Two hospitalized after kitchen fire

AURORA | A kitchen fire at an Aurora townhome sent two people to the hospital Tuesday morning, fire officials said. 

The fire started about 11 a.m. in a home at 17673 E. Loyola Ave. 

Capt. Al Robnett, a spokesman for Aurora fire, said a man and a boy were in the home when the fire started and were taken to an area hospital with smoke inhalation. 

Robnett said the pair’s injuries are not considered serious. 

The fire was confined to the home’s kitchen, he said. 

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. 

Aurora woman nabbed at border with 500 pounds of weed

The bundles of weed, pic courtesy CBP.

AURORA | An Aurora woman was arrested in New Mexico over the weekend trying to smuggle 551 pounds of marijuana into the United States from Mexico. 

Vanessa Fuller, 22, had the marijuana hidden in the floorboards of a Ford Expedition when she was stopped Sunday, according to a statement from the United States Customs and Border Protection agency. 

Here is what the feds said about Fuller’s case:

"CBP officers working at area ports of entry seized 923 pounds of marijuana in five incidents. The largest drug bust of the weekend occurred Sunday afternoon at the Columbus port of entry. CBP officers discovered 551 pounds of marijuana hidden in the floorboard of 2004 Ford Expedition that entered the port from Mexico. The car was driven by a 22-year-old Colorado woman who was traveling with her 1 ½ year-old son.

CBP officers arrested Vanessa Fuller of Aurora, Colorado. She was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents to face federal drug smuggling charges. Her son was turned over to representatives of the New Mexico Department of Child Protective Services."

Click below for the full release from CBP and another pic from them. 

Hightower's murder trial underway in Centennial

AURORA | The trial of an Aurora man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in 2007 at her Glendale apartment is under way in Arapahoe County District Court. 

Marcus Hightower is accused of Abigail Robertson in December 2007. 

The trial started last week and is expected to wrap up next week. 

According to court records Hightower, who was 23 at the time of the killing, is charged with murder, burglary, robbery and weapons possession by a previous offender.

Hightower turned himself in to Aurora police minutes after Glendale police say he stabbed his ex-girlfriend at her apartment on South Dahlia Circle.

He has been held without bond in the Arapahoe County Jail since his arrest in December 2007. 

Feds: Busted cocaine ring brought 20 kilos a week to Denver from Juarez, Mexico

U.S. Attorney John Walsh discusses the case.
Photo by Gabe Christus. Click to enlarge.

DENVER | Federal prosecutors said Monday they busted a cocaine trafficking ring that brought about 20 kilograms of cocaine to Denver from Mexico every week. 

The case, dubbed “Operation Triple Stack,” included drug distribution charges against 35 people — 29 of which are now in custody — and the seizure of 53 kilograms of cocaine, 35 pounds of marijuana, $650,000 in cash, nine firearms and 15 vehicles. 

The ring, which has ties to the violent Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, brought drugs north on Interstate 25 from Juarez, Mexico, to Denver and distributed them in the area with the help of the Tre Deuce Gangster Crips and North Side Mafia street gangs, United States Attorney for Colorado John Walsh said at a press conference in Denver. 

“This is not a case in which the drugs were destined for other cities or other states, but rather for use here in Colorado,” Walsh said. 

Siren test set for Tuesday

AURORA | Local emergency managers will test the city’s outdoor warning sirens Tuesday morning. 

According to a statement from Aurora fire, the Aurora Office of Emergency Management will test the system at 11 a.m. Tuesday. 

The test ensures the warning systems are ready when needed and the public is aware of the siren, the statement said.

A three minute “wail” tone will be heard over the siren system and will continue as the outdoor siren rotates the speakers in all four directions to cover the surrounding areas.  

After that, a 30 second “whoop” tone from the sirens will be heard. There will be no voice heard during this test, the statement said. 

Feds announce major cocaine bust

AURORA | The United States Attorney’s Office in Denver said this morning local and federal law enforcement dismantled a major  cocaine trafficking ring. 

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office, the ring had ties to local street gangs as well as drug cartels in Mexico. 

A press conference is scheduled for this afternoon in Denver to discuss the case. 

There is likely an Aurora connection here because Aurora police Chief Dan Oates is scheduled to speak at the presser, along with U.S. Attorney John Walsh, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis, Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman, Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr, and Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver. 

Click below for the announcement from the U.S. Attorney.

Man found dead Thursday was murdered

AURORA | A 28-year-old man found dead in his apartment Thursday was murdered, police said Friday. 

Police found Juan Gerardo Miranda-Hernandez dead in his apartment in the 17300 block of East Adriatic Drive shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday. 

The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office on Friday ruled the death a homicide. 

The coroner’s office said Miranda-Hernandez died of a single gunshot wound to his chest. 

Police are offering a $2,000 reward for information about Miranda-Hernandez’s slaying. 

Police are asking anyone with information about Miranda-Hernandez’s murder to call Detective Tom Sobieski at 303-739-6110.