Category: krdo-local-news

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers on a half-mile stretch of South Academy Boulevard between Chelton Road and Astrozon Boulevard can expect slower travel and increased traffic congestion this week.

An emergency water main repair will close half of the lanes along that busy street on the city’s southeast side.

That work started at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning and continues until 3 p.m., through next Monday.

The southbound left lane, as well as the northbound left and middle lanes, will remain closed until next Monday afternoon.

The reason for the repair is a leaking 20-inch water line installed under the bridge across Sand Creek.

Colorado Springs Utilities noticed the leak a month ago and shut off water to that line.

Crews isolated the line without disrupting service to customers.

“We’re going to be digging into that area to expose that main,” said Alex Trefry, a CSU spokesman. “And then, of course, afterwards, we’ll be doing restoration — which is also complex because it’s on a bridge. It’s going to take us a little more time than our average repair, but we’re doing it as quickly as we can.”

Springs Utilities didn’t fix the leak sooner, as providing advance notice to customers and drivers would have been beneficial, and because the repair job requires a large amount of coordination and planning.

The utility issued a release about the closure last Friday.

Crews will start checking out that water main on Tuesday and get a better idea of what they need to do.

It’s unclear if the main is not part of the South Academy improvement project that paused for the summer, but should resume this fall.

Businesses along the project area will remain open, and drivers should drive carefully and watch for crews working in the street.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Adam Rich is being treated in the hospital after being hit by a biker on Sunday, Aug. 31, amid the Labor Day Orangetheory 5K, according to his family.

“I went down to Memorial Park to do the Orangetheory 5K and kind of ran the course as a warm-up, and I had some concerns about the number of people that were there. I ended up going out on the perimeter roads of Memorial Park because I was concerned enough about just the sheer number of people that were there. And kind of wondering, you know, how is this going to work with a road race going on?” questioned Adam Rich.

He says he felt uneasy from the start. Rich tells KRDO13 that past races he’s participated in are typically coned off or have a separate course for runners away from any major events.

“About 30 seconds in the lead, the biker clipped a lady. She was walking almost on the sidewalk, and he clipped her and went down with his bike and almost took, you know, five or 6 or 7 of us out, just not even 30 seconds into the race,” recounted Rich.

He says he continued running when, later on, he saw what he describes as the large e-bike, heading back to the front of the runners.

“It was pandemonium. Chaos, really. You know, he would…try to get people to move out of the way. They wouldn’t, then he’d slam on the brakes to the point where I’d almost run into him,” Rich continued, “He came down the road and I don’t know if somebody veered over or what, but he came over into me, clipped me, which caused me with how much momentum I had. It’s kind of like I had my steps and I didn’t have my steps and my, my body, just like my feet came out from under me, which sent me straight down.”

Rich says he fell, and the side of his body landed square on a curb. He says the impact was so significant that it tore his brand-new shoes open.

Adam Rich

After lying there for a few moments, he was sent to the hospital, where they held him overnight to monitor for potential internal bleeding. He says that out of the hundreds of races he has participated in, this was likely the least safe.

“I think this potentially sheds light that some of these e-bikes are probably not, you know, designed for these particular events where you just have a massive amount of people…when you’re jamming on the brakes on those things, it locks them up and then…you’re hitting people or you’re taking out people behind you, or your bike itself is just so big that when you even graze somebody at all, it sends them straight down,” expressed Rich.

He hopes his injury will be a sticking point for people behind organized races to reconsider the course, use of electronic bikes, and perhaps put more protections in place.

“We all understand…we want to promote Labor Day and really build the balloon festival. But I think you just can’t put an event on where you’ve got six figures of attendees. You just can’t unless you’re going to do the event on closed roads, like where you were using Hancock and I think Vermont areas…[where]…you don’t have…people that are walking back to their cars that are on a racecourse that…they don’t understand what’s going on there…if they’re going to continue doing it from this point on, I think they have to reevaluate. You know, should we be using Memorial Park at the same time as the Balloon Festival?” pondered Adam Rich.

Organizers for the race, Colorado Springs Sports Corp, say they are aware of the incident.

For the privacy of the participants and all involved, we will not be providing further comment at this time. Thank you for your understanding and respect on this.

– Megan Leatham, CEO and President of Colorado Springs Sports Corp

Colorado Springs Police tell us they are aware of the incident and that a police report has been filed. Police say they will not be investigating further as it appears to be an accident with no criminal intent. They did confirm the person riding the e-bike lost control and hit two people during the event.

