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Wednesday, September 21, 2011 | Iowa State Daily | NEWS | 5A
Colorado
Nature
By P. Solomon Banda The Associated Press
Power line sparks likely caused Texas wildfire
FBI: Fugitive siblings prepared for gun fight with authorities WALSENBURG, Colo. — A sister and two brothers accused in a cross-country crime spree that began in Florida fired at pursuing officers and were prepared for a gun battle, authorities testified Tuesday. But one lawyer for the siblings questioned that scenario, pointing out that no shots were reported when officers were close to the trio. The testimony came during a hearing in state district court to determine whether Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, and her brothers, Dylan Stanley-Dougherty, 26, and Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, should stand trial. Each sibling is charged with five counts of attempted second-degree murder and five counts of first-degree assault, with each of those charges carrying a separate sentence enhancing charge of a being crime of violence. Each of the three also is charged with vehicle theft, theft by receiving, and displaying fictitious or altered license plates. The siblings are accused of robbing a bank in Georgia and shooting at police officers in Florida and Colorado. They’re also suspected in two car thefts in Utah. The widely publicized cross-country manhunt for the Doughertys ended Aug. 10 near Walsenburg, about 150 miles south of Denver, following a chase on Interstate 25. The chase began when the trio was spotted near Colorado City. An FBI agent testified Tuesday that the siblings were prepared for a gun battle and officers said they heard gunshots during the chase. Agent Daniel Leyman said investigators found at least nine firearms in or near the car, including two AK-47-type rifles, two machine pistols, two shotguns and
>>LEATH.p1A Bowles said, “Steve Leath is a proven researcher and administrator who brings a deep-seated understanding of the critical role of university research in improving North Carolina’s quality of life and competitive position in a knowledge-based global
Photo: Ed Andrieski/The Associated Press Ryan Edward Doughtery, right, arrives at the courthouse in Walsenburg, Colo., on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
three handguns. All but one of the weapons was loaded. The Doughertys are accused of firing an AK-47 at pursuing officers before running over spike strips, blowing a tire, rolling their vehicle and crashing into a guardrail. No officers were hit by the automatic weapon fire. Authorities said Lee Grace Dougherty was shot in the leg after getting out of the crashed vehicle and aiming a gun at an officer. “I deserved to get shot,” she later told authorities, according to an arrest affidavit. The state trooper who led the chase, Mark Buneta, said he got within four of five car lengths of the siblings’ car. However, on cross examination, he said the shots were fired when there was more space between them and that he never saw a weapon. Defense attorney Michael Emmons
economy. Over the past two decades, he has earned the respect and trust of colleagues all across the state, and we are delighted that he has agreed to join our leadership team at General Administration.” According to Leath’s curriculum vitae, he has helped UNC campuses increase their external funding and now the
questioned why the siblings wouldn’t have fired when they were closer if they had wanted to kill him. Huerfano County sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Albano testified that he saw a woman holding a gun hanging out of the rear passenger side of the siblings’ car. When defense attorney Patrick McCarville asked whether it was possible he could have mistaken Lee Grace for Dylan, who also has long hair, Albano insisted he saw a woman. “I know what was looking back at me with a gun and it was a female,” he said. Prosecutors accuse Ryan Dougherty of being the driver during the Colorado chase and charged him with vehicular eluding. Lee Grace Dougherty is charged with three additional first-degree assault counts, each with an accompanying charge of being a crime of violence.
university attracts nearly $1.4 billion annually in competitive research grants and contracts above state support for salaries and infrastructure across many fields of research. Leath has authored nearly 100 scientific publications. Leath also helped create the North Carolina Research Campus.
>>SUBBASWAMY.p1A undergraduate education. He remained in that position until 2006. “During this time, he was active in the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (Big Ten), and a coordinator of the Association of American Universities Arts & Sciences
AUSTIN, Texas — Sparks from electric power lines likely started the blaze that became the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, fire officials said Tuesday. The Sept. 4 blaze started near Bastrop about 25 miles east of Austin, destroying more than 1,500 homes and killing two people. The Texas Forest Service would not elaborate on the cause Tuesday to The Associated Press. However, a copy of the report obtained by the Austin American-Statesman stated that the massive blaze started as two fires ignited about five miles apart around the same time. One fire began when winds toppled a dead pine tree onto power lines, showering the dry vegetation below with sparks. The other fire ignited when fallen tree branches became tangled with power lines, showering dry grass and branches with sparks. Northerly winds gusted at up to 31 mph Sept. 4 at the National Weather Service office in Austin, according to the report. The relative humidity was 22 percent, and temperatures reached 99 degrees. The findings echo those of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, the electricity provider for the area, Bluebonnet chief executive Mark Rose said. “We, like everyone else, have had investigators in the field attempting to determine the origin and cause of the fires,” he told the American-Statesman. “Our investigation also shows that trees blew over and fell into the power lines.” Power was expected to be fully restored in Bastrop County by Sunday, he said. “Bluebonnet is working hard to safely restore power and remove trees burned during the fire that now pose a danger to our lines if those trees were to fall,” he said. The Texas Forest Service continues investigating what caused another 700-acre blaze in Bastrop County near the main fire, officials said. The Bastrop County wildfires forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, burned out of control for several days and ultimately blackened more than 50 square miles. The fires were 95 percent contained as of Tuesday, but officials urged residents to clear pine needles and other debris away from their homes to avoid re-igniting some “hot spots.” The Associated Press Deans’ group,” his biography said. “He was very active in economic development efforts based on biotechnology in Central Indiana.” Subbaswamy has been actively involved in national and international organizations, “speaking on the behalf of UK and its issues.” He has also “served as
a member of the Board of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and as Board Chair of the South Eastern Conference Academic Consortium.” Students can meet and ask Subbaswamy questions at a forum at 3:45 p.m. Thursday in 2019 Morrill Hall.