Aurora Police News
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The Aurora Police News Blog was created in 2016 as a new way to share news and information from the Aurora Police Department with the community we serve. It is maintained by the staff of the Public Information Officer. 

Public Information Officer Staff:

Sergeant Faith Goodrich - Unit Supervisor
Agent Matthew Longshore - Public Information Officer
Joe Moylan - Public Information Officer
Sydney Edwards - Public Information Officer 

To reach a member of the Public Information Officer call 720.432.5095 or email [email protected]. If you are a member of the public and you have a question, general request, comment or concern, please email [email protected].

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The men and women of the Aurora Police Department are committed to making a Aurora a safer place everyday.

DISCLAIMER: Information is subject to change as case investigations proceed. Individuals arrested on the basis of probable cause have not been charged. All arrestees are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. 


Recent Posts
February 2019 - Posts

On July 2, 2017 at approximately 10:00 a.m., Aurora Police Officers responded to the Knights Inn Motel located at 14200 East 6th Avenue to check the welfare of an adult female. Upon their arrival, officers located the female deceased inside one of the motel rooms.

Since then, the Major Crimes Homicide Unit (MCHU) obtained an arrest warrant for Arturo Garcia (DOB: 07/19/1996) for the 1st Degree Murder of Alexandrea Raber (DOB: 11/21/1998) who was 18 years old at the time of her death.

On Tuesday February 26th, 2019, Garcia was apprehended in Mexico. Garcia was deported to the United States, and is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail. Extradition proceedings are underway for Garcia to be transported back to Colorado where he will be prosecuted by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

We would like to thank our local, state and federal partners who were instrumental in the successful apprehension of Garcia.

An updated booking photo for Garcia from the Dallas County Jail can be retrieved online once it is available by clicking HERE.

No further information about this investigation or the arrest are available at this time. All further media inquiries should be directed to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Crystal McCoy
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095



UPDATE:

The Major Crimes/Homicide Unit has been actively investigating a suspicious death that occurred on July 2, 2017 at the Knights Inn Motel located at 14200 East 6th Avenue. At this time investigators are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Arturo Garcia (DOB: 07/19/96) who has an active arrest warrant for 1st Degree Murder.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the APD Fugitive Apprehension and Surveillance Team Tip Line at 303-627-FAST (3278) or

Metro Denver Crime Stoppers

at 720-913-STOP (7867). By calling Crime Stoppers tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a REWARD of up to $2,000.

There are no other updates at this time. The name of the victim will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office once a positive identification has been made and the next of kin has been notified.
garcia

Officer Diana Cooley
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095


Information previously released on July 2, 2017:

On July 2, 2017 at approximately 10:00 A.M., Aurora Police Officers responded to the Knights Inn Motel located at 14200 E. 6th Avenue. to check on the welfare of a person at this location.  Upon arrival, Officers located a deceased adult female inside a motel room.  There are suspicious circumstances surrounding the female's death.


This is still an active and on-going investigation and there are no further details to provide at this time. Detectives and Investigators from the Major Crimes/Homicide responded to the scene and resumed the investigation.  The identity of the deceased will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office once a positive identification has been made and the next of kin has been notified. 

The Aurora Police Department is asking anyone with information about this case to contact Agent Todd Fredericksen  with the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit at 303-739-6106. Tipsters can also provide information to

 Metro Denver Crime Stoppers

by calling 720-913-7867. By using Crime Stoppers tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

Officer Bill Hummel
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720-432-5095

Posted by [email protected]  On Feb 27, 2019 at 8:06 PM
  
CORRECTION:  The train conductors name was incorrectly spelled.  The correct name is Jeremiah Hartzell. 




UPDATE: The Aurora Police Department Traffic Section with the assistance of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) has completed its investigation into the cause of the R-Line Light Rail Train derailment that occurred on January 28th, 2019 at the intersection of South Sable Boulevard and East Exposition Avenue.

The Aurora Police Department presented the charges against Jeremiah Hartzel, 33 years of age, of one count of 1st Degree Assault, three counts of 2nd Degree Assault and five counts of 3rd Degree Assault for review by the Office of the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District. The District Attorney will decide the charges that will be accepted. We ask any further questions about this case be directed to the District Attorney’s Office.

The passenger transported to the hospital has requested the Aurora Police Department convey to the media their continued wishes to maintain their privacy and are not interested in any media contact.

No further information is available for release at this time.

Officer Anthony Camacho
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720-432-5095



Information from previous post

On January 28th, 2019, at 7:15 AM, an Aurora Police Officer arrived at the intersection of South Sable Blvd and East Exposition Avenue where an RTD R-Line Light Rail Train had just derailed. The train had been south on Sable Blvd and making the turn to west on Exposition Ave when it jumped the track. One person was ejected from the train and sustained a serious injury. The Aurora Police Officer quickly applied first aid until Aurora Fire Rescue arrived. That person was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition. A few other passengers on the train reported minor injuries and were also transported to a local hospital. 

