Transcript GOLDEN 3/28/13
Golden
March 28, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 17
LOOKING FOR A HOME Tundra, an adoptable 7-year-old Siberian Husky, checks out the scene with her volunteer handler, Debbie Fleckenstine, at the grand opening of the new Eddie Bauer location in the Colorado Mills shopping mall March 22. Fleckenstine and other Foothills Animal Shelter volunteers attended the opening with adoptable dogs and collected donations. The store was offering to match any donation made to the animal shelter during the grand opening. Photo by Glenn Wallace
Golden murder may be solved Texas gun battle leads to break in local cases By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com The mystery of who shot and killed 27-year-old Nathan Collin Leon, and left his body in a field near C-470 and West Colfax Avenue, may have been solved by an incident more than 700 miles away. Leon’s body was found on the evening of March 17, across town from his last known location, where he had delivered pizza. Now, authorities say Evan Spencer Ebel, 28, the suspect in a March 21 shootout and car chase in Decatur, Texas, is also the suspect in the Leon case. He was also named the suspect in the March 19 killing of Tom Clements, executive director of Colorado’s Department of Corrections, who was killed at his Monument home. According to authorities, the chase in Texas began when a car with Colorado plates was stopped for a minor moving violation. The driver, Ebel, opened fire on the Montague County Sheriff’s Deputy, injuring him. He then led area law enforcement on a chase that reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. The chase came to an abrupt halt when Ebel’s car collided with an 18-wheeler. Ebel exited the car and began firing at officers. He was killed in the ensuing gun fight. Among the evidence reported as being collected from Ebel’s car were a pizza box warmer, and a Domino’s jacket. Golden City Manager Mike Bestor confirmed that a Golden detective was part of the Colorado law enforcement contingent that traveled to Texas that day to investigate. “It looks like they might have the suspect,” Bestor told the City Council March 21. The next morning Denver Police Department made this statement via Twitter: “Thanks to great work by Golden Police Department investigators, Denver Police Department detectives and a forensic examination by the Denver Crime Lab, we are confident the Texas suspect is also the suspect in the Denver/Golden case.” According to the Denver Post, Ebel is a parolee from the Denver area with an extensive criminal history, including affiliation with a white-supremacy prison gang.
Taking a trip down the line W Rail all travelers hope for By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com The W Rail is going to be well worth the wait. Since construction began in July 2009, residents of Denver, Lakewood and Golden have eagerly anticipated the ease and sustainability of travel that the light rail will bring, and I was able to ride the rail on March 20 to experience it for myself. Conductor Tim Mascolo oper-
ated the media train (a job he’s been doing for 14 years) and said the W Rail is the most scenic route FasTracks has. As I watched sights slide by — the foothills leading to the Rockies, the Denver skyline and landmarks like Casa Bonita’s pink spire — it was difficult not to agree. The route travels between Union Station and the Jefferson County Administration and Courts building, and is projected to draw 20,000 riders, according to Austin Jenkins, assistant general manager of rail operations for the Regional Transportation District. The ride is smooth and qui-
POSTAL ADDRESS
et, befitting of one of the most unique facets of the W Rail. It passes through neighborhoods, slicing quietly behind backyards, loading docks of businesses and parks. “There was concern about the amount of noise, and during the construction there is no doubt neighborhoods were impacted,” said Jim Starling, W Rail project manager. “Now that it’s done and we’re getting to running, most people I’ve run into are just excited to ride it.” What most surprised me was Rail continues on Page 21
RTD staff ride along the W Rail line as the train approaches the Indiana Street bridge. Photo by Glenn Wallace
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
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