1-Color
May 9, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 12, Issue 28 A publication of
parkerchronicle.net
Officer dragged, suspect arrested Alleged driver found in tree, officer not seriously hurt By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com
Colorado National Guard Spc. Andrew Senphannarat keeps an eye out during an interagency wildfire evacuation drill near the Happy Canyon subdivision in Castle Pines on May 3. Photos by Hannah Garcia
Where there’s smoke … Mock wildfire drill tackles real-world situations By Hannah Garcia
hgarcia@colorado communitymedia.com Although some residents may have been startled to see Humvees and police cruisers crawling around Happy Canyon on May 3, it was only a mock wildfire drill that had public safety officials converging on the subdivision. But with warmer temperatures and wind speeds climbing, and keeping in mind the raging wildfires the state has seen in recent years, Douglas County residents shouldn’t take the exercise any less seriously, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Ron Hanavan. “Today, we’re focusing on evacuations. The major goals are life and property safety,” Hanavan said, urging residents to sign up for emergency alerts and prepare evacuation kits. “We’re right around the corner from wildfire season
Elizabeth Fire Chief TJ Steck, serving as an incident commander, goes over plans during a briefing at the Douglas County Fairgrounds as part of an interagency wildfire drill on May 3. and this is real-world stuff. It can happen anywhere.” Crews were dispatched to evacuate and protect homes in the Happy Canyon area, where the mock fire ensued. National Guard officials set up roadblocks
and checkpoints while trying to corral participating residents to the evacuation center, which was located at the Douglas Smoke continues on Page 13
Baby news video goes viral Family moment has 1.4 million views By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Pure joy is an expression that’s universal — and apparently viral. A momentous occasion for a Douglas County family, caught on video, has led to a groundswell of social media sharing and light-hearted news segments. Jacob and Hannah Ouellette, who founded Thrive Church in Parker, wanted to find a creative way to tell their two children about a new addition to the family. Mommy-to-be Hannah
Ouellette came up with the idea of putting miniature sonogram images inside plastic eggs in the kids’ Easter baskets, but the hint didn’t immediately click with Faithlyn, 6, and Ethan, 3. So when dad revealed the news that “mommy’s going to have a baby,” the reaction was swift and priceless. First came the surprised looks on their faces, then Faithlyn confirming that she heard correctly. Following that was a jubilant squeal of laughter and excitement that captured the hearts of viewers. Faithlyn, who had been begging for another sibling, hugs her mom and finishes the 1-minute, 46-second Baby continues on Page 13
Hannah and Jacob Ouellette, who founded Thrive Church in Parker, surprised their kids, Faithlyn, 6, and Ethan, 3, with baby news and footage of the moment has gone viral on YouTube, racking up 1.4 million views as of May 5. Courtesy photo
Three people were arrested after a man attempted to flee during a traffic stop and dragged a Parker police officer for more than a quarter of a mile. Officers stopped a vehicle at 1:23 a.m. May 1 at South Parker Road and Valley Hi Drive, near the Douglas-Arapahoe county line. They took the driver, Kent Scott Williams, 49, into custody for having a revoked driver’s license. After the arrest, officers observed a male passenger hiding under miscellaneous items on the rear seat floorboard. “Officers attempted to contact the male and an altercation ensued. The male in the rear seat then jumped into the driver’s seat and attempted to gain control of the vehicle,” the department said in a statement. A female officer ran to the driver’s side door and attempted to turn off the Lamb ignition. The suspect, later identified as Justin Wayne Lamb, 29, accelerated and drove north on South Parker Road, dragging the officer over the center median and into the southbound lanes. With the officer still hanging on, the vehicle went through a fence and down an embankment, where the car came to a stop. Police say Lamb then fled on foot through a field. A perimeter was set up and the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded with a K9 unit. After a “persistent K9 track,” the suspect was found in a tree and taken into custody at 4:46 a.m., more than three hours after the initial traffic stop, the department’s statement said. The unidentified officer who was dragged by the vehicle sustained only minor injuries. She was later released from a local hospital after being examined. She is not on leave, but it is unclear when she will return to duty. “She was dragged more than a quarter of a mile,” said Dawn Cashman, spokeswoman for the Parker Police Department. “It was a pretty good ride. We’re very thankful she didn’t sustain serious injury and that everyone, our officers and the public, is OK.” A female passenger in the vehicle was detained, but was later released and will not be charged. All three suspects were transported to the Douglas County jail. Investigators are still trying to find out why Lamb was trying to evade police. Cashman said she is unsure whether drugs or weapons were found in the vehicle. The vehicle was originally stopped for having expired license plate tags. Lamb faces 16 total charges with the most serious being first-degree assault. His bond was set at $400,000 during an advisement hearing May 2. As of a May 7 court appearance in Castle Rock, Lamb was still being detained. His next hearing was slated for May 9.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.