Driver leaves 'deposit' at crash site, is arrested
Suspected drunk driver crashes into road construction signs
A suspected drunk driver was arrested early Wednesday morning after police say he ran his pickup into several road construction signs, then defecated and vomited at the site of the crash.
Police arrested Tracy Beardsley, 44, on suspicion of driving under the influence and several traffic violations after the crash, which happened about 2:20 a.m. near the intersection of Bijou and Stanford streets.
Police say Beardsley’s pickup entered a construction area and hit several signs directing traffic, ripping the axle off a trailer it was pulling and sending dozens of computer printers he was hauling onto the street.
No one was working at the site at the time of the crash.
Beardsley then got out of the pickup, defecated on the street and left “copious amounts of vomit,” according to the Colorado Springs police blotter.
Beardsley was not injured in the crash.
WEATHER
Expect slightly warmer temperatures Wednesday, with the city reaching a high temperature of 78. Temps are expected to dip to 51 overnight before rising Thursday to the low 80s.
AROUND COLORADO
Colorado wildfire destroys 92 structures
BOULDER (AP) — Authorities say a wildfire burning near Boulder has destroyed at least 92 structures and damaged another eight, but it's not clear how many of them are homes.
A government website Tuesday night listed the addresses of 53 homes destroyed. Authorities say the list was based on a survey of only 5 to 10 percent of the burned area.
None of the roughly 3,000 people forced out of their homes likely will be allowed to return for at least two days.
Authorities say the fire that's burned 7,100 acres or more than 11 square miles in the foothills west of Boulder isn't contained at all. At least 300 firefighters are fighting the fire that started Monday.
Authorities are investigating reports that the fire started when a car ran into a propane tank.
Suit challenges Tancredo's spot on Colorado ballot
DENVER (AP) — Two Colorado Republicans have filed a lawsuit to try to keep third-party gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo off the November ballot.
The Denver Post reports that Marian Olson of Golden and Joseph Harrington of Highlands Ranch filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Denver District Court. They claim that Tancredo, a former GOP congressman, can't run on the American Constitution Party ticket because his nomination violates state law and the party's bylaws and rules.
The secretary of state Friday certified spots for gubernatorial candidates Tancredo, Republican Dan Maes and Democrat John Hickenlooper on the ballot. Tancredo's campaign says that its attorneys are confident the court won't throw the candidate off the ballot.
Tancredo switched parties to run for governor, saying Maes can't win.
Hickenlooper to budget $1.3 million for TV
DENVER (AP) — Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's campaign for governor says he raised $403,597 in August and is budgeting $1.3 million for television advertising before November's election.
The Democratic candidate says in his latest finance report filed Tuesday that his campaign spent nearly $358,000 in August, when Hickenlooper began airing commercials. Hickenlooper's campaign says in its latest filing it had more than $171,500 cash on hand at the end of the month.
Hickenlooper has raised $2.74 million so far.
Hickenlooper's opponents, Republican Dan Maes and American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo had not filed their reports as of Tuesday evening.
Blacklisting case dismissed
CENTENNIAL (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers and a prosecutor of blacklisting a counselor who testified for a man in a child sexual abuse case.
U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn dismissed the case Sept. 1 with prejudice, meaning plaintiff Kris Newland cannot bring up the case again.
Attorneys for both sides asked for the dismissal after evidence gathered by both parties found no wrongdoing.
Newland testified for a man accused of child sexual abuse who was later acquitted. Her lawsuit alleged Chambers' office sought to refuse case referrals to Newland after Newland's testimony. Chambers' office denied the allegation.
Ritter to make appointment to Colorado Supreme Court
DENVER (Staff and wire reports) — Gov. Bill Ritter will announce a new appointment to the Colorado Supreme Court Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Fourth Judicial District Judge David Prince is one of three finalists for a vacancy on the Colorado Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission named Prince along with Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Robert M. Russel and Deputy Attorney General Monica M. Marquez as the finalists to fill the seat being vacated by Chief Judge Mary J. Mullarkey, who is retiring.
The three candidates were among 31 applicants for the job.
HAPPENINGS
-- Farmers market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Liberty Heights, 12105 Ambassador Drive.
-- Farmers market, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Western Museum of Mining Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd.
-- Colorado Farm and Art farmers market, 3-7 p.m., America the Beautiful, 126 Cimino Drive, free admission.
-- “Freex Poetry” with live music, open mic poetry and open poetry slam competition, 6-9 p.m., Smokebrush Gallery, 218 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 111.
-- Herrera Bluez Band, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Hillside Gardens, 1006 S. Institute St., free.
