Local Briefs BICYCLISTS HIT MOUNTAIN GOATS TWICE
COUNTY» Mountain SUMMIT goats have been hit by bicyclists twice in the past week and a half along a recreation path connecting Copper Mountain and Frisco, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed Friday.
“It seems like both of these are just unfortunate coincidences,” said Lauren Truitt, spokeswoman for CPW. “It doesn’t seem to be any fault of the cyclists. It seems more just like bad timing where they were coming around a corner, and a goat stepped out or ran out in front of them.”
The state wildlife agency isn’t aware of any injuries to the goats or bicyclists from the collisions, first reported by CBS4.
Police release identity of officer injured in traffic incident.
LAKEWOOD» Police have released the name of the officer seriously injured in a three-vehicle traffic accident Thursday. Lakewood traffic agent Mark O’Donnell, a member of the force for 12 years, was on duty Thursday, but was not on a police call at the time of the crash. O’Donnell remains hospitalized.
Driver fatally shot by Westminster officer identified.
driver fatally shot by a police officer as he allegedly fled an armed robbery and allegedly attempted to run over the officer has been identified. Michael Gonzales, 57, was pronounced dead Thursday at Good Samaritan Medical Center after an incident with police at 11875 Sheridan Blvd., according to the Adams County coroner’s office. The cause and manner of his death remain under investigation. A second suspect, 44-yearold Jousha Valencia, has been charged with theft.
Injured officer shows improvement, still critical.
police officer who was critically wounded in a shootout with a suspect early Thursday is showing improvement, according to police. Officer Cem Duzal, a five-year veteran, remains in critical condition at Memorial Hospital, according to a Facebook post by police.
Westminster man gets 48 years in prison for death of 2-year-old.
JEFFERSON
COUNTY» A 29-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 48 years in prison for the death of a 2-year-old girl.
In June, Joseph William Barela was found guilty by a Jefferson County jury in the death of his girlfriend’s daughter, a toddler named Samantha.
Samantha died after suffering massive head and brain injuries, including internal bleeding. She had numerous bruises that were in various stages of healing at the time of her death, according to the district attorney’s office.
On Jan. 26, 2017, Samantha was left in Barela’s care when her mother went to work at 7:30 a.m., the district attorney’s office said. Ten minutes later Barela called her to say Samantha was having a hard time breathing.
A call was made to 911 for help, and Westminster police arrived at the couple’s apartment, 5557 W. 79th Ave., where Samantha was found unresponsive and not breathing. She was taken to a hospital and died the next day.
Barela and the child’s mother had been living together for about seven months, the DA’s office said. She worked two jobs. Barela was the sole caregiver for Samantha while her mother worked.
Samantha recently had been potty-trained, and Barela and the mother argued about punishment for toileting “accidents.” The mother insisted there not be any physical punishment; Barela argued for physical punishment, prosecutors said. There was evidence that there had been an accident the day she was found unconscious.
A jury found Barela guilty of child abuse resulting in death, child abuse and two counts of tampering with a witness.
This was Barela’s third felony conviction.
Fundraiser for family devastated by fatal roadrage shooting.
WESTMINSTER»
A 5K fundraiser for the family devastated by a road-rage-fueled fatal shooting outside of a Westminster dentist’s office is scheduled for Sunday morning.
The community-created event, called Bigelow Strong, benefits Meghan Bigelow and sons Vaughn and Asa, who were victims in the June shooting. Thirteen-year-old Vaughn was killed in the shooting, and his mother, Meghan, and 8-year-old brother, Asa, were wounded critically.
A bystander, John Gale, is recovering from gunshot wounds in both arms.
The 5K run supporting the family starts at 8 a.m. at LifeTime Fitness Westminster, 397 W. 148th Ave. The website and fundraiser got its start by volunteers from the LifeTime Tri Team.