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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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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.
(February 5th, 2020) In July of 2019, the Aurora Police Department Economic Crimes Unit began investigating a forgery scam that targeted a 16-year-old high school student. The suspects in this scam used social media to contact the victim and enticed him to provide his banking information. They would then deposit forged money orders into the victim’s account. As soon as the money was deposited into the account, the suspects would withdraw the money before the money orders were discovered to be forgeries. The victim was promised a small portion of the cash in exchange for the use of their account. Instead, the victim was held financially responsible for the returned lost funds.
Through an extensive investigation, APD Investigator Myshell Bolton was able to identify the three suspects and locate additional victims. The suspects were identified as Hussein Farah, 23-year-old male (shown in image below with a black shirt), Abdihakiin Hassan, 19-year-old male (shown in image below with a grey Nike shirt), and a 16-year-old male. No further information will be released on the juvenile suspect.
On 01/10/2020 Investigator Bolton filed criminal charges of Money laundering, Identity Theft, Forgery, and other crimes with the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office.
The Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office issued warrants for all three suspects and will prosecute the case. Hassan turned himself in on 01/25/2020. The juvenile male was arrested on 02/02/2020 by Aurora Police Department. Farah has not yet been arrested. Any further inquiries regarding this case should be directed to the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office.
The Aurora Police Department urges parents to speak with their children because we believe there may be other victims of this scheme. Victims may be hesitant to come forward due to a fear of being criminally charged. However, the APD and District Attorney’s Office will review each case and may take the stance, as they did in this case, that these are innocent victims that have been coerced by the suspects into the scheme.
If any members of the public have information about this case, please contact Investigator Myshell Bolton at 303.739.6142.
Tipsters can also remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 by contacting Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).
The below photograph of Farah is a previous booking photograph provided by Denver Police Department.
 
Agent Faith R. Goodrich
Public Information Officer
303.739.6038
(January 13, 2020) UPDATE: The Aurora Police Department is announcing the arrest of a suspect involved in the shooting that occurred less than 48 hours ago in the 17100 block of East Adriatic Place.
Through dedication and hard work by countless members of this organization, detectives have arrested a 16-year-old male and charged him with Attempted First Degree Murder among numerous other criminal offenses.
Due to the ongoing investigation efforts and the suspect being a juvenile, his name and booking photo will not be released at this time.
We are continuing our investigative efforts to search for additional suspects related to this case. If you have any information about this incident, you are urged to reach out to Agent Barchetti at 303.739.1836. Tipsters can also call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
This case will be prosecuted by the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Any further inquires about this case will need to be directed to their office.
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Information Previously Release
(January 12, 2020) On January 11, 2020, Aurora Police Public Safety Communications Division received a 911 call around 10:55 P.M. advising that someone had been shot. Officers were immediately dispatched to 17100 block of East Adriatic Place and arrived on scene within 90 seconds.
Once officers arrived on scene, they located evidence to support that the shooting occurred in one of the apartments. Officers found three people still on scene who were suffering from gunshot wounds. These three individuals were then transported to area hospitals by ambulance. It was learned that there were two other victims but that they already left the scene in a private vehicle. These two other victims arrived at a nearby medical facility where they were then transported to an area hospital by ambulance. In total, there were five people shot.
There are three juvenile victims (two female, one male) and two adult male victims. All three juveniles are over the age of 16. All are listed in serious condition but expected to survive.
We only have a description for one of the suspects. They are described as a black male wearing a yellow hooded sweatshirt. There could possibly be additional suspects, but until we are able to interview witnesses and victims, we are unable to confirm this. At this time, a suspect has not been arrested.
The investigation into this shooting is still active and ongoing. If you have any information or video of the crime, please contact Agent Chris Fanning with the District 3 Detective Unit at 303-627-3161. Tipsters can also call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
We understand that an incident like this can be unnerving to those who live in the area. Our top priority right now is to ensure the safety of our residents and to identify the ones responsible for this and quickly arrest them. We will also be increasing police patrols in the area and Officers from the District 3 Police Area Representative Unit (PAR) will be spending their day in the neighborhood.
The following statement from Interim Chief Vanessa Wilson:
"This investigation is a top priority for our agency. We have all of our resources working around the clock right now conducting interviews and collecting evidence. We need the community to come together with us to stop this senseless violence to protect our youth. We continue to ask anyone with information to please call us with any information they may have."
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
UPDATE: Through diligent investigative work the Aurora Police Department Major Crimes/Homicide Unit arrested Keith Zotto, (DOB 10/24/1974) and charged him with at least Colorado Revised Stature 18-3-102(1)(a) Murder in the First Degree.
Zotto will be prosecuted by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Further media inquiries should be directed to there.
Officer Anthony Camacho
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
Information previously release July 2, 2019
On July 2nd, 2019 at 12:06 p.m. Aurora Police officers were dispatched to the 19000 block of East Milan Circle on a missing person report.
After the responding officers initial investigation, they discovered a deceased adult female inside the residence. This active and ongoing investigation is still in the very early stages, so no further information is currently available. There is no threat to the public related to this incident.
