TWO DIE IN CRASH AS DRIVER FLEES POLICE

COLLINS» Two people FORT died Thanksgiving morning after a driver in a suspicious vehicle fled police and caused a crash.

Police were called at 9:46 a.m. Thursday about a “suspicious vehicle” near the intersection of Arctic Fox and Caribou drives, said Brandon Barnes, police spokesman.

When police tried to contact the occupants of the vehicle, the driver sped away, Barnes said.

Fort Collins police did not chase the vehicle, but the suspect crashed into at least one other vehicle near the intersection of Harmony Road and Boardwalk Drive, Barnes said.

Two people died in the crash, police said Thursday afternoon.

The driver has been arrested and remains in custody, Barnes said.

The names and genders of the suspect and the crash victims have not been released.

Sheriff’s department missing an AR-15.

The Denver Sheriff Department is missing a semiautomatic rifle. Through an “inventory audit process” the department determined than an AR-15 rifle is “unaccounted for,” according to a statement released Wednesday.

After the determination, the department opened an administrative investigation, and a report was filed with the Denver Police Department.

“We take these matters very seriously,” the department said.

City plans to allow electric bikes on paved trails.

DURANGO» Electric bicycles soon could be allowed on paved trails in the city.

The City Council had asked its staff to alter a long-standing ban keeping motorized vehicles off of paved trails.

Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz said residents requested the change. Metz says electric bicycles that can help people pedal or propel without pedaling have become more popular in recent years.

Three resident committees studied the issue for more than a year before recommending that the city change its policy. The city also received no complaints.

Denver man who said wife shot herself convicted of killing her.

A 44year-old Denver man was convicted of second-degree murder after shooting his wife after a birthday party, the Denver district attorney’s office said Wednesday.

Cain Wilkens shot his wife, Clarissa Wilkens, 30, in the early morning of Jan. 21, after a birthday party at their house near the Cherry Creek neighborhood, police said.

Wilkens first told police that his wife had shot herself.

But police found evidence of a scuffle, including a broken picture frame, and a witness reported hearing a woman yelling “no,” according to previous reports.

A sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25.

Woman pleads guilty to embezzling Girl Scout cookie profits.

GRAND

A woman has pleaded guilty to charges of embezzling Girl Scout cookie funds from her daughter’s troop.

Jennifer L. Hooten, 32, of Clifton, pleaded guilty to felony theft Sept. 13 and was ordered to pay $1,400 restitution as part of a deferred judgment.

The judgment means her case will be dismissed if she meets court-ordered conditions in the next two years.

Hooten was arrested after other Scout leaders discovered a bank account that should have had about $2,400 in cookie profits was overdrawn.

An arrest affidavit says Hooten told officers she had planned to return the money before the theft was discovered.

Firefighters battle intense fire at abandoned RV garage.

As many as 50 firefighters from several departments worked Thanksgiving afternoon to extinguish a mammoth fire in Westminster at a large abandoned RV garage that hasn’t been in business for several years, authorities said.

The firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours and deemed the fire under control about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene through the night to contain any small fires and smoldering material, said Lt. Jeromy Hill, Westminster fire spokesman.

No injuries had been reported as of Thursday afternoon, but firefighters hadn’t been able to enter the building because of fears it was unstable. The walls are made of brick, which had started to show cracks in the heat and could collapse, Hill said.

The business had been abandoned for at least two years, and firefighters didn’t believe anybody was inside, Hill said.

Fifteen engines from Westminster, Adams County and Federal Heights worked to extinguish the blaze, which broke out at 2:18 p.m. at 71st Avenue and Federal Boulevard.

Police need help identifying bank robber.

Authorities are asking for help in identifying a woman who has robbed four metroarea banks, including two Tuesday. The robber wears oversized glasses as part of a disguise or out of necessity. Investigators have dubbed her “The Myopic Bandit.” She is described as a white or Asian woman, age 40 to 50, about 5-foot-3 with a medium build. The robber passes a note to a teller. A weapon has not been seen.

Anyone with information is asked to call 303629-7171 or 720-913-7867.

Thief steals running vehicle with infant inside.

SPRINGS» A running, COLORADO unattended vehicle was stolen Wednesday evening with an infant inside.

A man had left the vehicle running and went into his residence briefly. When he returned the vehicle and the infant were gone.

About 12 minutes later, police found the vehicle about a half mile from where it was stolen.

The infant was unharmed. The vehicle thief is at large.