Headlines — March 30, 2022

Headlines March 30, 2022

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Longmont Police Respond To Barricaded Suspect

In Longmont, a suspect barricaded themselves Tuesday evening and police remain on the scene this morning according to the Longmont Emergency Services Facebook Page.

Longmont police were called to the 1500 block of Northwestern Road at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Due to the activity, Longmont Estates Elementary School will not be holding classes today.

According to Saint Vrain Valley School District, the decision was based around proximity to the school and the “seriousness” of the police activity which raised safety concerns for transporting students into the school.

NCAR Fire At 90% Containment As Of Tuesday Afternoon

The NCAR fire is now 90% contained as of Tuesday afternoon according to a statement from the City of Boulder. The blaze, which started on Saturday, burned through 190 acres of open space land in South Boulder.

Over the weekend, the city ordered thousands of Boulder residents to evacuate. By Sunday evening, all evacuation orders had been lifted.

The city thanked more than 50 emergency agencies from across the state that helped combat the NCAR fire. Throughout the past four days, 150 personnel were involved in firefighting efforts. Officials say that no structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported in connection to the fire.

Suspect Arrested For Burglarizing Home Damaged From The Marshall Fire 

Louisville police took Nathan Liedtke into custody Saturday for suspected connections to a burglary of a home damaged in the Marshall fire. 

Around 3 AM March 19, a Louisville Police sergeant noticed Liedtke’s Chevrolet truck parked outside of a burned home. According to police, Liedtke took off into the backyard. Police found items taken from the home in his truck and along his path after he fled the scene. 

Liedtke was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Now, he is prohibited from entering the Marshall fire burn area as a condition of his arrest warrant. 

Smokey Taste Still Present In Superior’s Water

Three months after the Marshall fire destroyed 370 homes in Superior, the city’s water continues to smell and taste like smoke. At a meeting on Monday, Superior’s Board of Trustees heard from town employees that removing ash from Superior’s raw water reservoir will begin next week. The Board also heard recommendations for a new water filtration system. Progress on Superior’s water issues could take place as soon as April 11, at the next Town Board meeting.

While cleanup continues, on Monday, a visiting district judge Stephen Howard dismissed a lawsuit claiming Boulder County violated Colorado’s Open Meeting Law when discussing the selection of a contractor for the Marshall fire’s debris removal program. 

Michael Brown, who sued, is not a Boulder County resident and does not have a particular connection to the county. This led Howard to believe Brown did not have standing to sue and did not rule on the merits of the case. 

The Magwood Fire Appears To Be Accidental According To Investigators

Boulder fire officials say they have found no evidence of foul play involved in last week’s Magwood Fire, which burned through a north Boulder apartment complex Friday during the early morning hours.

While the investigation continues, officials say the fire, which was extinguished by 9 AM, did not cause any injuries and was likely accidental. 24 families have been displaced due to fire and water damage. 

Bill Passes To Prevent Human Trafficking 

The Colorado State House of Representatives has passed a new bill which aims to regulate massage parlors that could act as human trafficking hubs.

The bill which passed 62-2 gives counties the power to charge massage parlors for an administrative licensing fee. With the license, officials can track criminal histories. 

Cities in Colorado already have the power to license massage parlors, but lawmakers say illicit spas are moving beyond city limits to avoid their authority.

After passing through the house, the bill will now move to the state Senate.

Boulder Has One Of The Fastest Growing Crime Rates

A new report finds that Boulder has one of the fastest growing crime rates in the state. In a survey conducted by Common Sense, a Colorado policy think tank, the city of Boulder reported an 8% increase in property crimes and close to 13% increase in rates of assault, robbery, and murder between 2020 and 2021. 

Burglary, arson and prostitution did not display growth. 

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