Category: krdo-local-news

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs branch of the Salvation Army went to Colorado Springs City Council on Monday asking for help raising up to $1 million.

“The situation that we’re in now is due to the increasing needs of the community, and just that, the dollars have not kept pace with that over the years,” Major Steve Ball was one of the Salvation Army representatives who made a presentation to the city council.

One slide from the Salvation Army presentation to the city council.

This slide was shared at Monday’s city council meeting. It shows the decrease of government funding Salvation Army has received over the years, decreasing steadily as COVID-era funds run out.

Maj. Ball says they used those funds at the time to expand the reach of their services to meet the rising community need at the time. Now, those funds are running out, but the community need is still present.

One service the Salvation Army provides that is at risk of being reduced if the shortfall isn’t made up is the Family Hope Center.

“There is nothing else in the entire Pikes Peak Region that does what we do with the Family Hope Center,” Sandra Haley, a case manager at the Family Hope Center, told the city council today.

The center is the only low-barrier family shelter in the area. That means families can come in and get beds in a private room with no application or drug test. Once they’re in, a case manager helps them find private housing.

The Salvation Army touts a high success rate at the Family Hope Center. They say that since February, 83% of families who have come to the center have gone on to find more permanent housing. In the past year, they’ve helped 176 families transition into housing.

“The worst case scenario, we may have to see about trimming down the number of rooms we have available or something like that, but we’re going to do everything possible,” Maj. Ball told KRDO13.

Right now, the Family Hope Center has 31 rooms, but that could change, and families could start being turned away. People who’ve gone through the program say that would be a big loss.

Rae and her daughter Olivia had been staying at the center until this week, when they’ll be moving into their own apartment. Rae tells KRDO13 the Family Hope Center has turned their lives around.

“Having complete strangers do more for you than your own family. It’s a lot to take in, but the confidence that I have now to be on my own is great,” Rae said.

Without the shelter, Rae and Olivia would have had even more instability. “There were times that I thought me and her were going to be sleeping in the car, and that’s scary. I don’t want to put my kid through that. So this place gave us a bed and somewhere that was safe.”

Despite the predicament, the Salvation Army says they’re confident the community will come through and help. Starting in August, Salvation Army is starting its Hope Needs Help fundraising campaign.

You can learn more here.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says they are seeking information after a former Stratton Meadows Elementary School teacher was arrested for sexual assault on a child. Police say they think there could be other victims.

Matthew Gogan, age 66, faces two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

According to Harrison School District 2, Gogan was employed at Stratton Meadows from August 6, 2018, to May 22, 2020.

The police department says they began investigating back in April when someone reported information about an alleged sexual assault, which they said happened five years ago. As they were investigating, CSPD says they contacted another victim who had previously made a report about Gogan.

It’s unclear if the two were students at Stratton Meadows Elementary School, or if Gogan was their teacher.

The police department says he was arrested on June 12.

Gogan has since posted bond and is out of the El Paso County Jail.

Police say they believe there could be other victims out there.

“Through this investigation, again, we had that additional victim, already. We think that there potentially could be other victims, whether they were students or just other people in Mr. Gogan’s life. We’d love to hear about their experience with him, and any potential interactions they had with him so we can determine if additional crimes have taken place,” urged CSPD spokesperson Caitlin Ford.

Ford tells KRDO13 it’s important for potential victims to come forward when they’re ready, even if it is years after the incident.

“Sometimes the victim might not be ready to come forward immediately after an assault has taken place. And so we definitely want to remind victims that the police are here for you. Regardless of whenever you’re ready to report that, we’re prepared to investigate things that may have happened years and years ago. We want you to come in and report that, even if you feel like it’s happened so long ago. Why should I come to report it? Please do,” explained Ford.

If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of Gogan, please contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or the Pikes Peak Area Crimes Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867).

“Our Crimes Against Children unit and all of our detectives in the Special Victims section are very intelligent and very prepared to investigate these types of crimes, as well as our victim advocacy unit. They’re integral in these things as far as providing resources and being able to help victims through not only the reporting process, but also the rest of the legal process, court and things like that. There are a lot of resources for you if you come forward and report things, as well as, then being able to hold these offenders accountable,” said CSPD spokesperson Caitlin Ford.

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Celeste Springer

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Teller County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) is extending a heartfelt thank you to one estate sale company that went out of their way to donate historic sheriff’s office memorabilia that they discovered.

According to the department, a local estate sale company arranged for the donation of several items belonging to the late Harold Shippey.

A photo of a badge belonging to the late Sergeant Harold Shippey, which was donated to the sheriff’s office (Photo: Teller County Sheriff’s Office).

