OFFICER ON LEAVE AFTER SUSPECT SHOT
A 12-year veteran of the Denver Police Department is on administrative leave after he shot a man Friday night who was allegedly stealing a car.
The incident is being investigated by both Denver and Aurora police as well as the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
The suspect, 19-year-old Sergio Casimiro-mejia, sustained non-life threatening injuries to his lower jaw and shoulder. Casimiro-mejia was treated and released from Denver Health Medical Center, said Denver Police Lt. Matt Clark.
The officer was not injured. Casimiro-mejia is facing charges of aggravated motor vehicle theft, felony menacing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender, Clark said Saturday.
The officer, who was not identified Saturday, was responding to a 911 call about 9:02 p.m. at a parking lot at 4525 Kingston St., Clark said.
The 911 caller saw the suspect steal a car. The officer confronted the suspect who put the vehicle in reverse and started to back away. The vehicle collided with a chain-link fence, prompting the suspect to then drive slowly forward and toward the officer. The suspect raised a handgun as he was passing by the officer, who shot the suspect, Clark said.
NYT feature says Amazon should pick Denver. Forget the lengthy bidding process: The New York Times has already picked Denver as the new home for the second headquarters for Seattle-based Amazon.com.
The tech giant announced last week that it wants a second headquarters, called Amazon HQ2, and will invest $5 billion to build and operate the new location. The news set off a frenzy of interest from cities including Chicago, Dallas and San Diego as well as Denver, Aurora and Thornton.
Amazon, which is seeking proposals from local and state government leaders, says it is focusing on metropolitan areas with more than 1 million people.
A New York Times feature called The Upshot started out with 50 Amazon contenders and weighed requirements including quality of life, masstransit and “space and the willingness to play.” After narrowing the field and considering Boston and Washington, The Times arrived at Denver as the No. 1 choice.
“The city’s lifestyle and affordability, coupled with the supply of tech talent from nearby universities, has already helped build a thriving startup scene,” the story said.
The Times’ designation attracted attention locally, with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock tweeting the story.