ARMED MAN SHOT AT CANYON CREEK AFTER HIGH SPEED CHASE
Glenwood Springs—It began yesterday afternoon as a domestic violence incident in Parachute. Tragically, it ended at Canyon Creek with Garfield County Sheriff’s Deputies shooting and killing a man after a 30 mile long, 95 mile an hour chase along eastbound I-70. According to reports from the Sheriff’s Office, the armed suspect sped off in a red Dodge pick-up and managed to elude state troopers and Sheriff’s deputies until he got the Canyon Creek exit. That’s where troopers flattened his tires with a spike strip. Officers say the man then dashed out of his truck while holding a gun to his head. He ran toward the interstate waving his gun around and ignored commands to freeze and drop his weapon. Deputies opened fire and the man was hit. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Valley View Hospital. According to the latest report from county coroner Rob Glassmire, a positive identification of the suspect is still pending autopsy results and notification of relatives. Traffic was snarled for miles last night during and after the incident as both eastbound I-70 and State Highway 6 had to be shut down at New Castle for about five hours.
MARIJUANA EDIBLES PEDDLED AT COAL RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Silt—AP) – A Rifle man is accused of buying marijuana edibles allegedly distributed and used by students at Coal Ridge High School. Twenty-one-year-old Hector Manuel Ruiz was arrested last week. The investigation began Feb. 4 after a student reported feeling sick after eating a cookie and testing positive for marijuana. The girl told police she had been given the cookie at school and didn’t know it contained marijuana. Investigators have determined that nine students were involved in distributing, purchasing or eating the edibles. According to court documents, a 16-year-old student who bought edibles from Ruiz told police that he wanted to start his own business and prove he could make money.
DENVER (AP) – Colorado is challenging the federal government’s decision to protect the Gunnison sage grouse. The Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, arguing that listing the bird as threatened was unwarranted. The state says the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to rely on the best available science, consider conservation efforts by landowners and state and local governments and study the economic effects of the designation. The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bird as threatened in November, and about 5,000 remain, only in Colorado and Utah. Some environmental groups also have sued, saying threatened status is too weak and the birds should be considered endangered, which carries stronger protections. Federal protection could bring restrictions on agriculture and oil and gas wells.