The sheriff’s office says that Harold Shippey was a sergeant with the department, but ultimately passed away in 2011. TCSO says his belongings were passed along to his wife, Virginia, who cared for them until her own passing last year.

Born in Westport, CT in 1926, Harold R. Shippey led a lifetime of service. During World War II, he served our nation in the U.S. Navy. Following his military service, he achieved the rank of Fire Captain in the Westport Fire Department, serving there for 21 years. He then came to the Pikes Peak region, where he served 13 years with the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Described as a man with a heart of gold, his friends and coworkers called him a gentle giant who was a good friend and good to work with.

-Teller County Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office thanked Christine Lukasavige and Michelle Gillespie of C&M Estate Sales for the donations, which include some of Shippey’s badges, pins and awards. The sheriff’s office says they have been put in a shadow box, where they will be displayed at the base of a new memorial wall.

Belongings donated to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office include badges, pins, and awards (Photo: Teller County Sheriff’s Office).

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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.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A 7.5-mile improvement project on Interstate 25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue was supposed to be finished last fall, but KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior has learned that crews are still finalizing that work.

The Road Warrior reported last October that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project to replace aging asphalt with concrete and replace the twin overpasses at South Academy was undergoing a final inspection before CDOT approved the work by its contractor, SEMA Construction.

However, repairs needed to some of the completed construction required overnight closures on southbound I-25 in the project area on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with similar closures scheduled for the northbound lanes Monday and Tuesday.

CDOT spokeswoman Amber Shipley said that CDOT wanted to see how the construction held up after last winter and into this summer to get a true understanding of what fixes are needed.

“It’s fairly typical,” she explained. “When you’re talking about concrete curing during different times of the year, where there could have been a subtle shift in the ground underneath that caused cracking. They want to make sure that those are repaired before, again, we sign off on a project of that magnitude.”

Shipley said that CDOT’s inspection found some of the concrete panels comprising the new pavement have either cracked or separated, and that several segments of new guardrail are damaged by vehicle impacts and need replacement.

“It’s a continual repair cycle for our maintenance crews,” she said. “And before we turn it over to our maintenance crews, we want to make sure that it’s solid. That’s kind of a continual thing because people are, you know, inattentive, maybe going too fast, and a crash occurs.”

During the weekend overnight closures, crews were tapping concrete panels with metal rods to test the panels’ stability and using a pressure hose to spray debris out of panels.

One crew even had a power saw, apparently to cut off damaged parts of concrete, which created a cloud of dust when it was used.

The detours for the remaining northbound closures are the same that drivers used frequently since the project began in spring 2022: Highway 85/87 via South Academy or Santa Fe.

Previous estimates indicated that the cost of the I-25 work would be half of the $161 million funded for a quartet of projects under the Military Access, Mobility and Safety Improvements Project (MAMSIP) to improve traffic flow and safety in and around local military installations.

The only other unfinished MAMSIP project is the widening of 1.5 miles of South Academy between I-25 and Milton E. Proby Parkway; that work is scheduled for completion early next year.

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Karla Sosa

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- Hope Homes – Paying it Forward just opened up another sober living and transitional house in Colorado Springs. Chris Meeks, the president of the LLC, said he decided to create these homes due to the struggles he faced years ago when he was incarcerated. 

“Ten years ago, I was incarcerated for a fight, and when I got out, I had a really challenging time finding work and finding housing,” said Meeks.

After getting his life together, Meeks found a way to help others. These houses are designed to provide a safety net.

“I got very involved in criminal justice reform, and it reminded me about the need for housing. So instead of flipping the house and selling it, I kept it. I reached out to [the] Department of Corrections and said, if you have any guys that need housing, please let me know,” said Meeks. “I want to make these houses beautiful homes where they feel safe. They can go to. They’re nice. They’re clean. And so we just do anything and everything to make it feel like home.”

Colin McIntosh now has a safe place to call home, after he was in prison for almost 2 years.

“I have a home that welcomes me, accepts me, and is allowing me grace to get restarted and into a better path for a brand new life,” said McIntosh.

He’s not alone; Brian Smith is a resident who’s staying at the new sober living and transitional house and finds this place to be a safe haven. 

“I have friends that are past drug, alcohol users that continue to use, and I choose to stay away from, because that’s not my lifestyle and that’s not what I want to do anymore,” said Smith. “It’s like having your own new family. Adoptive family. Everybody has the same history, same past, something, and everybody is a support.”

You can reach out to Hope Homes – Paying it Forward if you would like to donate items.

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Michael Logerwell

NOTE: The above video is straight from the Colorado Springs Police Department, unedited by KRDO. The video shows the shooting in full view. Viewer discretion is advised.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department is releasing the officer-worn body camera footage from the shooting that killed 26-year-old Alex Martinez-Sarmiento in the early morning hours of July 5 in Downtown Colorado Springs.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man dies in police shooting overnight in downtown Colorado Springs

In the video released by the police department, Ira Cronin, CSPD public information officer, says it all started with a 911 call.

