Parker Chronicle 0909

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GLUTEN-FREE GROWTH

September 9, 2016 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 45 | FREE

More people are cutting gluten from their diet, but the reasons vary. PAGE 12

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Community rallies behind detective Officer undergoes surgery Suspect in shooting killed by law enforcement By Kyle Harding and Chris Rotar Staff writers

Wes Crespi and Kaleigh Clarke give a thumbs-up for Detective Dan Brite at the Coffee Cabin in Parker on Sept. 6. The “love” sign at left is made of horseshoes and was donated to the store to show support for Brite and other law enforcement officers. Photo by Tom Skelley

Local businesses, residents show support for Dan Brite By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com As the hashtag #britestrong hit Twitter over the weekend, local residents began working to raise money for Detective Dan Brite’s family, and to show them he is in everyone’s thoughts and prayers. Brite remained in critical condition at Parker Adventist Hospital after being shot by a what authorities call a “suicidal” man on Sept. 2. Wesley Crespi, owner of Coffee Cabin, 6430 Pine Drive in Parker, will have his shop open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11. The store is usually closed Sundays. Crespi pledged on Facebook to cover all sales taxes and overhead costs himself. Proceeds will go to the Brite family. Crespi is also helping organize a rally that will take place later that afternoon. At 3 p.m., people will gather in the Parker Adventist Hospital parking lot at 9395 Crown Crest Blvd. to demonstrate to Brite and his family that the community is behind them. “I can’t keep up with all of this,” Crespi said, trying to keep pace

with Facebook updates and messages while serving customers as they drove up and gave donations. A Facebook invitation for the public event asks those who plan to attend to wear blue and bring blue carnations to hold. Crespi said his hope is to show Brite’s daughters that their father is a hero in an “exclusive fraternity” of responders who protect everyday citizens with their own lives. “You just watch,” Crespi said. “I bet we get 1,000 people.” Brite is married to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Christine Brite. They have two daughters. Stephanie Clarke came to the shop with her 3-year-old daughter, Kaleigh, to drop a donation into Crespi’s kitty. Crespi drafted Kaleigh into making a smartphone video with an encouraging message to Brite while she was there. “We just wanted to show our appreciation for the police department who do so much to protect us,” Clarke said. She and Kaleigh will “absolutely” be at the event Sunday. Another Parker business, Nome-

QUITE A BIG FOOTPRINT

TO HELP DAN BRITE • On Sept. 3, a page was set up on gofundme.com “to help with expenses so (the Brite family) will be supported during this difficult time.” More than $25,000 was raised in the first two days. The page can be found at www.gofundme.com/ danielbrite.

A key fob made by an anonymous woman is being sold to raise funds for Detective Dan Brite’s family. lie Cupcakes at 19751 Mainstreet, is selling gift certificates for $10, with all proceeds going to the Brite family. Sales from certificate purchases of more than $10 will see 50 percent of the proceeds going to the family. Nomelie is also giving key Support continues on Page 9

• Donations can also be made to the Douglas County Fallen Officer Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to an injured officer or the family members of a fallen officer. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to: Fallen Officers Fund Attn: Sergeant Ron Hanavan 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock CO 80109

A PEEK UNDER THE HOOD

Doctors were seeing “promising progress” by the detective who was hospitalized after being shot by a man authorities say was acting in a suicidal manner before being killed in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. Dan Brite, a 2½-year veteran of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, underwent surgery at Parker Adventist Hospital the night of Sept. 2 before being moved to the facility’s intensive care unit. He remained in critical condition but was “responding to stimulus” on Brite Sept. 4, two days after he was shot near a Parker middle school, a sheriff’s office spokesman said. “We are asking for continued prayers for Detective Brite during this critical time in his recovery, and for his wife Christine and their family, as well as the officers involved in this situation,” Sheriff Tony Spurlock said. Thoughts and prayers from the community and law enforcement agencies around the state poured in over Labor Day weekend on social media. A gofundme.com account set up to help the Brite family with expenses raised more than $25,000 in its first 48 hours. Before joining the sheriff’s office in 2014, Brite spent nine years with the Lone Tree Police Department. He was promoted to sergeant there in 2010. The detective is married to Christine Brite, a sergeant with DCSO. Through a sheriff’s office statement, she thanked the community for its support and asked for continued prayers. On Twitter, the Colorado State Patrol shared this message: “Keep fighting Brother in Blue!” Shooting continues on Page 9

GRUDGE MATCH Legend and Ponderosa take rivalry to Echo Park. PAGE 22

Entrepreneur enlists local high school students to create Sasquatch, a company creating video advertising. PAGE 4 Car show rolls into Spring Valley Golf Club. PAGE 18


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