Manitou Springs Police Department Emergency call 911, non-emergency call 719-390-5555.
Jan. 17
Found property was turned in at the Manitou Springs Police Department, and officers ascertained the owner’s identity. The person is now out of state, so the item will be shipped.
MSPD responded to a disturbance in the 1100 block of Manitou Avenue. One of the juveniles involved was wanted on an El Paso County misdemeanor warrant. The suspect was arrested and issued a personal recognizance bond.
At 1655 hours, officers stopped a vehicle in the 300 block of Manitou Avenue. The driver was arrested on multiple charges.
MSPD observed a vehicle traveling 65 mph in a 30 mph area, westbound in the 00 block of Manitou Avenue at 2000 hours. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver ran a red light and continued west. Once the vehicle stopped in the 400 block, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, among other charges, and transported to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on an unrelated warrant from Texas.
Jan. 18
At 0017 hours, officers responded to a bar in the 900 block of Manitou Avenue after receiving a report of a man stalking a female customer. After investigating, the MSPD verified that he was stalking her and the two had been in an intimate relationship. The man was taken into custody and booked into CJC on felony charges.
MSPD responded to a domestic violence in progress in the 100 block of Oklahoma Road at 0539 hours. One person was arrested on assault charges.
Officers stopped a vehicle with fictitious license plates in the 100 block of Manitou Avenue. The driver was cited for a criminal traffic violation and the plates were seized as evidence.
At 1216 hours, the MSPD responded to the 00 block of Manitou Avenue and cited a person for making a false police report.
Officers contacted a homeless man in an illegal camp at west U.S. Highway 24 and Ridge Road. He had local felony warrants.
MSPD contacted a person at 1317 hours at Highway 24 and Ridge Road and found the suspect had a local misdemeanor warrant. The suspect was served with a new court date.
At 1359 hours, officers stopped a vehicle in the 3300 block of West Colorado Avenue and cited and arrested the driver, who had a local misdemeanor warrant.
Two people entered the police station at 1545 hours to report criminal mischief in Soda Springs Park, 1016 Manitou Ave.
MSPD officers were patrolling the 2000 block of Manitou Avenue for homeless camp cleanup and identifying people as they spoke to them. At 2240 hours, they discovered that one person had a failure-to-appear warrant on a local misdemeanor charge from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office; the suspect received a personal recognizance bond. The officers also found a suspicious vehicle that showed several indicators of being stolen, but had not been reported. MSPD contacted the registered owner, who said it was stolen but he hadn’t been able to report it. The vehicle was returned to the owner, but there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the occupants.
Jan. 19
At 0721 hours, MSPD contacted someone with a local misdemeanor warrant in the police station. The person was served and released.
Officers contacted a person illegally camping in the 100 block of Crystal Hills Boulevard at 1030 hours. The suspect had multiple local misdemeanor warrants and was served and released.
At 1623 hours, MSPD contacted a man camping in the 100 block of Manitou Avenue who was wanted on a local misdemeanor warrant. He was served and released.
Officers responded to an accident on Highway 24 near Cave of the Winds Road. When they arrived, they observed one vehicle blocking the road and two others at the side of the road that were also involved. Vehicles were damaged, but no one was injured.
Jan. 20
MSPD euthanized a deer that was stuck on a fence in the 200 block of Spencer Avenue.
Officers were dispatched to Glen Road and Highway 24, where a vehicle had struck the guardrail. The vehicle had minor damage.
MSPD responded to a three-vehicle accident on eastbound Highway 24 just east of Cliff Road. At least one vehicle was totaled, but no one was injured. One driver was cited for careless driving.
Someone reported a damaged window in a vacant building under renovation near Park and Manitou avenues. There is no suspect information, but the incident is still being investigated.
Officers were patrolling in the 200 block of Manitou Avenue when they located a stolen vehicle in a motel parking lot. The vehicle was impounded for evidence. No suspects have been identified.
Jan. 21
MSPD responded to a criminal mischief incident in the 100 block of Ruxton Avenue. A suspect was identified, but not cited. The reporting party wanted it documented in case problems persist.
Officers went to the 200 block of Elk Path after being asked to check the welfare of a woman, but found no one there. Approximately one hour later, dispatch received a second phone call, saying she was sending
suicidal text messages. MSPD had dispatch ping the woman’s phone and began searching for her. She was located at her workplace and taken into custody for a mental health evaluation.
Someone reported purchasing a motorcycle from a person in Manitou Springs; the motorcycle’s vehicle identification number didn’t match the title. MSPD attempted to contact the suspect, but couldn’t. A summons for fraud will be issued.
Jan. 22
Officers were patrolling in the 900 block of Manitou Avenue at 0045 hours when they saw two women asleep in the front passenger area of a vehicle with the engine running. Both were found to be intoxicated and the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
MSPD and the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department responded to a medical problem at the police station. The patient was transported to a hospital and two knives were placed in safekeeping.
A man was reported to be staying in a closed hotel in the 100 block of Manitou Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a man in room 33 and told him he couldn’t stay in the building. He said he would pack up and leave, and officers cleared the scene after citing him for trespassing.
Officers checked the welfare of a man reported to be flagging down cars on west Highway 24 in Cascade. He originally requested help for a medical concern, then declined medical aid. He was wanted on an El Paso County Sheriff’s Office felony warrant and was transported to CJC.
Jan. 23
A residential burglary in progress was reported in the 400 block of El Paso Boulevard. MSPD contacted a man trying to enter a home; he was arrested and charged with trespassing.
At 2010 hours, officers observed a vehicle displaying expired registration in the 400 block of Manitou Avenue. Once they stopped the car, they could smell a strong alcohol odor. The driver underwent voluntary roadside maneuvers and was taken into custody for DUI.
MSPD stopped a vehicle at Highway 24 and South Eighth Street at 2033 hours. The driver had a canceled license, had no insurance on the vehicle and no license plate was attached. The driver also had an out-of-county misdemeanor warrant. The suspect was issued a summons and a new court date, and was released on a personal recognizance bond. The vehicle was impounded.
COURT UPDATE
According to the Colorado Judicial Branch’s online docket, Matthew Barton, a former Manitou Springs High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, March 15.
Ashlynne Perez, charged with criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death, was due in court for arraignment (formal reading of the charges) on Thursday, Jan. 27.
Her husband, Carlos Perez, is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, March 18. Their 4-year-old son accidentally shot himself in the head July 6 outside a Manitou business.
Timothy Hilt, a former MSHS teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student, will be in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Landon Johnston, who is accused of vandalizing Crystal Valley Cemetery in May 2021, was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 20.