property,” explained Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak.

KRDO13 also spoke with residents of the complex about their experience. Tasha VanDaam said she was in the parking lot looking for her keys when she saw the fighting happen.

“The kids that are in that apartment have been causing problems ever since they got here,” said resident Tasha VanDaam, “These boys were getting on these two girls last night. They hit them with frying pans. They hit them. They were just beating these girls up. And the girls ended up fighting back near the end. And then the girls ended up going to jail and not the boys.”

VanDaam told KRDO13 the fight was going on for hours outside of a room with a newborn baby inside. She said the injuries sustained looked serious.

“The girls got beat up. Yeah, they got knots on their head. Golf ball-sized knots, likely concussions,” recounted VanDaam.

The CEO told KRDO13 it appeared many of the individuals involved were teens, and some were visiting residents of the complex.

“Sometimes kids will be kids, but unfortunately, even violence among youth can get ugly. And I think that’s what happened last night is that it just kind of escalated to the point where many people were involved. And that’s why the police were called,” shared Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak.

While it’s something she says doesn’t happen often, she is grateful for the quick response by law enforcement.

“I do want to commend the CSPD. They had a great response every time my staff member called it was responded to quickly. And certainly they did their job well. And I’m grateful that they came, each and every time,” said Roalstad.

Police say they’re searching for the rest of the people involved, particularly three suspects. They’ve already arrested two of the people they say were involved one of whom was a teen and one was an adult. 

While KRDO13 was outside the apartment complex later Tuesday afternoon, CSPD responded to a different incident that they say was not related to the assault. Police told our crews on scene that they were responding to a disturbance where someone was reported to have pulled out a gun, and that a fight broke out. As of Tuesday night, it was unclear if any arrests had been made. KRDO13 is working to get more information regarding the incident.

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Rob Namnoum

This week at the U.S. Senior Open, golfers have to remember before they putt, they will have to find the Will Rogers Shrine or else they’ll be in a bind, “I haven’t heard anything about it,” says Bo Van Pelt.

Ernie Els asked, “You’ve got to give me the info. Yeah, I hear it breaks somewhere.”

Every putt breaks away from the Will Rogers shrine. “If you tell me it’s breaking towards that, I would say no. There’s no way with the mountains and it’s going this way,” says Els.

Ryan Gioffre is aware, “I’m always aware of where the mountain and where the shrine is.”

Every time the golfers step on the green. They will need to search for the shrine, “When the bells were going off, my ball was going the other way. For sure it is. It’s definitely a thing here, for sure,” says Ted Purdy.

Oh yeah, It’s a thing, “But I need local knowledge wherever we go. We need local knowledge,” says Els.

I won’t be caddying this week, but my local knowledge may put a few bucks in my pocket, “Inside information. I didn’t know that I was going to get that in this interview,” says Van Pelt.

“If I win, I’ll be happy to share,” says Purdy.

So if you win, do I get a little cut? 

“Absolutely. Absolutely,” says Els.

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Emily Coffey

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department is working on reducing how long it takes for people in real emergencies to get the help they need.

Over the past two years, KRDO13 Investigates has highlighted two roadblocks to people in emergencies: pick-up times when people call 911, and how long it takes an officer to get on scene to a crisis.

Right now, it takes 13.5 seconds, on average, for a 911 caller to connect to a call-taker, and 11 minutes and 37 seconds for an officer to respond to a priority one call. Last year, it took 27 seconds on average for a person to get connected to a call-taker, and over 23 minutes on average for an officer to get to a priority one call.

Richard Suarez, the Coordinator for the Communications Department, says that dispatch being fully staffed is the reason call-takers can answer more quickly.

“It’s been a really concerted effort over the last few months to really keep our staff,” Suarez said.

The operations center also announced a new partnership with 988 Colorado for non-emergency mental health calls. If a caller is not threatening to hurt themselves or someone else, dispatchers will stay on the line with a call-taker so resources can be directed their way.

“It’s the little things. It’s pieces. Just a tool in our toolbox to reduce some of our volume,” Suarez said.

Another way Colorado Springs police are trying to increase efficiency is by adding a new online reporting tool for property crimes, scams, or other non-emergency crimes that do not require an officer to come out.

The tool, located on the city’s website, will allow people to make an online report, which is later validated by a police officer. The validated report will be reviewed and then sent back to the person who made it, so they can use it for insurance purposes or have records.

Deputy Chief Jeff Jensen says he thinks this tool will reduce the overall time each officer spends on lower-priority calls, so they can redirect efforts appropriately.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The suburbs aren’t exactly where you expect to see a moose, and that’s exactly why Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) was called out to the Cottonwood Creek Park area on Tuesday.

Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Newly-released video shows CPW officers safely relocating a massive bull moose, which was right by rows of family homes.

CPW says the moose was about 650 pounds; video shows that it took about nine people to carry the moose into a truck after it had been sedated. CPW says the Colorado Springs Fire Department also came in to help.

CPW says the drugged-up moose was given something to wake them up after it was safely relocated in the southeast region.

Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado has seen a string of moose attacks in recent weeks, though conversely, they involved female (also called “cow”) moose, unlike this situation with a male (also called “bull”) moose. CPW says cow moose attacks have been on the rise this season as they work to protect their calves. The agency encourages dog owners to keep their dogs leashed, as most attacks in Colorado involve dogs.

Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

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Rob Namnoum

Editor’s note: Information below provided by officials with the Denver Broncos.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Tuesday announced plans to host 13 free and open training camp practices for fans at their 2025 Training Camp Powered by Ford with capacity limited due to construction at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit.

        To safely and comfortably accommodate fans with the construction of the team’s new training facility, capacity will be capped at approximately 800 fans for each of the 13 open practices expected to rank among the most of any team in the NFL. The fan-viewing location will be on the south end of the practice fields via temporary bleacher seating.

        Broncos season ticket members will have an opportunity to claim a limited allotment of tickets beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. MT through their personal Ticketmaster accounts. The general public can claim tickets via Ticketmaster.com beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. MT.

        All 13 open practices will require free mobile ticketing for entry with each fan being able to claim up to four free tickets. To ensure as many fans as possible can attend training camp, fans may reserve tickets for up to two practices and are encouraged to checkthe Broncos’ app, website and social media channels frequently for the most updated ticket availability.

        Practices will start at 10 a.m. (lasting approximately two hours in duration) with gates and parking lots opening at 8 a.m. The Broncos’ 2025 training camp schedule at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit is highlighted by their first open practice on Friday, July 25; Back Together Weekend on Saturday, July 26

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