SandBoxBlogs: Garfield Public Info "GARFIELD COUNTY ALL HAZARDS RESPONSE TEAM SILENT AUCTION AND FUNDRAISER"

GARFIELD COUNTY:

ALL HAZARDSRESPONSE TEAM

Saturday , July 14, 2012

12:00 P.M. — 3:00 P.M.

"The All Hazard Response Team (AHRT) is a multi-agency group within Garfield County, Colorado.  AHRT not only serves Garfield County, but also the entire Northwest Region of Colorado.  Currently, the five member agencies of ARHT include: the Garfield County  Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood Springs Police Department, Glenwood Springs Fire Department, Rifle   Police Department and the Silt Police Department.  AHRT is currently commanded by Undersheriff Colt Cornelius.

Each year AHRT competes nationally in order to maintain their skills and knowledge.  The Tactical Team competes in the United States National SWAT championships, whereas the Crisis Negotiation Team competes in Crisis Negotiation championships.  Along with the trainings and  competitions, AHRT regularly participates in community events with the intention of educating the public on the All Hazards Response Team   functions.

The All Hazards Response Team obtains their necessary tools and equipment through donation assistance, federal grants and cost  sharing through various local organizations.  The team employs a wide range of equipment, including the LENCO BearCat and the “Green Machine”...."
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"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/News in brief "Speeding motorist busted for drugs"

(Read similar story and public comments here)

"RULISON, Colorado — Sheriff's deputies stopped a speeding westbound vehicle passing by Rulison on I-70 at 10 p.m. Monday and arrested the driver for possession of illegal drugs, according to a release issued Wednesday by the Garfield County Sheriff's Department.

After impounding the vehicle, because the driver had no proof of insurance, the deputies found nearly 16 grams of suspected heroin and about one gram of suspected marijuana in the vehicle. The street value of the drugs is estimated at $1,500 to $2,000, the release stated.

Before pulling over, the driver hit 91 mph on the highway, the release stated.

The driver, Floyd Edward Hamilton, 22, of Denver, was arrested on suspicion of speeding 10 mph over the limit, driving without proof of insurance, possession of heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Garfield County Jail....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Sister worried about gang colors at Strawberry Days"

Comment ability on this post is wide open.

Debbie Centeno:
"With Strawberry Days upon us next month, I'm wondering what would be deemed appropriate attire by government officials for such an event.....

....So what would be the best way to show that you are just a normal person, at a normal carnival, just having a fun time with your kids?.........

.......Another reason why I would want to wear the most neutral “non-gang” colors is in case I see my nephews — the same nephews that saw their father arrested and loaded up on an immigration bus. I wouldn't want them to get more traumatized with also seeing their aunt get questioned or probably arrested because she wore a color that, in some big city, actual gang members wear.

How about for training purposes the sheriff's office spends my tax dollars going to, say, Denver or Los Angeles to see what an actual gang member dresses like and how he or she behaves? I would most certainly feel much safer when the sheriff's office has had actual experience with a real gang member, and thereby can distinguish the difference between a true criminal and a sports fan. It seems like not a hard thing to do. But unfortunately our sheriff's office has had no real experience with this issue, so we can't expect them to know how to act in such a case...." 
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Garfield County Sheriff's Report"

Public record via GSPI:
"Editor's note: The Garfield County Sheriff's Department reports the following incidents and arrests. Summonses or arrests merely indicate an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless found guilty in court.

Introducing contraband: Deputies responded to the Garfield County Jail at 6:12 p.m. on March 22 for a drug violation. After an investigation, Ralph Lee Vasquez, 33, of Basalt, was charged with introducing contraband in the first degree and possession of schedule II substance - cocaine...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Citizen Telegram "Humanitarian Service Award nominees unveiled"

Heather McGregor:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The Garfield Humanitarian Service Awards committee announced Wednesday that 16 individuals and one organization have been nominated for the 2012 Humanitarian Service Awards.

A celebratory dinner for the nominees and for those who nominated them, along with friends, family and colleagues will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 16, at the Hotel Colorado.

“If you know one of the nominees and have been touched in some way by their humanitarian service, please join us for this wonderful event to honor them,” said Marian McDonough, a member of the awards committee and executive director of Catholic Charities.

The nominees are divided into five categories, and are:

Senior volunteers: John Breckinridge, Niki Delson, Ron Kokish, all with Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and John Neal with Meals on Wheels.

Young adult volunteers: Sarah Rippy with YouthZone and Melea Sheridan with Grand River Volunteer Services.

Staff: Debbie Bath with Access Roaring Fork, Jenny Lang Burns with Mountain Family Health Center, Kelly Keeffe with Aspen-to-Parachute Dental Health Alliance, Kathleen Kline with Colorado Workforce, Barbara Romero and Gyla Stark with Creekside Assisted Living, Patty Schaffner with PALS Mentoring, and Megan Lee Taylor-Alstatt with the Garfield County Sheriff's Department.

