Chronicle Parker
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 7
HOLIDAY HORSEPOWER
December 14, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourparkernews.com
Suspects arrested in gunfire incident Officials look at similar shootings around area By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com
Maxence Pestore and Trevor Mackey lead one of the horses in the Stellar PCRC Pony Club’s Christmas Carriage Parade entry Dec. 8. The Parker Christmas Carriage Parade drew an estimated 2,000-3,000 people to downtown Parker. Turn to Page 11 for more photos of the Christmas Carriage Parade. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Mayor to leave lasting legacy David Casiano stepping aside after eight years By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com He has been the face of Parker for the last eight years. Known for his trademark all-black outfits, beaming smile and nice-to-see-you hugs, David Casiano has long been the man about town. And although he will still play a large role in the community, Parker’s beloved mayor is stepping down from his post. Councilmember Mike Waid was elected to the position in November and will be sworn in during a meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Parker Town Hall. With just days left in his term, Casiano said he is leaving with “no regrets whatsoever.” He recalls the highlights of his tenure with sincere fondness; his personal favorite was bringing 32 Iraqi high school students to Parker in 2007 as a means to promote cultural understanding. Casiano says the greatest town achievement during his stint as mayor was the creation of the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center, a 500-seat performing arts facility
The venue will come in handy for the next chapter of Casiano’s life. He has dabbled in local plays and musicals in recent years, but is starting his own theater production company called Café La Papa. He is starring in its debut production, “The Zoo Story,” beginning Jan. 5 at the Parker Library. Casiano, 63, will not only be remembered for his charisma and sense of humor, including poking fun at his diminutive stature, but also his no-nonsense leadership style and blunt manner of speaking when the situation called for it. The Brooklyn transplant made strong statements by digging in his heels in support of topics in which he believed. Casiano’s legacy will perhaps best be defined by his “approachability,” said Stevan Strain, longtime owner of the Warhorse Inn in downtown Parker. Strain has always been amazed to see the mayor at events large and small, from Eagle Scout Award ceremonies and Rotary Club meetings to Oktoberfest and the annual tree lighting at O’Brien Park. “That’s what’s needed in the community. Citizens need to be able to get to know their mayor, ask questions, voice their concerns, and he always lent an ear,” Strain said. Casiano credited the town staff for maintaining Parker’s positive direction. He said their thorough presentations ensured that elected leaders could make the best decisions. The mayor also said he was moti-
Parker Mayor David Casiano will hand over the reins to Mike Waid Dec. 17. Casiano has served as mayor for eight years and was a councilmember for two years prior. Photo by Chris Michlewicz vated and inspired by the support of Parker residents. “My success as mayor was in direct proportion to their generosity,” Casiano said. He extended a friendly hand to local teens by creating Youth for Parker, an orgaMayor continues on Page 24
Two Douglas County men have been arrested on suspicion of shooting at a vehicle at a Castle Rock Walmart, and are suspected in connection with multiple nighttime shootings that heavily damaged storefronts and vehicles. Castle Rock police responded Dec. 7 to a report of 10 to 15 shots being fired at Walmart. Customers were present around 9 p.m. when shots were fired at the side of a Walmart tractor-trailer, said Karen McGrath, spokeswoman for the Town of Castle Rock. Officers quickly caught up with the suspects’ vehicle and arrested Nicholas Deters, 20, of Larkspur, and Tyson Olson, 29, of Parker. They were transported to the Douglas County jail and booked on charges of illegal discharge of a firearm, Deters criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. The arrests came more than two weeks after the first shooting that Deters and Olson are suspected of committing. Construction equipment was damaged by gunfire Nov. 20 in Rhyolite Park in Castle Rock. Olson On Nov. 26, the Parker Police Department responded to Golf Zone, a miniature golf course at Twenty Mile Road and Pony Express Drive, after a report of damage to a vehicle and the business kiosk. A high-powered firearm was used in two additional shootings, including a second incident at Golf Zone on Dec. 1. The men are also suspected of shooting out the front door at Knockouts in Parker and opening fire on a vehicle in the nearby Walmart parking lot. Tires were also slashed, said Doreen Jokerst, public information officer for the Parker police. Orlando Gonzalez, owner of Knockouts, said the suspects did not attempt to steal anything, including his flat-screen TVs. “It appears just to be someone out shooting things up,” he said, just hours before the men were apprehended. “I assume that it’s somebody out trying to be a Grinch.” Gonzalez, who has a security alarm but not on the windows, said he will pay $1,000 out of pocket for the damage to his door, which has been boarded up. Castle Rock police recorded four similar incidents, including three shootings at construction sites, and Lone Tree police said Denver Mattress Company and Ed Bozarth Chevrolet were also hit with bullets within the last six weeks. Both businesses are located on Parkway Drive adjacent to C-470, and police say the shots may have been fired from the highway. Investigators have not definitively linked Shootings continues on Page 24
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