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The Aurora Police News Blog was created in 2016 as a new way to share news and information from the Aurora Police Department with the community we serve. It is maintained by the staff of the Public Information Officer.
Public Information Officer Staff:
Sergeant Faith Goodrich - Unit Supervisor
Agent Matthew Longshore - Public Information Officer
Joe Moylan - Public Information Officer
Sydney Edwards - Public Information Officer
To reach a member of the Public Information Officer call 720.432.5095 or email [email protected]. If you are a member of the public and you have a question, general request, comment or concern, please email [email protected].
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The men and women of the Aurora Police Department are committed to making a Aurora a safer place everyday.
DISCLAIMER: Information is subject to change as case investigations proceed. Individuals arrested on the basis of probable cause have not been charged. All arrestees are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
On 08/20/2017, the Aurora Police Department received a report pertaining to allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct involving a suspect Brian Vasquez (DOB: 04/15/1983), a teacher who is currently employed at Prairie Middle School. As these allegations were investigated, more serious incidents came to light to include sexual assault between Vasquez and juvenile students.
Investigators are still working to investigate this matter and are still speaking with witnesses and victims. At this time limited information is being released as to protect the integrity of this very active, open investigation. Aurora Crimes Against Children (CAC) Detectives are investigating this incident as well as other incidents of sexual assault involving Vasquez and students.
On 8/22/2017, Vasquez was arrested and booked into the Aurora City Jail on the following charges: 3 counts of Sexual Assault on a Child- Position of Trust (‘Pattern of Abuse’ charging enhancer) and 5 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child. Vasquez has been placed on administrative leave by the Cherry Creek School District.
The Aurora Police Department is working in conjunction with the Cherry Creek School District and other school districts that have previously employed Vasquez to ensure that needs of victims are met. The cooperation of the Cherry Creek School district has been instrumental in aiding our investigation.
It is possible that there are additional persons who have been victimized by Vasquez and have not yet reported it. The Aurora Police Department is asking anybody who is a witness or has information about circumstances surrounding this investigation to please call the Crimes Against Children Tip-Line at (303) 739-6164. If there are any additional victims who are wishing to report to police, they are asked to call Police Dispatch at (303) 627-3100 immediately. A photo is being released to the public in the event that there are additional victims who have not yet come forward in filing a report with Police.
Because it is possible that there are additional victims, the Aurora Police Department is releasing Vasquez’s known previous work history that has been made available by the Cherry Creek School District:
-Social Studies Teacher (7th and 8th grade) at Prairie Middle School: 08/11/11 to current
-Destination Imagination Coach at Prairie Middle School: 10/2012- 01/2017
-Teacher at Mountain vista Community school in Harrison School District 2, (7th grade Geography and 8th grade U.S. History): 08/2009-06/2011
-Teacher at Mesa Ridge High School in Widefield School District 3 (9th grade Geography/ Social Studies, 10th grade World History, 11th grade U.S. History): 10/2007-06/2009
-Substitute Teacher in Widefield School District (grades 6th-12th, all subject areas): 04/2007-10/2007
-Student Teacher at Janitell High School in Widefield School District (7th grade Geography, 8th grade U.S. History): 05/2006-12/2006
-Youth Worker at the San Louis Valley Youth Detention Center in Alamosa, Colorado: 04/2004-04/2006
There is no further information available at this time.
Photo Courtesy of Cherry Creek Schools
Officer Bill Hummel
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
303.739.6038
PRESS CONFERENCE REFERENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION
WHAT: The Aurora Police Department and Cherry Creek School District
WHEN: Monday August 22, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Aurora Police Headquarters, Office of the Chief of Police, 15001 East Alameda Parkway
WHO: Chief of Police, Nick Metz
Major Investigations Lieutenant, Stephen Redfearn
Cherry Creek Public Schools Superintendent, Harry Bull
CONTACT: Officer Bill Hummel, Public Information Officer for the Aurora Police Department (303) 739-6038.
PRESS CONFERENCE REFERENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION
Aurora, Colorado-The Aurora Police Department will be holding a press conference to brief the media about the circumstances related to an on-going sexual assault investigation. It is believed that there are multiple victims in this case and the suspect is a teacher at Prairie Middle School in Aurora.
The conference will take place today at Aurora Police Headquarters (15001 East Alameda Parkway) at 6:00 p.m.
The conference will be held in a secure location inside of police headquarters so the media is asked to arrive prior to 6:00 p.m. at the north doors of police headquarters near the crime lab vehicles. A representative of the Media Relations Unit will then provide access into the building.
