SUNRISE: 5 suspects from 2 robberies on loose

A pair of robberies within a couple hours have Colorado Springs police looking for five suspects.

A 53-year-old man was met by two men, one wielding a knife, as he came home about 9 p.m. Thursday to the Mountain View Apartments in the 4000 block of Westmeadow Drive in southwest Colorado Springs. They demanded money.

The pair beat the man and took his money, cell phone and keys, then ran away. Another person chased them. Police brought in the K9 unit, but the men got away.

The victim was taken to a local hospital.

A 17-year-old boy was robbed near Russell Middle School in east Colorado Springs about 11 p.m. Thursday.

The teen was sitting in his car when three men in their late teens came up to the vehicle and demanded the 17-year-old's cell phone. The victim handed over the phone and the suspects left in a 1995 Honda Accord, which was later found near Templeton Gap Road and Buckaroo Drive. The Accord had been stolen earlier.

The K9 unit searched for the three robbers, but couldn’t find them.

WEATHER

It will be cool and sunny today. Temperatures are expected to max out at 75 degrees.

Saturday and Sunday, however, should be warmer, according to the National Weather Service. After a high near 88 on Saturday, thermometers will read about 91 degrees on Sunday before cooling off, to 76 degrees, on Monday.

The entire holiday weekend should be clear with minimal chance of precipitation.

AROUND COLORADO

Arvada Police Department investigates officers

(AP) Two Arvada police officers have been placed on administrative leave during an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by members of the Denver-area department.

An investigation is focusing on allegations that an officer struck a suspect in January and that one or more officers saw the incident and failed to report it. The officers' names haven't been released.

The Arapahoe County sheriff's office has been asked to investigate to determine if any criminal charges should be filed.

Ex-Fort Carson construction chief pleads guilty

(AP) The former director of construction at Fort Carson has pleaded guilty to a charge that he failed to disclose several thousands of dollars in gifts from a contractor doing business with the Army.

William T. Armstrong pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of making a false statement to the Army when he failed to disclose nearly $3,400 in gifts on a form he filled out in January 2008.

Prosecutors alleged that Armstrong received the gifts in May 2007. They say the investigation is ongoing.

Father, daughter face charges for gun at airport

(AP) A father and daughter face charges for allegedly trying to get through Denver International Airport security with a loaded .22-caliber handgun.

James Mueller, 44, faces a charge of illegally providing a gun to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His daughter, a juvenile, faces a charge of a minor illegally possessing a handgun.

Denver prosecutors say Mueller told investigators that he gave the gun to his daughter for protection and that she had forgotten it in her purse. Transportation Security Administration screeners found the handgun Monday.

Teen arrested in assault on Greeley jogger

(AP) Greeley police have arrested a 17-year-old girl in the assault of a jogger in a city park.

Police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said Thursday that a 47-year-old Greeley woman was jogging in the park Aug. 24 when she saw a group of teens watching a girl beat up another girl. He says the girls called the woman names and threatened her when she shouted at them to stop.

Tymkowych says the woman took out her cell phone to call 911 and was hit in the face several times by one of the girls. The woman said the crowd encouraged the girl to beat her up and some recorded the assault on their cell phones.

The Greeley Tribune reports that the suspect turned herself in.

NM man convicted of assaulting federal officer

(AP) A federal jury has convicted a New Mexico man of assaulting a federal officer in a Colorado jail.

A jury announced the verdict Thursday against Ronald Romero, 46, of Gallup, a member of the Nambe Pueblo tribe. Jurors deliberated for about two hours after a three-day trial in Durango.

Romero faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A sentencing date hasn't been set.

Authorities say Romero assaulted a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer in 2008 in the Ute Mountain Ute tribal jail in Towaoc. They say he grabbed the officer's face and gouged at his eye. They say the officer's cornea was scratched.

The BIA investigated the case.

Toddler trampled by moose in northern Colorado

(AP) Wildlife officers say a toddler was injured after being trampled by a moose in northern Colorado.

The extent of the child's injuries wasn't immediately clear. The child's name wasn't released.

Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton says the incident happened Thursday afternoon at Pine Beach along Shadow Mountain Reservoir in Grand County. A female moose ran over the top of the child, who is about 3, and kept running.

It's unclear whether the moose was charging at the child or running for some other reason.

Several bull moose and a cow moose with two calves have been spotted in the area before, prompting authorities to post warning signs.

Wildlife officers are looking for the moose, which will be euthanized if found.

Report: Springs 4th-safest city for drivers, Fort Collins No. 1

(AP) Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson is giving credit to residents for the city's No. 1 spot in a major insurance company's ranking of the country's "safest driving city."

The Allstate Insurance Co. released its ranking Thursday of the country's 200 largest cities based on the frequency of car collisions. Its report says the average driver in Fort Collins will experience a collision every 14.5 years, about 31 percent less likely than the national average.

Hutchinson says the city's top ranking is the result of people taking responsibility for keeping the streets safe.

The report ranks Colorado Springs as the fourth-safest city with the average driver involved in a collision every 12.5 years. Denver was 45th with a collision every 10.5 years.

HAPPENINGS

- Farmers market, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Center and Henrietta streets, Woodland Park.

- Farmers market, 4-8 p.m., Soda Springs Park, 1016 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs.

- “Artwalk” presented by ENT Business Banking, 5-8 p.m., West Colorado Avenue, Old Colorado City, free.

- Gary Cover, 5-8 p.m., Will Rogers Lounge, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, free.

- “Shifting Currents” Opening Reception with work by Jean Gumpper, 3-5 p.m., Smokebrush Gallery, 218 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 111. Exhibit runs through Sept. 24.

- Swallowtrail World Music and showing of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” 6:30 p.m., he Margarita at PineCreek, 7350 Pine Creek Road.

- Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 7:05 p.m. vs. Sacramento River Cats, Security Service Field, 4385 Tutt Blvd., $7-$12.

- “Stargazer Series,” with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society and Cool Science and Science Matters, 8-10 p.m., Mountain Sky Ride at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo road, $5 for adults; $4 for children ages 4-11.

- The Martini Shot Band, 9:30 p.m., The Thirsty Parrot, 32 S. Tejon St., no cover.