Manitou Springs Police Department Emergency call 911, non-emergency call 719-390-5555.
Jan. 31
Manitou Springs Police officers assisted the Colorado Springs Fire Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on the scene of an unattended death near U.S. Highway 24 and Ridge Road.
At 1934 hours in the 00 block of Crystal Park Road, officers contacted a person wanting to report their vehicle as stolen. After they spoke with the victim and a suspect, the victim realized that no crime had occurred — it was a misunderstanding.
A Manitou officer stopped a vehicle for speeding and failure to maintain a lane in the 400 block of Manitou Avenue. The driver was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and cited, then released to a sober person.
At 2144 hours, MSPD responded to a report of menacing in the 600 block of Manitou Avenue. The victim said a man had pointed a gun at him. The officers located the suspect and detained him, but didn’t have sufficient evidence for charges.The investigation is ongoing.
Feb. 1
Officers responded to a check-the-welfare request at the Cañon Avenue parking lot. They contacted a woman who had a local misdemeanor arrest warrant.
Feb. 3
A woman with several active arrest warrants was reported to be in the 300 block of Terrace Place. After searching the area, MSPD took her into custody. The local misdemeanor warrants were confirmed; she also had drug paraphernalia-related items and was cited for that. She was booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.
Officers were dispatched to a trespass in progress in the 100 block of Manitou Avenue. When they arrived, they noticed a red bag in a man’s pile of belongings. It was full of Manitou Springs Fire Department gear, which had been stolen from a volunteer firefighter’s residence. The officers issued the suspect a court summons for theft and released him.
Feb. 4
A traffic accident occurred on Highway 24, near mile marker 299. When Manitou officers arrived, they saw a white vehicle blocking the left lane. It had front-end damage and was undrivable, but no one was injured. The vehicle was towed and the highway was reopened.
MSPD observed a suspicious vehicle near Robinson and South 29th streets. The officers reported the vehicle’s license plate number and it was found to be stolen. They recovered the vehicle.
Feb. 5
At 1256 hours, officers responded to a medical call in the 200 block of Manitou Avenue. Upon arrival, they contacted both people involved and, through further investigation, discovered evidence of domestic violence. One person was arrested.
Manitou officers arrived in the 900 block of Manitou Avenue, where a harassment in progress had been reported. The suspect had already left the scene. The officers spoke to the victim, who declined to press charges.
Feb. 6
At 2146 hours, someone turned in a phone found in Soda Springs Park. It was placed in evidence for safekeeping.
COURT UPDATE
According to the Colorado Judicial Branch’s online docket, Timothy Hilt, a former Manitou Springs High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student, will be in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Matthew Barton, a former MSHS teacher also accused of sexually assaulting a student, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, March 15.
Ashlynne Perez pleaded guilty to criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death and is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, March 24. Her 4-year-old son accidentally shot himself in the head July 6 outside a Manitou business.
Her husband, Carlos Perez, is scheduled to be arraigned (formal reading of charges) on Friday, March 18.