Lee Condreay Named New Internal Affairs Bureau Commander
Chief of Police Nicholas Metz is pleased to announce the appointment of Lee Condreay to the rank of Commander. He will oversee the operations of the Internal Affairs Bureau which includes one Lieutenant, two Sergeant Investigators, two Agent Investigators and one Administrative Technician. The Internal Affairs Bureau is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct involving department members.
Commander Condreay was selected after a rigorous promotional testing process which included presentations to and input from the APD’s newly created Citizen Policing Advisory Team (CPAT).
Commander Condreay, who is an Aurora native, started his law enforcement career in 1991 when he was hired as a Police Officer with the Englewood Police Department. In 1996 he joined the Aurora Police Department and served as a Patrol Officer and a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). In 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Agent where he served as a Detective in the Investigations Bureau and then later as a Police Training Instructor at the Aurora Police Academy.
In 2003, Commander Condreay was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. During his tenure as a Sergeant he supervised a Patrol Team, a Police Area Representative Team (PAR) and a Direct Action Response Team. In 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served as a District Watch Commander, District 2 Sector Commander, and was the Executive Officer for District 2. He later commanded the Investigative Support Section, Metro Gang Task Force and since 2016 has served as the Deputy Commander of the Internal Affairs Bureau.
Commander Condreay is a graduate of the University of Denver Executive Leadership Program, IACP Leadership in Police Organizations, and the FBI Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives. He earned his Masters of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University and his Bachelors of Science in Educations from the University of Northern Colorado.
Acting Lieutenant Chris Amsler
Executive Officer to the Chief of Police
720.432.5095
At 3:16 this afternoon the Aurora Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the area of E Louisiana Ave and S Yampa Way. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators from the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are following on up leads and interviewing witnesses to determine what events lead up to the shooting and to identify potential suspect(s) .
The identity of the victim is not being released at this time and will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office once he has been positively identified and next of kin have been notified.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Agent Heath Graw with the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit at 303.739.6213 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
This is an active and open investigation and therefore no further information is available at this time.
Officer Kenneth Forrest
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
303.739.6616
On August 15th, 2017 at 1:26 a.m., Aurora Patrol Officers responded to the area of E. Mississippi Ave. and S. Potomac Street on a report of a single vehicle crash with injuries. Traffic investigators responded to the scene and our investigation revealed the following:
A maroon in color 1999 Ford Expedition, driven by a 50 yo male, with a 23 yo adult female passenger, both from Aurora, CO., were in the area of the McDonald's/ Waffle House restaurants located at E. Mississippi Ave. and S. Uvalda Street. Witness accounts and evidence showed the vehicle sped out of the parking lot for unknown reasons, over the landscaped embankment, across the sidewalk and struck a fire hydrant. The vehicle continued out onto E. Mississippi Ave. and proceeded eastbound. At some point the vehicle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes at a high rate of speed, drove back over the center median into the eastbound lanes, lost control and went over the south curb line near 13800 block of E. Mississippi Ave. The female passenger was ejected from the vehicle prior to it striking a tree. Both parties were taken to a local hospital, the male sustaining minor injuries, and the female with life threatening injuries. After several hours of surgery the female victim succumbed to her injuries.
The Aurora Police Traffic Section is investigating this crash under case# 2017-31466. We are not releasing the names of the driver and victim pending the completion of our investigation. We believe contributing factors in this crash were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speed, and failure to utilize seatbelt restraints. Charges against the driver are pending but may result in Vehicular Homicide, Reckless Driving and DUI.
Lieutenant Michael A. McClelland
Traffic Section Commander
303-739-6326
Aurora Police Department’s K9 Polo will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Polo’s vest is sponsored by an Anonymous Sponsor and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Mark Smith”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,600 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.1 million dollars.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
Officer Kenneth Forrest
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
303.739.6616
Approximately 6 months ago on the early morning of February 18, 2017, a man was murdered in the 4000 block of S. Crystal Cir. in Aurora. Kelly Acosta, a 29 year old man, was fatally shot while he was intervening in a robbery as a Good Samaritan.
Detectives of Aurora's Major Crimes Unit have investigated every possible lead in the case and continue to work diligently towards justice for Acosta and his family. The case remains unsolved and there are still many questions that remain unanswered. It is believed that there is somebody out there who has information about Acosta's killer. Detectives and Acosta's family are pleading with the public to please come forward with any information that they might have in regards to this case.