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Bradley Davis

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Watch KRDO13’s Bradley Davis follow up a superb professional diver with a less-than-perfect one of his own in the chill morning hours before the final day of the state fair.

Professional diver JaRon Williams is part of the All American High Dive show performing at the state fair. It’s his first time performing in about three years, but the time off didn’t stop him from spending a couple of hours with KRDO 13 showing off his moves ahead of the fair’s final day.

“My favorite part is probably when the high diver pops out of the water, and he gets the relief from the crowd that he’s okay, and they’re super excited that he successfully made it through the dive,” Williams said.

The fair opens at 11 a.m. with “Sensory Friendly Day,” with sensory-friendly hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with smaller crowds, quieter sounds, and dimmer lights.

The All-American High Dive Show has performances during both sensory and standard hours. You can catch shows at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.

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Marina Garcia

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) –    During the last weekend of the state fair, our station received multiple complaints about a specific act. Spectators felt that it was inappropriate and did not belong on the stage.

Now the performing group behind it is standing by the dance, saying it was all above board and designed for audiences of all ages.

Lori Trejo, the woman who booked the dancer, says this was the fourth time they were invited back by the fair, and it’s frustrating how the criticism is being handled by management.

“I’m a little upset…to be honest with you. They’re going to do what they need to do to make it family-friendly. However, I wish they would have addressed the bullying that happened because that’s a little more inappropriate than what this beautiful dancer did on the stage,” says Lori Trejo, the previous owner of Wildfire Belly Dance Company.

In prior years, the performers have done the same dance and worn similar outfits.

Jacqueline Santos, who works with the dancer in the video, says the backlash they are receiving is shocking.

“As pole artists, we always take care to tailor our routines to be family-friendly, entertaining, and most of all, appropriate for the audience,” says Jacqueline Santos, owner of Peacock Pole Art & Body Weight Fitness.

The Colorado State Fair says they have worked with Wildfire Belly Dance Company for years; however, they are trying to do right by the customers.

“For them, it may be family-friendly. For some of our other customers, this was not for us. It’s all about time and place,” says Andrea Wiesenmeyer, the Colorado State Fair general manager.

The dancers say that, regardless of their long work history with the fair, they will not be attending in the future.

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Michael Logerwell

CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) – Friday evening, during a stand-off with a barricaded suspect, a Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy fired a shot, hitting the barricaded man and triggering an investigation into the deputy’s use of force.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the incident began as a welfare check, but escalated. CBI says the 27-year-old who was barricaded inside a home on Chestnut St in Cañon City was armed.

During the encounter, a deputy fired a shot, hitting the 27-year-old, causing him non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The deputy who fired the shot was also transported to a local hospital, but not because he was struck by gunfire. Rather, CBI said he went to the hospital after “experiencing a medical event.”

Immediately following the stand-off, CBI agents say they located what appeared to be several explosive devices in the residence. The Pueblo Metro Bomb Squad responded to the scene and determined that the devices, consisting of four plastic and one metal item, were inert. Which means that the devices resembled explosives, but did not contain any explosive material.

The 27-year-old is expected to be taken into custody once he is released from the hospital on charges that include 1st Degree Assault, Menacing, and Prohibited Use of a Weapon. His identity has not been released.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

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Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – While the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and local partners continue their criminal investigation into the Davis Mortuary, another state agency is just beginning.

The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) is seeking to determine the total potential impacts on pre-need funeral contracts that individuals had with the Davis Mortuary.

The DOI is asking consumers who believe they had a pre-need funeral contract impacted by the investigation to contact them.

If you believe you are impacted or have questions, you can file a form online on the DOI website.

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Michael Logerwell

LA JUNTA, Colo. (KRDO) – Agents with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and officers with the La Junta Police Department say they’ve arrested 5 individuals connected to drug trafficking.

The following people were arrested and are facing charges:

Jaycob Butts (30): Obstruction, Resisting Arrest

Adrianna Smith (33): Obstruction

Jordan Del Rio (33): Unlawful Distribution, Special Offender, Dangerous Weapon, Obstruction

Jeremy Del Rio (28): Unlawful Distribution, Special Offender, Dangerous Weapon, Obstruction, Resisting Arrest

Ezekiel Aguilar (30): Outstanding Arrest Warrants 

Zachary James (41): Outstanding Arrest Warrants

CBI says the operation commenced on August 29. Law enforcement officials went to execute a search warrant at 1314 San Juan Avenue in La Junta. CBI explained that the reason for the search warrant was that they had gathered intelligence that linked the residence to the possession and trafficking of stolen firearms. The home had also received repeated complaints involving suspected drug distribution and other criminal activity, the agency said.

