1-Color
January 23, 2014
75 cents Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 122, Issue 12 A publication of
douglascountynewspress.net
Judge hears open-records case Ruling awaits in retired cop’s case against town By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia.com A retired Nevada police sergeant, Michael Cardella, now of Castle Rock, said he is concerned that a Castle Rock police officer — whom Cardella alleges he saw spinning around and firing his rifle blindly while in pursuit of a burglary suspect in February — is still on the streets.
And that’s why he says he wants access right now to documents on the internal investigation instead of waiting, like law enforcement wants, until after the completion of criminal prosecution of the burglary suspects. “Criminal cases can extend well past a year…and in that period of time, the officer that fired the rifle is still on the streets,” Cardella told the News-Press after a bench trial in front of District Court Judge Paul King at the Douglas County Justice Center Jan. 16. Cardella and his wife, Susan Cardella,
along with the American Civil Liberties Union, filed suit in November against the Town of Castle Rock, its police chief and town clerk. Cardella, a 35-year police veteran, told the News-Press that what he witnessed is not proper protocol nor is it consistent with the way he was trained. According to the Cardellas’ lawsuit, Castle Rock Police Officer Terry Watts fired several rounds from a high-powered rifle in a residential area — near the corner of Mango Drive and South Plum Creek Boulevard — at an SUV driven by an un-
armed burglary suspect as the suspect approached and drove past the officer. “The officer’s lines of fire covered a nearby school (which was in session), shopping centers, offices and parking lots,” according to the complaint. And one bullet did strike the Cardellas’ car when both were inside, according to the complaint. Castle Rock Police Chief Jack Cauley released a statement after the lawsuit was filed: Ruling continues on Page 9
council gives OK for gates
AT THE coW WaSH
2003 decision no longer holds weight for communities By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier @coloradocommunitymedia.com
A young man and woman work together to wash a cow as they begin to prepare the animal for the judging show at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The show opened Jan. 11 and there are livestock judging, shows and sales as well as entertainment and special events like rodeos and horse shows going on every day until the stock show closes Jan. 26. Photo by Tom Munds
Portal matches volunteers, opportunities Range of openings listed on county website By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com A newly launched online “portal” matches volunteers with opportunities based on their areas of interest. Douglas County residents are known for giving back, and the recent introduction of www.VolunteerConnectDC.org makes it much easier. Organized by the Partnership of Douglas County Governments, a group composed of local municipalities, the site is already populated with announcements for more than 300 volunteer positions. Ali Ayres, district volunteer services supervisor for Douglas County Libraries, says Portal continues on Page 11 POSTAL ADDRESS
There aren’t any gated communities in Castle Rock because about 10 years ago when the issue came up, the town council at the time decided they didn’t want them. “Quality, character and sense of community” were the reasons given in 2003 for voting against a proposed ordinance that would have allowed gated communities, Heather Lamboy, the town’s assistant director of development services, told the council at its Jan. 7 meeting. But that was then. This town council, after hearing information from staff — including getting verification that town council would still have the discretion to pick and choose which gated communities would be appropriate for the town — decided to abandon that stance. Councilmember Clark Hammelman said the aging population is a market interested in such communities and that he didn’t think the town should turn that population away if that’s what they’re interested in. “It might enhance the community depending on what type of project,” Castle Rock Mayor Paul Donahue said. Lamboy said the town’s comprehensive plan discusses the importance of connectivity in maintaining a community. But she said connectivity can be achieved in many different ways, including through pedestrian and biking trails, sidewalks, and other ways besides a residential street. “Gating a residential subdivision doesn’t necessarily mean we lack (connectivity) in our community,” she said.
A Douglas County Libraries volunteer helps a patron learn computer skills. Courtesy photo
news-press
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060)
OffIce: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PhONe: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the News-Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTeR: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DeADLINeS: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. | Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Tues. 12 p.m.
Gated continues on Page 9
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