Portions of the call are included in the 11-minute video. The caller tells the 911 operator, “There’s an individual with, it looks like a semi-automatic weapon. A black male in the parking lot. He’s screaming at some people.”

Police officers then responded to the area, a parking lot near the intersection of Pikes Peak Ave. and Tejon St., where they didn’t find the man fitting the caller’s description, but found a group arguing.

The officers approached the group, unrelated to the 911 call. The incident didn’t escalate, no rifle was found, and no arrests were made.

Several minutes later, at 1:37 a.m., CSPD says its officers saw the same group arguing again while crossing Tejon St. Again, officers went to break up the argument, and no arrests were made.

Captions blurred by KRDO13 for vulgar language.

Cronin says that during this time, the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) was monitoring the group via security cameras.

Then, police say that the Real Time Crime Center identified the person with the rifle who was the subject of the previous 911 call. RTCC officers identified a male who’d been in the group contacted by police twice already that night as the person reported to be carrying the rifle.

In the video, Cronin says that after learning this information, officers were working to determine their next steps.

Then at 1:49 a.m., the Real Time Crime Center officer saw the group get into another argument. Then saw that same individual, the one identified as having brandished a rifle, pull a handgun with an illegal extended magazine out of his white car and tuck it into his waistband.

Officers then rushed over to the area of the parking lot closest to Pikes Peak Ave. Body camera footage shows the officer behind him makes first contact with the suspect. Initially, he puts his hands up, but then turns and starts running away. The officer can be heard telling the suspect to put his hands up, then telling others that the suspect is armed.

Cronin says the suspect reached towards his waistband while running away, and that’s when one officer fired three shots, hitting the suspect, later identified as Alex Martinez-Sarmiento, in the back.

First responders rendered medical aid to Martinez-Sarmiento but were unsuccessful, and he died in the parking lot.

Cronin says officers recovered a loaded Glock 17 with an illegal extended magazine from the right pant leg of the suspect. Cronin then says officers recovered another handgun, a Glock 43 with a scratched-off serial number, from a vehicle the suspect was seen getting into. The rifle has still not been located.

Captions from CSPD video.

The 4th judicial district attorney’s office is investigating the officer’s use of force and determining if it complied with Colorado Law.

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Danny Mata

Rob Namnoum is the longest tenured sportscaster in the history of Colorado Springs. It’s impossible to put into words how much Rob means to the Southern Colorado community.

Rob was inducted into the Heartland Emmys Silver Circle in recognition of his service to Southern Colorado. Rob is now in his 26th year at KRDO13.

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Karla Sosa

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- Sometimes it takes more than physical therapy to recover from an injury. The Department of Defense Warrior Games are one way to help active duty and retired military in their recovery journeys by giving them sports to compete in.

The games are back in Colorado Springs for the first time in almost a decade. The games will be in here until the 26th at the Main Venue of Colorado College. 

This is the first year that Sergeant Louis Diaz has competed in the Department of Defense Warrior Games. It’s been a long year for him on his path to recovery. Diaz was recovering for 10 months and said his rehabilitation was tough. 

“Last year, I was in a car accident. I broke both my legs and had internal damage,” said Diaz. “I had to transition from a wheelchair to crutches and to a walker, and then finally to be able to walk again. One of the biggest challenges was running. I felt like my bones were breaking again.”

Diaz is one of 200 active and retired military service members competing this week in Colorado Springs. Five service branches are being represented here at the games. The participants can compete in 11 different adaptive sports, from cycling to powerlifting to wheelchair basketball and more.

“They say they’re not competitive. There’s a little competition, but it is for the rehab, rehabilitation. Whether they were wounded or ill, active duty veterans. But a place to unite and be a team again,” said Katie Moses Swope, public relations.

Diaz said being part of the games shows him that he has a support system.       

“Everyone’s going through something here, right? So like it’s nice to know that I’m not alone,” said Diaz.

Next year, the Warrior Games will be in San Antonio.

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Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Saturday afternoon, a woman was killed at Lake Pueblo State Park. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it was a tragic accident involving a powered watercraft and contact with the engine propeller.

CPW says the incident happened around 4 p.m. near the North Shore at Denver Cove. Pueblo West Firefighters attempted life-saving measures after the 43-year-old woman was brought to the North Shore Marina, but were unsuccessful.

The Pueblo County Coroner declared her dead just after 5 p.m. Her identity has not been released at this time.

CPW added that the circumstances around the death are being investigated by local authorities. As of publication, no arrests have been made.

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