Some attempted to flee the residence, others barricaded themselves inside before eventually surrendering, and one person attempted to hide in a closet. The final arrest was made when Zachary James arrived at the home during the law enforcement search. He was arrested on outstanding warrants.

CBI says they were able to recover:

Six firearms, including an SKS battle rifle.

A homemade semi-automatic short-barreled rifle with a homemade suppressor. CBI says these weapons were unmarked and lacked serial numbers.

Approximately 143 grams of fentanyl (an estimated 1,430 pills).

Approximately 17 grams of methamphetamine.

“This operation highlights the commitment of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the La Junta Police Department to address drug and firearms trafficking in our communities,” said Todd Quick, La Junta Police Chief. “The recovery of illegal weapons and dangerous narcotics reinforces the importance of collaborative law enforcement efforts to safeguard the citizens of La Junta and the State of Colorado.”

The law enforcement agencies say the investigation remains active and additional charges may be coming.

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Samantha Hildebrandt

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)– On Aug 31, around 2:20 a.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department arrived at a traffic crash near the intersections of W. Colorado Ave. and 32nd St.

Officers found that a motorcycle had struck a curb before leaving the roadway. The rider of the motorcycle was found dead at the scene.

CSPD has released the identification of the motorcyclist as 28-year-old Dylan Hart.

No other injuries were reported. According to CSPD, speed does appear to be a contributing factor in the crash.

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Marina Garcia

BLACK FOREST, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s been exactly one year since 12-year-old Chase Culp was tragically killed in a car crash at the intersection of Shoup and Herring Road.

Chase and his father were on their way home from basketball practice when a 75-year-old man did not stop at a stop sign and collided with the father and son’s car. 

To commemorate his anniversary, his parents say they thought hard about how to make the best of the gathering.

They invited Chase’s old teammates from the Eagles basketball team, friends, and family to spend the day playing kickball at his home before heading to the site of the incident for a candlelight vigil.

Though it has been a year, his parents tell me it feels like it was yesterday. 

“I think throughout the week…I was reflecting on how young he was and how I will probably miss him more than the years I had to spend with him,” says Chase’s Mother, Leisa Garcia-Culp.

His parents say they are grateful for the community and the Eagles basketball team that have continued to support them and show love for their cherished Chase.

If there is a silver lining to this tragedy, it’s that the crash brought attention to the dangers of the Shoup and Herring Road intersection.

El Paso County has since outfitted the stop sign with solar-powered flashing lights and a warning that cross traffic does not stop, to hopefully prevent a crash, like the one last year, from happening again.

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Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Several viewers reached out to KRDO13 on Saturday, up in arms over a performance on the ‘free stage’ at the Colorado State Fair.

The performance, which went semi-viral on Facebook, shows a woman in what looks like a black swimsuit dancing around a pole to music. State Fair officials say it was unexpected, but the performing group says it was not sexual and was a planned performance.

The State Fair officials said the performance was booked through a third-party vendor and that they didn’t know what the content of the act was going to be.

In an email sent to KRDO13, they wrote:

“The events that took place Friday, August 29, on one of our free entertainment stages at the Colorado State Fairgrounds are unfortunate and do not reflect the Fair’s commitment to family-friendly entertainment.

This was part of a series of performances booked by a third-party stage production vendor. The performance’s content was not transparently disclosed before the performance began.

However, the Colorado State Fair takes full responsibility for the performance and for allowing it to continue.  We apologize to all who have been impacted.”

However, the group behind the performance is pushing back against this statement.

KRDO13 spoke to Jaqueline Santos, the owner of Peacock Pole Art and Body Weight Fitness.

She said this is the 4th year one of their performers has put on a show at the State Fair. As for the notion that the performance wasn’t family-friendly, Santos disagrees. She says they specifically curate shows that showcase the power behind pole dancing while keeping it tasteful and family-friendly.

In response to some of the uproar, Santos wrote on social media,

“I want to clarify that our performers at the Colorado State Fair was part of an artistic, athletic, and fully age-appropriate pole performance. Pole is often misunderstood, but it is a legitimate sport and art form—recognized worldwide—with strength, flexibility, musicality, and storytelling at its core.

We take great pride in curating routines that are empowering, tasteful, and suitable for a family-friendly audience. This was not a nightclub act, nor was it intended to be “inappropriate.” It was a celebration of movement, creativity, and culture—just like the other dance and acrobatic acts at the fair.”

KRDO13 will have more on this controversy tomorrow at 5 pm on Channel 13.

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