Manitou Springs Police Department Emergency call 911, non-emergency call 719-390-5555.
March 21
Manitou Springs Police officers came upon a homeless encampment in a wooded area near several buildings in Manitou. It had a large active bonfire, which was immediately extinguished. The person responsible was cited for arson and released.
MSPD observed a vehicle weaving in the 00 block of Manitou Avenue at 2259 hours. The officers stopped the vehicle and, after investigating, took the driver into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.
March 22
At 0127 hours, officers responded to a residential burglary in progress report in unincorporated El Paso County, near U.S. Highway 24. They determined that a man had crashed his vehicle in the victim’s backyard. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office took the driver into custody and charged him with driving under the influence; the Colorado State Patrol also responded and investigated the accident.
Manitou officers responded to a family disturbance in the 200 block of Manitou Avenue at 1723 hours. After they investigated and identified all people involved, they learned that one person had a local misdemeanor warrant from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.
At 2240 hours, MSPD responded to a check-the-welfare request in the 300 block of Pilot Knob Avenue. They discovered a man was extremely intoxicated and causing a disturbance with other people in the residence, making them afraid of him. He was extremely belligerent and hostile toward first responders throughout the contact. He was ultimately placed on a mental health hold and transported to a hospital via ambulance.
March 23
A Manitou officer responded to a damaged carport in the 00 block of Crystal Park Road. No suspect information is available.
A resident in the 100 block of Modoc Place reported fraud through Verizon. The unknown suspect opened an account using the victim’s name and Social Security number.
MSPD responded to a report of menacing in the 00 block of El Paso Boulevard. The suspect was reported to have pulled a gun on the victim. The weapon was found and the suspect was taken into custody to be booked into CJC.
March 24
At 0030 hours, officers found an open door in an abandoned motel in the 100 block of Manitou Avenue. The door had been kicked in and someone attempted to start a fire in the room. The Manitou Springs Fire Department put out the embers and the building was cleared. No suspect information was available.
MSPD responded to a domestic violence in progress in unincorporated El Paso County at 0121 hours. The suspect reportedly left the scene and traveled east on Highway 24, toward Manitou. Officers located the vehicle, moving at high speed, and stopped it. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and an El Paso County deputy took the driver into custody for multiple domestic violence-related charges.
Officers took a report of a minor traffic accident in the 100 block of Lover’s Lane. No one was injured; one vehicle was parked and unoccupied at the time.
While assisting Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful with an illegal camp cleanup near Highway 24 and 31st Street, Manitou officers contacted a woman who was found to have a local misdemeanor warrant. She was issued a new court date and released on a personal recognizance bond.
Officers responded to a business in the 1000 block of Manitou Avenue, where the owner had found counterfeit money. No suspect information is available.
A credit card was turned in after being found in a parking kiosk.
Pills were located in a restaurant booth in the 300 block of Manitou Avenue. They were synthetic narcotics and were submitted for destruction. No suspect information is available.
March 25
An assault involving a machete was reported. Medical personnel responded to the scene and found that the victim had minor injuries. Officers attempted to investigate at the scene, but the victim left before they could gather much information.
MSPD received two children’s bikes that had been found in the 200 block of Manitou Avenue. The area was searched, but the owners were not located. They have been entered as found property at the station.
March 26
Officers stopped a weaving vehicle at mile marker 300 on eastbound Highway 24. They investigation on scene and arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was served a summons and released at the Manitou Springs Police station.
At 0130 hours, MSPD responded to a hit-and-run accident in the 300 block of Ruxton Avenue. The suspect’s vehicle struck private property, but the driver fled before officers arrived. The vehicle has not been located.
A criminal trespass was reported in the 00 block of El Paso Boulevard.
Manitou officers assisted the Colorado State Patrol with a high-risk traffic stop near Highway 24 and Cliff Road at 1950 hours. The vehicle came to a complete stop and the suspect was apprehended. The suspect was involved in a Woodland Park case and was handed off to that police department.
At 2243 hours in the 900 block of Manitou Avenue, MSPD located a suspect in a trespass case earlier in the day. She was transported to a local hospital for substance abuse treatment.
March 27
Officers observed a van parked in the aquatics center parking lot. They contacted the two people inside and a man was found to be wanted on a felony warrant from the Colorado Department of Corrections.
MSPD was contacted regarding previous encounters with a woman who was evidently a transient. Her parents were concerned about her well-being, so her information has been entered into local and national databases as a missing person.
Officers contacted a transient man illegally camping near El Paso Boulevard and Garden Drive. He was wanted on multiple felony warrants from El Paso County.
At 2012 hours, MSPD attempted to stop a vehicle with fictitious plates near 31st and Robinson streets. The driver wouldn’t pull over and fled while driving recklessly. Officers terminated the pursuit soon after; the investigation continues.
COURT UPDATE
Timothy Hilt, a former Manitou Springs High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student, will be in court for a disposition hearing on Tuesday, April 5, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch’s online docket.
Matthew Barton, a former MSHS teacher also accused of sexually assaulting a student, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, April 12.
Ashlynne Perez pleaded guilty to criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death and is scheduled for a final hearing Friday, April 15. Her 4-year-old son accidentally shot himself in the head July 6 outside a Manitou business.
Her husband, Carlos Perez, is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Friday, April 29.