The identity of the female will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office pending positive identification, and notification of her next-of-kin.
The Aurora Police Major Crimes/Homicide Unit is investigating this suspicious death. We ask anyone who may have information to please call Aurora Police Agent Sutherland at 303-739-6406. Tipsters can also remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 by contacting Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913- STOP (7867).
Crystal McCoy
Public Information Officer
303-739-6022
On March 28, 2019 about 7:20 P.M. officers of the Aurora Police Department (APD) were contacted by members of the Denver Police Department (DPD) who requested assistance with arresting a subject wanted out of their city for violent felony crimes.
The suspect was located in the parking lot of a restaurant at 16891 East Iliff Avenue. APD’s SWAT unit initiated efforts to arrest the suspect from a vehicle when shots were fired by an officer. The suspect fled on foot and ran south of the location before eventually being taken into custody. During the course of the arrest, the suspect was non-compliant and a Taser had to be applied to place him into custody.
A passenger, who remained in the suspect’s vehicle, was contacted and is considered a victim in the originating case out of Denver.
Due to the original case associated with DPD’s request for assistance, information about the identity of the suspect should be directed to that agency.
During this event, APD SWAT officers were using their issued body worn cameras. The suspect sustained minor injuries, resulting from being Tased. No officers were injured. There was a weapon recovered from the scene.
This incident is being investigated by the APD Major Crimes/Homicide Unit and members of the Denver Police Department, in accordance with Senate Bill 15-219.
We are asking anyone with information about this case to please contact Agent M. Ingui at 303-739-6067.
Officer Anthony Camacho
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
On February 14th, 2019, Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit (MCHU), with the assistance of the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office and the State of Colorado Archaeologist, determined that bones that were located by construction crews during excavation were determined to be a male, most likely over one hundred, if not one thousand, years old, and of Native American descent.
The Colorado State Archaeologist has assumed responsibility of the remains and the location site, and will be continuing their examination into the bones.
We wanted to express our appreciation to Necrosearch for their assistance in this investigation and Richmond American Homes for promptly notifying authorities of their discovery and treating the area of where the bones were located respectfully.
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
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Information previously released on February 13, 2019
On February 13th, 2019, around 10:00 A.M., the Aurora Police Department received a call from a construction crew that they located what appeared to be human bones while excavating in the area of East Smoky Hill Parkway and South Powhaton Road.
Initial investigation reveals that the bones appear to be human. The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit, with the assistance from the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office, responded to the scene. The scene where the bones were found has been secured by officers until a forensic dig can be completed and a thorough search of the immediate area.
A final autopsy will be completed by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office after the safe removal of the bones from the area.
Anyone that may have information about these remains are asked to call Agent Michael Prince at 303-739-6127.
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
On February 9th, 2019, at about 6:40 AM, Aurora Police Officers responded to a single vehicle crash in the area of South Chambers Road and East Hampden Avenue. When they arrived, they determined that a 2018 Nissan Sentra was traveling north on South Chambers Road at a high rate of speed. As the Sentra crossed over East Hampden Avenue, it started to lose control and left the roadway. It struck a tree on the east side of the street and was cut in half. The driver and rear seat passenger were both pronounced deceased at the scene. The front seat passenger managed to climb out of the wreckage and left the scene before Officers arrived. He turned up seven hours later at a local hospital with significant injuries.
The identities of all partys involved in this crash are not being released at this time. There were no other vehicles involved. Speed is most certainly a factor in this crash. The Traffic Unit is handling this crash. The Aurora Police Department is asking that anyone with information regarding this crash contact us.
Sergeant William Revelle
Traffic Section
303 739 6374
On November 2, 2018, at 11:16 A.M., Officers from the Aurora Police Department were notified by a School Resource Officer, working at Rangeview High School located at 17599 East Iliff Avenue, that there was a picture from Snapchat showing a student with a weapon in his waistband. The School Resource Officer believed that the student was still in the school building.
The School Resource Officer immediately notified dispatch who then requested a city-wide response. Officers from all three police districts, including SWAT, Police Area Representatives, K-9, Neighborhood Policing Unit, Media Relations Unit, Traffic Units, Command Staff, and Detectives, responded to Rangeview High School to assist. There were more than 70 Aurora Police Officers who converged on this location to provided support and valuable resources to this evolving situation.
The school was immediately placed on lockdown and students who were inside of the school were told to shelter in place. The students who were on the outside of the school building were escorted off school property and asked to rendezvous with officers down the street for further instructions. It should be noted that no students were injured from this incident and there were no shots fired at any time on campus.
After developing a plan to ensure the safety of students inside of the school, officers began to search the interior of the school in case the armed individual was still located in the building. There were also numerous officers who were tasked with patrolling the streets, parks, shopping centers, and areas around Rangeview High School and to also search for the armed suspect if they happened to be off school property already. A partial picture of the suspect was released to officers in the area and inside of the school.
