Week of August 18, 2022
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 38
Report: Lora Thomas shared anonymous letter But didn’t create hostile environment BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
An investigation into Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas found that while she did do some of the things of which
she was accused, she didn’t create a hostile work environment or open the county up to legal liability. The report shows answers to 11 allegations asked by Thomas’ fellow commissioners — George Teal and Abe Laydon. They both have said the results confirm their belief that Thomas should not serve as the board’s chair but Thomas said she be-
lieves the report exonerates her. “The full sum-and-substance of the report confirms not a single illegal action was committed by me nor did I place the county in any peril of legal liability as constantly alleged by Laydon and Teal for the past several months,” Thomas wrote in an email to her supporters Wednesday. Laydon and Teal asked for an investigation into Thomas in April
Crashes, pursuits highlight chase-policy differences
after they said she went against their direction and asked their legal counsel for information about supporters of a controversial water proposal from the San Luis Valley. The proposal, from Renewable Water Resources, had strong opposition in the southern Colorado community and Laydon said he wanted to protect the names of SEE LETTER, P8
Parker approves sale agreement on Mainstreet parcels Confluence Companies to step in BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
the scene, suffered injuries and was taken to a hospital. A pursuit in early February 2019 preceded a fatal crash involving a driver of a stolen car who was fleeing Douglas County deputies. That speeding driver hit another vehicle at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Mineral Avenue in a crash that left two people dead. The crash came as Douglas County deputies chased a different car in the incident, also believed to have been stolen, along Highway 85 — which is known as Santa Fe Drive farther north. The 20-year-old driver in the crash, Deanna Bixby, was driving “several miles ahead” of the deputies pursuing the other car,
Parker is one step closer to developing five parcels in its downtown after the town council approved a sale agreement of the land on Aug. 15. The town council will still need to approve the development agreement for the land from the buyer, Confluence Companies, according to the plan. The first reading of the sale agreement was approved in the consent agenda during the council meeting and therefore was not discussed. The final approval is scheduled for Sept. 6, when there will be a public hearing. Within about three weeks after the sale agreement is approved in its second reading, Confluence will be required to provide the terms of the development agreement to the town. The agreement will then be negotiated between the two parties. Confluence Companies, which developed parts of downtown Golden and Castle Rock, presented a plan of a variety of mixed-use
SEE DIFFERENCES, P10
SEE PARCELS, P9
Policies on when to pursue a suspect differ between Douglas County and Littleton.
Douglas County, Littleton differ BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
At least five crashes have occurred in the City of Littleton since 2019 after police pursuits by Douglas County deputies who were following suspects, some of whom were believed to be in stolen vehicles, records requests and prior reporting show. The wrecks highlight stark differences between chase policies for the Littleton Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office,
with Douglas County granting officers more reasons to engage in a pursuit. The most recent case was July 29, when an allegedly stolen car pursued by Douglas County deputies ran a red light and caused a crash at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Bowles Avenue around 11:43 p.m. Other incidents include a crash in early December 2021 when Douglas County deputies pursued an allegedly stolen truck from unincorporated Douglas County before driving into the back of the vehicle and causing it to crash on Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. The driver, who ran onto the road and was hit by an officer driving to
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