Two Colorado Springs boys reported missing

Font ResizeLocal NewsBy Ryan Parker
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/24/2012 07:01:11 AM MSTDecember 24, 2012 2:5 PM GMTUpdated: 12/24/2012 07:05:35 AM MST

Colorado Springs police are asking for the public's help in locating two boys.

Johnny Gordon,15, and Eric Woods, 14, were reported missing from a mobile home park at 4825 Astrozon Blvd., according to a Colorado Springs police news release.

The report of the missing boys came in at 6:51 p.m. Sunday.

According to police, the boys disappearance "appears to be out of character."

Anyone with information regarding the boys whereabouts should contact police at 719-444-7000 or remain anonymous through crime stoppers at 719-634-STOP.

Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker

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Stray bullet hits Colorado Springs 12-year-old in leg

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Tom Roeder
The Gazettedenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 10:14:46 AM MSTDecember 22, 2012 5:25 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 10:25:55 AM MST

A 12-year-old boy in southern Colorado Springs was recovering Saturday morning after an "apparently random" shooting left him wounded in the leg.

Police say the boy was inside a home in the 100 block of Murray Boulevard, near Pikes Peak Avenue, when a shots were fired outside just before midnight, blasting the structure. One round hit the boy in the leg.

The boy was hospitalized and expected to survive, police said.

Police were nearby investigating several calls about gunfire in the vicinity of Murray Boulevard and Airport Road when they were called to the home of the injured boy.

Read more on this story in The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.

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Colorado Springs doctor grateful for SEAL who died rescuing him in Afghanistan

Font ResizeLocal NewsBy Jason Pohl
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/21/2012 02:15:39 PM MSTDecember 21, 2012 9:28 PM GMTUpdated: 12/21/2012 02:28:45 PM MST

The Colorado Springs doctor who was rescued by SEAL Team 6 in Afghanistan earlier this month said Friday that he has deep appreciation for the officer who was killed during the mission.

"My heart goes out to the family of the fallen hero for his service, commitment and courage," Dr. Dilip Joseph said in a prepared statement. "He will remain a legacy for me and my family for generations to come."

Joseph works with Morning Star Development, a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit founded in 2002, focused on economic and community development, primarily in Afghanistan. The organization is is not a religious-missions organization but is faith-based, with Christians and Muslims on staff.

Joseph and two other Morning Star employees were abducted Dec. 5 by Taliban insurgents. The other two were released after successful negotiations. Military officers moved in when intelligence indicated Joseph's life was in imminent danger.

Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, was killed by combat-related injuries on the mission, the Defense Department said in a previous statement.

Checque, who was from the Pittsburgh area, was part of the elite SEAL Team 6 — the same group credited with killing Osama Bin Laden in 2011. It remains unclear if he was part of that mission.

Joseph has made several trips to Afghanistan and said Friday he "will continue to pray and hope for its peace and long-term stability."

Because of "on-going security issues," he said he will not be available for direct interviews, though he did say he has been in contact with the sailor's family and will work on ways to honor his service.

"I can appreciate the difficulty of this particular operation and deeply value the sacrifice of one of their own servicemen for the success of this mission," he said.

Jason Pohl: 303-954-1729, jpohl

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1 dead in multi-vehicle crash in Colorado Springs

Font ResizeBy Matt Steiner
The Gazettedenverpost.comPosted: 12/20/2012 09:45:02 AM MSTDecember 20, 2012 4:47 PM GMTUpdated: 12/20/2012 09:46:56 AM MST


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Colorado Springs woman arrested in abduction of 2-year-old

Tonia Shetina (Colorado Springs Police Dept.)

 Colorado Springs police have arrested a 38-year-old woman for investigation of kidnapping and motor vehicle theft in the abduction of a 2-year-old girl, authorities say.

Tonia Shetina was arrested last night in the alleged kidnapping of Essence Lovato.

The girl was recovered after an Amber Alert was issued in Colorado Springs.