While our resources were focused on this incident, the Public Safety Communications Division received at least 75 additional and unrelated calls for service, which may have been delayed as a result of this call for service at Rangeview High School.
At approximately 12:06 P.M., an officer in the area of South Buckley Road and East Evans Avenue observed a male matching the description of the suspect. Two individual were contacted, one of which was in possession of a BB gun made to look like a real firearm. Both males were detained in relation to this incident and were transported to our District 3 Police Station where detectives interviewed them. After the interviews, the juvenile males were released to their parents and criminal charges are pending.
Since both suspects are juveniles, we cannot release their names. We can confirm though that both are students are Rangeview High School.
This incident will continue to be investigated and we are asking anyone with information about this case to call Detective C. Fanning at (303) 627-3161.
We wanted to thank our partners from Aurora Fire Rescue, Falck Rocky Mountain Ambulance, and Aurora Public School Security Officers. We also want to thank the parents and the public for their patience and attention during this situation.
Chief of Police, Nicholas Metz remarked, “I am extremely grateful for all of the officers who quickly responded to Rangeview High School to ensure the safety of not only the students but the staff as well. I wanted to also praise the Aurora Public School Security Officers who assisted our officers with scene security and access to the buildings. Thank you to Aurora Fire Rescue who responded and staged in the event of injuries to anyone. I appreciate the Rangeview High School staff and the School Resource Officer who quickly brought this to our attention and helped us resolve this situation quickly and safely. I commend my officers who apprehended the suspects and recognized the necessity to quickly capture the ones responsible. Our detectives are hard at work to ensure that this matter will be resolved with the most appropriate outcome.”
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
(720) 432-5095
On October 28, 2018 at approximately 3:08 A.M., a 26-year-old female tragically lost her life after being struck by a vehicle while walking on the sidewalk near East Iliff Avenue and South Pagosa Way. Today, the Aurora Police Department is announcing the arrest of a male in connection with this incident. As a result of the on-going investigation, Timothy Scott Knutson (DOB 01/31/1981) was arrested for the following charges: Vehicular Homicide; Leaving the Scene After an Accident Involving Death; Careless Driving Resulting in Death; and Driving Under the Influence. Knutson is pictured below.
The criminal investigation remains open and therefore no further details will be made available. The criminal prosecution is in the hands of the 18th Judicial District so further media inquiries should be directed to their office. The victim will be identified by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office.
Sergeant Bill Hummel
Media Relations Unit
Public Information Office
(720) 432-5095
Information previously released on October 28, 2018
On October 28th, 2018, at 3:08 AM, Aurora Officers were dispatched to a call of a welfare check of a person down on the sidewalk on East Iliff Avenue east of South Pagosa Way. When Officers arrived, they found a deceased 26 year old female on the south sidewalk.
Their investigation revealed that an eastbound vehicle had left the roadway for an unknown reason and drove up onto the south sidewalk. The vehicle continued east on the south sidewalk where it struck the female, a street sign and then managed to get back onto eastbound East Iliff Avenue. The driver did not remain on scene and so far, there are no witnesses to the victim being struck.
The victim's name is not being released at this time. Eastbound East Iliff Avenue was closed at South Pagosa Way during the investigation.
The Aurora Police Department's Traffic Section is following up on several leads but is asking that anyone who may have seen this crash contact us at:
Sergeant William Revelle
303 739 6374
[email protected]
On October 27th, 2018, at 4:24 PM, Officers were dispatched to the intersection of East Iliff Avenue and South Kittredge Way on a report of a vehicle versus bicycle crash. When they arrived, they determined that a White 2004 Lincoln Navigator driven by a 36 year old male was going southbound on South Kittredge Way preparing to turn right onto East Iliff Avenue. The driver (and sole occupant of the Navigator) did not see the 79 year old male bicyclist riding on the sidewalk to his right. The bicyclist was attempting to go straight across East Iliff Avenue when the Navigator turned right and struck him.
The bicyclist was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounce deceased. The driver of the Navigator remained on scene as was not injured.
Traffic investigators are handling the investiagation. They will determine what, if any, charges are applicable. Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in this crash. Names of both parties are not being released at this time. Westbound East Iliff Avenue was closed during this investigation.
The Aurora Police Department is asking that any witnesses to this crash contact:
Sergeant William Revelle
303 739 6374
[email protected]
Residents of Aurora are invited to celebrate the 35th anniversary of National Night Out with the Aurora Police Department and the rest of the country on Tuesday, August the 7th. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The goal of the campaign is to make Aurora safer place.
The Police Area Representative Team for District 3, which serves the Southeast area of Aurora has announced the District's plans for the evening. A caravan of police officers and department vehicles will be traveling to and visiting National Night Out events throughout the District. Below is a list of their scheduled stops.
Stop #1
Mission Viejo Park
3999 S. Mission Parkway
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Stop #2
Eastern Hills Community Church
25511 E. Smoky Hill Road
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
For more information call 303.627.3172
Download an event flyer.
Officer Kenneth Forrest
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
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