Investigation and Decision Re September 3, 2021, Shooting of Drew Lucero DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann’s legal review of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on September 3, 2021, at 5343 Billings Street in Denver is complete. DA McCann concluded that the shooting of Mr. Drew Lucero by three Westminster Police Department officers was legally justified…

No Meaningful Differences Found by Race or Ethnicity as to Why Cases were Dismissed or Defendants Received Deferred Judgments DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann today announced the completion of a follow-up report to an April study that sought to explore the presence and extent of racial and ethnic differences in case outcomes within the Denver…

DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann today announced that after deliberating for three hours, a Denver jury found 38-year-old Stephanie Martinez guilty of criminally negligent homicide and second degree assault on a peace officer. On May 2, 2020, Mr. George Black was sitting on a park bench on the grounds of Colorado’s state Capitol when Martinez,…

DENVER—Denver District Court Judge Edward Bronfin sentenced 27-year-old Sean Landrock on Friday to the maximum possible sentence for what he described as the “senseless, reprehensible and brutal murder” of his girlfriend, Shaina Castillo. “Studies have shown that Native American women like Shaina Castillo suffer domestic violence at alarmingly high rates in epidemic proportions, and my office…

DENVER—Prosecutors with the Denver District Attorney’s Office today announced that Shahir Ahmed (age 41) pled guilty late last week to Conspiracy to Commit Menacing (F6). On September 22, 2020, Ahmed was driving and saw a man holding a Biden for President sign at 7th Avenue and York Street in Denver. Ahmed began arguing with the…

DENVER—A Denver Grand Jury indicted 11 people on 91 counts for allegedly committing a series of crimes to support their fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine addictions. The Denver DA today announced that between February 19, 2021 and September 29, 2021, Timothy James Boles (age 27), Daniel Holman (age 42), Richardlee Martin Oritz (age 28), Lanea Dawn…

DENVER – As the month of October approaches, the Denver Police Department, Denver District Attorney’s Office and Rose Andom Center remind the community that it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Having a month dedicated to raising awareness on Domestic Violence, also known as Intimate Partner Violence, provides an opportunity to share information about warning signs, services…

DENVER—Late Friday, September 17, 2021, a Denver jury found Victor Arenas-Foote (age 28) guilty of murdering 36-year old Paul Dakan. In the early morning of December 15, 2019, at 4800 Washington Street, Arenas-Foote shot Dakan in the back of the head because his car had been impounded and he did not want to pay the…

Investigation and Decision Re May 14, 2021, Shooting of Cedrick Vick DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann’s legal review of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 14, 2021, at First Street and Perry Street in Denver is complete. DA McCann concluded that the shooting of Mr. Cedrick Vick by nine Denver Police Department officers was…

DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann today announced that prosecutors with her office have charged Jay Hemphill (age 49) with one count of felony menacing (F5). Hemphill is employed by the Colorado State Patrol. Prosecutors allege that on August 25, 2021, while crossing 14th Street at Sherman Street, Hemphill pointed his firearm at a woman driver.…