News-Press DOUGLAS 2/7/13
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 10, Issue 46
February 7, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
Car chase leads to mail-theft probe Investigation could reach nationwide By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com Parker police are investigating an identity-theft case that began with the vehicle pursuit of two women. The incident began around 6 a.m., Jan. 18, with an alert to be on the lookout for a Dodge truck stolen out of Castle Rock, said Parker Detective Penny VanDenBerg. Within minutes of the alert, officers spotted the Dodge being tailed by a Ford Expedition
and launched a chase near Crowfoot Valley and Stroh roads. Officers called off the pursuit when the Ford crashed into an unattended parked car near Mainstreet and Dransfeldt. The driver of the Ford, Amber Garcia, Garcia 22, of Denver, attempted to escape on foot and was apprehended by police. Investigators later found the Ford was reported stolen out of Commerce City. The unidentified woman who was driving the Dodge eluded capture, VanDenBerg said. Aurora police found the Dodge about two-and-a-half hours later, abandoned in
Aurora. A search warrant for the Ford led to the discovery of thousands of pieces of mail and financial documents, credit card information and prescription medications strewn on the floorboards, backseat and in backpacks. Investigators also found vehicle registrations and documents that indicated the suspects broke into cars throughout the metro area, VanDenBerg said. Personal information recovered points to victims from Castle Rock, Denver, Westminster, Aurora, Evans, Alamosa, Greeley, Colorado Springs and Villa Grove, VanDenBerg said. Police also found handwritten notes with credit card information for individu-
als from Kansas, Illinois and Iowa, she said. The scope of the suspected identity theft ring could continue to grow as investigators sift through thousands of documents, VanDenBerg said. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “Unfortunately we deal with identity theft more frequently than not. But something that starts out with stolen vehicles and turns out to be this, there’s definitely more out there that we need to investigate.” VanDenBerg contacted individuals whose prescription medications were recovered and those who appear to be missing a substantial amount of mail. The investigation indicates the prescription medications were sent by mail, VanDenTheft continues on Page 11
IB program aims to open students’ minds Helps youths prepare for global market By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Tina Douglas gives Elijah Ibarra, of Castle Rock, a free haircut Jan. 29 during a Douglas County Community of Care Network resource and service fair. The evening event at Jubilee Fellowship Church in Lone Tree offered those struggling with housing or finances free services and information about resources in the county. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Homeless invited in from cold Douglas County survey doubles as outreach By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com Douglas County took advantage of Colorado’s Point in Time survey, counting the statewide homeless population, with a safe haven for at least one evening. The Douglas County Community of Care Network participated in the state’s yearly homeless head count by reaching out with free immunizations, bicycles, food, clothing, a hot meal and more. The event included nearly 30 service providers whose efforts serve the county’s homeless and at-risk communities throughout the year. The Jan. 29 event
moved to the Lone Tree campus of the Jubilee Fellowship Church as a more central location for those facing transportation challenges, said Rand Clark, Douglas County community of care navigator. Clark worked with about 100 church volunteers and about 15 community volunteers who served a meal of chili with sides, drinks and treats for families and individuals invited to “Come in From the Cold.” Campus pastor Marcus Piller was on hand working the volunteer network. “I’m all about opening the doors to reach out to those in need as well as providing them with an opportunity to get a leg up,” Piller said. “It’s really about raising awareness and gives us a way to have our finger in the community we serve.” The homeless community included about 28 families who were provided free
haircuts, medical checks, diapers and bags filled with food, personal hygiene products and makeup. Total individuals served: 56. “We wanted to include some fun things you can’t get on food stamps or at a food bank,” Clark said. “For the ladies it’s something to make a difference.” Natalie Ibarra, 28, of Castle Rock, attended with her two children and headed straight for the temporary salon in the church basement. It had been a while since Elijah, 8, and Mizhka, 3, had received a trim, Ibarra said. Ibarra is a single mom and 2003 graduate of Douglas County High School who in 2012 moved back home with her parents. “For the first time we’ve felt the recession,” she said. “I lost my job and I had to move back in. (This event) is amazing, it’s Homeless continues on Page 11
Language describing the International Baccalaureate program echoes the Douglas County School District’s explanation of its world-class education curriculum. But IB is only a piece of the district’s relatively new approach, officials say. “IB is one of the programming options we have available to us, but we never believe one size fits all,” said Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, the district’s chief academic officer of secondary education. “As we try to personalize and customize education for students, we have to offer choices,” she said. “Our world-class education is the broad umbrella for all the other programming options that are available. IB is one of those stems in the umbrella.” The curriculum is designed to keep pace with a rapidly changing world, so “students will be able to compete against students across the nation and the world for the most sought-after careers,” according to the DCSD website. It emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, civic responsibility, global awareness, ethics and civic responsibility. IB, a European-developed program with tiers aimed at specific age groups, helps “develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world,” according to its website. It places a strong emphasis on foreign language, cross-cultural understanding and research. “Most of the tenets of IB are part of a world-class education,” Jefferson-Jenkins said. “But there are other models of instruction that get to the same world-class targets that IB does. “Some students and parents in Douglas County may not want that much emphasis on a foreign language. They may want an emphasis on something else.” STEM-specific, career-focused and technical education programs offered in DCSD all are part of the world-class educa IB continues on Page 11