During the Amber Alert, the Colorado Springs Traffic Management Center posted numerous messages on signs about the 2000 Green Honda Accord with a temporary tag that had been taken.

The Amber Alert was issued on Monday night and was cancelled Wednesday afternoon after Lovato was found.

Shetina is an acquaintance of the toddler's mother. Police said Essence's mother gave Shetina permission to drive the child and drop her off at the girl's grandfather's home.

According to a news release, Colorado Springs police received a tip just after 3 p.m.that Tonia Shetina was at a particular home just south of Fountain.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., CSPD Violent Crimes Investigators and El Paso County deputies responded to the home and safely recovered the girl.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, Facebook.com/kmitchelldp or twitter.com/kmitchelldp

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Owner of Colorado Springs pawn shop arrested in string of burglaries

Font ResizeThe Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/19/2012 09:22:32 PM MSTDecember 20, 2012 4:34 AM GMTUpdated: 12/19/2012 09:34:44 PM MST

Authorities arrested the co-owner of a Colorado Springs pawn shop who they believe is connected to multiple burglaries in El Paso County.

On Wednesday, El Paso County Sheriff deputies were called to the 700 block of Wildridge Road in Black Forest, on a report of an attempted burglary, according to a news release from the sheriff's department.

After arriving, a woman told deputies that the side door to her garage had been kicked in. Soon after, the woman saw a man run away. The woman gave deputies a description of a car she believed the suspect drove away in.

Before authorities completed investigating the first attempted burglary, they received a report about a separate burglary in the 7900 block of Forest Heights Circle. Several items were stolen from the home, including collector's coins and jewelry.

Soon after, deputies spotted a vehicle that matched the first victim's description traveling near Black Forest. They stopped the vehicle and quickly recognized that items inside the vehicle matched the list of items stolen from the second victim's home.

The driver was identified as 43-year-old Kevin Lee Mosher, co-owner of the Fast Cash Pawn and Loan in Colorado Springs.

While speaking with Mosher, deputies were told about a third burglary in the 15000 block of Milhaven Place. Evidence found at that location was later linked to Mosher. A fourth burglary in Black Forest was also attributed to Mosher.

Authorities later learned that Mosher may also be connected to additional burglaries in Douglas County. Stolen items were recovered from Mosher's pawn shop in Colorado springs.

Mosher was taken into custody and booked into the Criminal Justice Center on suspicion of second-degree burglary and theft.

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Amber Alert issued for missing 2-year-old from Colorado Springs

Font ResizeLocal NewsBy Kieran Nicholson
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/19/2012 07:44:14 AM MSTDecember 19, 2012 2:58 PM GMTUpdated: 12/19/2012 07:58:03 AM MST


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Colorado Springs pilot among two dead in Texas plane crash

Font ResizeColorado NewsAssociated PressAssociated PressPosted: 12/15/2012 11:19:15 AM MSTDecember 15, 2012 6:19 PM GMTUpdated: 12/15/2012 11:19:16 AM MST

A Colorado Springs pilot and another man were killed in the crash of a small plane in Amarillo, Texas. Authorities say the plane plummeted into a field shortly after takeoff.

The crash happened Friday night during high winds in the Texas Panhandle. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the plane went down 20 miles from the Amarillo airport where pilot Kelly O'Neal had stopped to pick up 79-year-old passenger Robert O'Neal.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Authorities said the pilot was from Colorado Springs. Robert O'Neal was from Amarillo.

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Lanes of Twin Tunnels near Idaho Springs to close for work next week

Font ResizeThe Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/13/2012 05:55:18 PM MSTDecember 14, 2012 12:55 AM GMTUpdated: 12/13/2012 05:55:26 PM MST

 The Colorado Department of Transportation will close lanes through the Twin Tunnels on Interstate 70 east of Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County next week to work on concrete barriers and road stripping.

The left eastbound lane will be closed from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday.

Right and left eastbound lanes will be intermittently closed from 6 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.

The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph during the the work.

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