Prior to today, there was a total of up to $27,000 in reward money available to anybody who has information leading to the arrest of Acosta's killer. As of today, that reward total has been increased to $40,000.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is offering a reward for up to $10,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this homicide. This reward is being offered through a partnership with ATF and the Aurora Police Department under the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) initiative.
The following organizations are offering additional reward amounts:
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000.
The Aurora Police Department Reward fund is offering a reward of $7,000.00.
Memorial Fund (established by friends and family of the victim) is offering a reward of $21,000.
We are asking anyone who might have witnessed or have information about this murder to call Sergeant Matt Fyles with the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit at (303)739-6041. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867.
Information previously released on March 7, 2017
The Aurora Police Department needs the assistance of the public with solving a murder that occurred in the early morning hours of February 18, 2017 in the 4000 block of S. Crystal Cir. The deceased victim in this case was intervening in an assault as a good Samaritan and was killed for his efforts. At this time, there is no further information available to release. This case is unsolved and the investigation remains very active.
We are asking anyone who might have witnessed or have information about the homicide to call Agent Jamie Krieger with the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit at (303)739-6113. Tipsters also can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867. By calling Crime Stoppers you can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.00.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is offering a reward for up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this homicide. This reward is being offered through a partnership with ATF and the Aurora Police Department under the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) initiative.
The following organizations are offering additional reward amounts:
The Aurora Police Department Reward fund is offering a reward of $5,000.00.
Memorial Fund (established by friends and family of the victim) is offering a reward of $15,000.
The total amount of rewards being offered is $27,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible for this crime.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Information previously released on February 18, 2017
On Saturday February 18, 2017 at approximately 04:25 a.m. Officers responded to a parking lot in the 4000 block of S. Crystal Cir. on the report of parties fighting at this location with shots fired.
Upon arrival, Officers located an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
This is still an active and on-going investigation and there are no further details to provide at this time. The Major Crimes/Homicide Unit is handling the investigation into this matter. At this time there is no suspect information available for release. The identity of the victim will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office pending the positive identification of the victim and notification of his next of kin.
The Aurora Police Department is asking anyone with information about this case to contact Sergeant Matt Fyles with the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit at 303-739-6041. Tipsters can also use Metro Denver Crime Stoppers by calling 720-913-7867. By using Crime Stoppers tipster can remain anonymous and be eligible for a $2,000 reward.
Officer Bill Hummel
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720-432-5095
SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
Early this morning officers from the Aurora Police Department arrested a man in connection with last nights homicide at Tierra Maya Sports Bar and Grill. Miguel Angel Licona-Ortega (Date of Birth 08/08/1994) was arrested for 1st Degree Murder and was booked into the Aurora Detention Center.
Sergeant Chris Amsler
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information previously released on July 29th, 2017:
At 7:06 this evening the Aurora Police Public Safety Communications Division received a report of a shooting at the Tierra Maya Sports Bar and Grill, which is located at 455 Havana Street in Northwest Aurora.
Upon arrival Officers located an adult male outside of the front door of the establishment suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
Investigators from the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are following on up leads and interviewing witness to determine what events lead up to the shooting and to identify a potential suspect(s) .
The identity of the victim, who is an adult male in his 20's is not being released at this time and will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office once he has been positively identified and next of kin have been notified.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Agent Marc Yacano with the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit at 303.739.6090 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Sergeant Chris Amsler
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Residents of Aurora are invited to celebrate National Night Out (NNO) with the Aurora Police Department and the rest of the country on Tuesday, August the 1st. NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The goal of the campaign is to make Aurora a safer place.
The Police Area Representative Team for District 2, which serves northeast Aurora has announced the District's plans for the evening. There will be a series of parties at several locations throughout the District from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.
NNO party locations:
Landon Park Apartments, 100 S. Sable Blvd.
The Preserve at City Center, 1098 S. Evanston Way.
Sergeant Chris Amsler
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Residents of Aurora are invited to celebrate National Night Out (NNO) with the Aurora Police Department and the rest of the country on Tuesday, August the 1st. NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The goal of the campaign is to make Aurora a safer place.
The Police Area Representative Teams for District 1, which serves West Aurora (areas west of I-225) has announced the District's plans for the evening. The District will be hosting a community gathering at Utah Park (1800 S. Peoria St.) on the northeast corner of the park. The event will include a static display of APD Units and Equipment, food, door prizes, a mobile playground, and obstacle course. New this year, the band The Hits will be performing!
The event starts at 5:30p.m. and goes to 8:00p.m.
Sergeant Chris Amsler
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
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