Visionary founders: Diane Welter with Your Friends For Life, and Rosie McSwain with Tom's Door.

Organization: First United Methodist Church of Glenwood Springs..."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Garfield County Public Information " The Garfield County All Hazards Response Team"

" On January 12, 2012, six members of The Garfield County All Hazards Response Team competed in the 22nd Annual Crisis Negotiation Competition at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

The competition included 17 crisis negotiations teams from across the United States. The teams were judged based on several categories during an eight hour scenario which included: Active Listening Skills, Team Communications, Intelligence Gathering and Crisis Management Skills.  Judges were comprised of: New York FBI Negotiators, Former Army Negotiators, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Ranger Negotiators, just to identify a few.

The Garfield County All Hazards Crisis Negotiations Team brought home the 2^nd place trophy overall, tying with Travis County Crisis Negotiations Team from Texas...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: GarCo Sheriff "Local Law Enforcement Agencies Uncover Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring"

Garco Sheriff releases the information on the multi-agency bust of  a local Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring:

"NEWS RELEASE
Local Law Enforcement Agencies Uncover Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring

Garfield County, Colorado: A series of motor vehicle thefts in Denver and on the western slope that occurred between October 25 and October 30^th, 2011 have been identified as gang-related.

After further investigations, it was determined the crime spree was a product of three gang members living in Garfield County.

All three juveniles are validated Sureño gang members. Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda, 14 years of age, is currently facing charges of aggravated motor vehicle theft (class 4 felony), theft (class 4 felony), carrying a concealed weapon (class 2 misdemeanor), possession of a handgun by a juvenile (class 2 misdemeanor) and first-degree criminal trespass (class 5 felony). Luis Jurado, 16 years of age, is currently facing the charge of aggravated motor vehicle theft (class 4 felony). The third juvenile is still under investigation and is not currently facing felony charges.
No further information will be released on his identity. I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations is assisting inthe investigation of the gang members involved. I.C.E. has placed a hold on 14 year old Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda.

From what we know about the crime spree at this time, the three Sureño gang members are believed to have stolen seven cars total; five from the Pitkin/Garfield County jurisdictions, one from the Steamboat Springs area and one from the Denver area. They are also believed to have entered eight vehicles, stealing miscellaneous electronics and one handgun. The handgun was recovered from Gamez-Banda while attempting to steal another vehicle in New Castle, Colorado.

He was apprehended and held at gunpoint by the vehicle’s owner until officers from the New Castle Police Department and deputies from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office arrived and took him into custody.

During the initial stages of the investigation of Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda, by the Carbondale and New Castle Police Departments, the Carbondale Officer recognized what he knew to be gang related information. The officer immediately notified the Garfield County Sheriff's Office T.A.G.Deputy, who used his resources, database and informants to help identify the other suspects. This resulted in a joint investigation, which involved: T.A.G., Carbondale Police Department, Aspen Police Department, New Castle Police Department, Immigration Custom Enforcement and the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The joint investigation has led to the recovery of the previously mentioned stolen vehicles.

According to Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario, the outcome of this investigation demonstrates the importance of the cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies such as I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations Operation Community Shield Task Force. It also demonstrates that dangerous criminal gang activity is present in our communities and how a cooperative law enforcement approach with our citizens is crucial to eradicate this criminal element.

Law Enforcement would like to remind its citizens to remove their keys and lock their car doors.

Recently documented vehicle thefts, including the above, involved unlocked vehicles, and some with the vehicles keys inside. In an effort to prevent these types of crimes, please remember to remove valuables and secure your vehicle. Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a location that is well lit and has high visibility.

November 4, 2011

SandBox Comments: Garco Sheriff/Press Release "October 21, 2011"

Again, we introduce you to FRED.

"Since the existence of the Sheriff’s computer forensics and Internet investigations, known as FRED (Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device), in the Annex near Rifle, investigators promptly began analyzing the material. They were able to secure an arrest warrant based upon solid material evidence versus purely circumstantial findings. In the past, this type of evidence processing turn-around with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations office in Grand Junction or the Rocky Mountain Regional Computer Forensics Lab in Denver would have taken three to six months due to the enormous amount of material they must routinely process.

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office possesses specialized high tech crimes and computer forensic analysis capabilities as part of the Investigations Division. Specialized computer hardware, software and law enforcement techniques were used in this investigation as well as in all other investigations involving the exploitation of children undertaken by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The Garfield County Sheriff's Office is also a member of the ICAC (Internet Crimes against Children) task force.

In the last 13 months, Sheriff’s investigators have completed 25 such evidence analyses in-house whereas, prior to construction of the computer forensics room at the Annex, they averaged 13.5 a year since late 2006. Concerning Salmonsen’s case, investigators have thoroughly analyzed and documented over 500 gigabytes of data for the court proceedings...."

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