The Aurora Police Traffic Unit is investigating this incident with the cooperation of RTD. Speed and weather conditions, due to the heavy snowfall, are factors being considered.

The intersection of Sable and Exposition is still closed at this time and may be for a couple more hours.

Sgt. Chris Carleton
Aurora Police Traffic Investigations

Posted by [email protected]  On Feb 19, 2019 at 2:03 PM
  

CORRECTION  
The crash occurred on February 15th, 2019, at about 2:15 A.M. 




On January 15th, 2019,  at about 2:15 A.M, Officers from the Aurora Police Department responded to a the area of E. Mississippi Ave. and S. Troy St. on reports of a single vehicle rollover crash. 

 

The Aurora Police Department Traffic unit investigated the accident and found the vehicle was traveling westbound on E. Mississippi Ave. at about S. Troy St. where the driver lost control of the car.  The vehicle hit the planter box in the center median and rolled several times coming to rest in the eastbound lanes of E. Mississippi Ave.  The adult male driver was unrestrained in the vehicle and was partially ejected from the car.  When Aurora Fire Rescue arrived on scene it was determined that the driver had already succumbed to his injuries.

 

The Aurora Police Traffic Unit is investigating the accident and ask any witnesses to call Officer Justin Thull at 303-739-6381 with any information about the accident.  It appears at this time speed and alcohol will be factored in this accident.

 

This will be the 4th fatal accident in Aurora in 2019.   

 

Any further inquiries into this accident can be directed to:

Lieutenant Jad Lanigan

Aurora Police Department Metro Division

Traffic Section Commander

Assistant Swat Commander

6 Abilene St

Aurora, Colorado 80011

303-739-6326

[email protected]

Posted by [email protected]  On Feb 15, 2019 at 2:24 PM
  
On February 14th, 2019, Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit (MCHU), with the assistance of the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office and the State of Colorado Archaeologist, determined that bones that were located by construction crews during excavation were determined to be a male, most likely over one hundred, if not one thousand, years old, and of Native American descent.

The Colorado State Archaeologist has assumed responsibility of the remains and the location site, and will be continuing their examination into the bones.

We wanted to express our appreciation to Necrosearch for their assistance in this investigation and Richmond American Homes for promptly notifying authorities of their discovery and treating the area of where the bones were located respectfully.

Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Information previously released on February 13, 2019


On February 13th, 2019, around 10:00 A.M., the Aurora Police Department received a call from a construction crew that they located what appeared to be human bones while excavating in the area of East Smoky Hill Parkway and South Powhaton Road.

Initial investigation reveals that the bones appear to be human. The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit, with the assistance from the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office, responded to the scene. The scene where the bones were found has been secured by officers until a forensic dig can be completed and a thorough search of the immediate area.

A final autopsy will be completed by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office after the safe removal of the bones from the area.

Anyone that may have information about these remains are asked to call Agent Michael Prince at 303-739-6127.


Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
Posted by [email protected]  On Feb 14, 2019 at 4:14 PM
  
On February 9th, 2019, at about 6:40 AM, Aurora Police Officers responded to a single vehicle crash in the area of South Chambers Road and East Hampden Avenue.  When they arrived, they determined that a 2018 Nissan Sentra was traveling north on South Chambers Road at a high rate of speed.  As the Sentra crossed over East Hampden Avenue, it started to lose control and left the roadway.  It struck a tree on the east side of the street and was cut in half.  The driver and rear seat passenger were both pronounced deceased at the scene.  The front seat passenger managed to climb out of the wreckage and left the scene before Officers arrived.  He turned up seven hours later at a local hospital with significant injuries.

The identities of all partys involved in this crash are not being released at this time.  There were no other vehicles involved.  Speed is most certainly a factor in this crash.  The Traffic Unit is handling this crash.  The Aurora Police Department is asking that anyone with information regarding this crash contact us.

Sergeant William Revelle
Traffic Section
303 739 6374
Posted by [email protected]  On Feb 09, 2019 at 1:39 PM
  

On Tuesday February 5th, 2019 at about 8:20 AM, Aurora Police and Fire responded to E. Iliff Ave and S. Vaughn Way for an accident involving a pickup truck and a pedestrian.  Once there they found that a 12 year old girl had attempted to cross Iliff and had been struck by the pickup.

The driver of the pickup and other witnesses immediately stopped to render aid and call 911.  The girl was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.  Despite the medical care she received, she passed away today as a result of her injuries.

The preliminary investigation found that the girl was on her way to school and not using the signaled intersections to cross E. Iliff Ave.  She was half-way across Iliff and stepped off the median and into traffic when she was struck by the westbound pickup.  There is no evidence of speed or other factors on the part of the pickup driver involved contributing to the cause of this crash.  The driver of the pickup has been cooperative and is understandably upset about this tragic accident.

The names of the parties involved in this accident are not being released at this time.

Sergeant Chris Carleton
Aurora Police Traffic Investigations

 

Posted by [email protected]  On Feb 08, 2019 at 10:49 PM
  
 
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