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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Woman who created charity scam from firefighter calendar is sentenced

Font ResizeCops and CourtsDenver Post staffdenverpost.comPosted: 12/20/2012 11:02:52 AM MSTDecember 20, 2012 6:4 PM GMTUpdated: 12/20/2012 11:04:39 AM MST


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Denver woman who billed Medicaid after her father's death convicted

Font ResizeCops and CourtsBy John Ingold
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/18/2012 02:41:02 PM MSTDecember 18, 2012 10:23 PM GMTUpdated: 12/18/2012 03:23:05 PM MST


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Denver woman accused of threatening middle school students with gun

Font ResizeCops and CourtsBy John Ingold
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/18/2012 09:16:45 PM MSTDecember 19, 2012 4:17 AM GMTUpdated: 12/18/2012 09:16:45 PM MST

A Denver mother who believed her daughter was being bullied at school drove into the school's parking lot and threatened four girls with a gun, according to an arrest document.

Monica Avila, 34, was charged Tuesday with four counts of felony menacing and one count of possession of a weapon on school grounds, also a felony. According to the probable cause statement accompanying her arrest paperwork, Avila drove into the parking lot at Lake Middle School on Thursday afternoon and confronted four girls, ages 13 and 14.

The statement says Avila began arguing with the girls about bullying. She then, while still sitting in her car, pulled out a black semi-automatic handgun and said, "Look what I have," the document states.

Avila then drove out of the parking lot and parked across the street, as the girls told adults about what happened and called 911, according to the probable cause statement.

When officers arrived, they found Avila sitting in her car. They later found a handgun in the car.

Avila is being held in the Denver County Jail on a $50,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday to be formally advised of the charges against her, according to the Denver District Attorney's Office.

John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold

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Woman killed, several injured in collision that shuts down highway

Font ResizeCops and CourtsLongmont Times-Calldenverpost.comPosted: 12/16/2012 06:58:30 PM MSTDecember 17, 2012 1:59 AM GMTUpdated: 12/16/2012 06:58:39 PM MST

LONGMONT — One person died and several others were injured in a Saturday night traffic accident that shut down Colorado Highway 66 on both sides of Pace Street, authorities said.

Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Mike Baker said the woman who suffered fatal injuries was a passenger in a 2006 Toyota SUV that was westbound on Colorado 66 when it collided with an eastbound 2007 Hummer SUV.

The driver of the Toyota and at least five occupants of the Hummer were all transported to Longmont United Hospital for treatment of their injuries, according to Baker and Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur.

Identities of the accident victims were not immediately available.

Baker said officers were dispatched to the scene about 5:30 p.m. and that the State Patrol was still investigating the circumstances of the crash — which he said appeared to have been a head-on collision — several hours later.

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