Officer Reports 7/1/24 to 7/7/24

7/1…1:12 pm…Zone 1…Elm Ave and Third Street: Received a call from a member about a suspicious HM 30/40 years old wearing blue jeans, no shirt, carrying a skateboard, walking south on Third Street. BIS officer arrived at 1:14 pm and contacted the male at Lake Ave and Third Street. The male mentioned that he is homeless and stated he was looking for places to skateboard. Male asked for a ride to the Denny’s near I-25 and a bottle of water. He was given a ride to the Broadmoor Community Church area and provided with a bottle of water. Last seen leaving the area east on Lake Ave passing Strickler Road out of the area. Officer cleared at 1:20 pm.

7/1…6:30 pm…Zone 10…West Point Road: Received an alarm call at a member’s house. The BIS officer arrived at 6:35 pm and contacted a HF, late 20s, who stated she was the pet sitter and had set the alarm off. The female and BIS officer called the homeowner and verified the information. Officer cleared at 6:55 pm.

7/1…7:52 pm…Zone 10…Sanford Rd/Old Stage Road: Received call from a member about hearing shots fired and possible stray bullets causing endangerment to hikers and pets. Shots came from the area of Old Stage Road.  The members were hiking on trails to the west of Sanford Rd.  This is the fourth report within the past couple of months of gunshots being heard and dangerous use of firearms coming from that area.   

 See special note at end of report.

7/2…1:33 pm…Zone 9…Colonnade Court: Received an alarm call at a BIS member’s house, coming from the garage door. The BIS officer arrived at 1:38 pm. The alarm was not audible. Officer conducted a complete perimeter check of all doors and windows. No sign of attempted entry or foul play. No vehicles or individuals were seen in the area. The officer called the alarm company and the member and advised all was secure. Officer cleared at 1:48 pm.

7/3…1:56 pm…Zone 10…Leaming Road: Received an alarm call from ADT security for a member’s house with the alarm activated at the kitchen door. The officer arrived at 2:03 pm and contacted the homeowner in the garage. All was secure and the alarm was an accidental activation. ADT Alarm Co. was called back and advised of the false alarm. Officer cleared 2:12 pm.

7/4…1:55 pm…Zone 10…Leaming Road: Received an alarm call from ADT security at a member’s house indicating it was activated at the garage door. The BIS officer reached out to the member who advised they were not home and requested the officer to check the house for anything unusual. Officer arrived at 2:03 pm and conducted a complete perimeter check. All doors and windows were secure. No sign of attempted entry or other suspicious activity or damage.  Member arrived home and the alarm was reset. Officer cleared at 2:17 pm.

7/4…9:40 pm…Zone 4…Cypress Lane: Received a call from a BIS member about several underage people having a party across the street from their house. BIS officer arrived at 9:55 pm and observed a group of five young adults, 3 males and 2 females standing in the street. Contact was made and one of the males stated the party was ending and everyone was leaving. Officer observed approx.15 vehicles parked on Cypress Lane. No loud music was heard, several groups of juveniles were seen walking to their vehicles. None appeared impaired. Officer remained in the area patrolling and at 10:30 pm only four vehicles remained, Area was quiet. The reporting BIS member was called back and was left a voice mail update on the incident status. No other calls received.

7/4..9:50 pm…Zone 2…Red Wing Terrace-Fireworks: Report from a BIS member requesting an officer come by and contact individuals setting off fireworks in the street. The BIS officer responded and checked the area but individuals setting off the fireworks were gone upon arrival.

7/4…11:00 pm…Zone 2…Polo Drive-Fireworks: BIS officer received 3 calls (one from BIS member and two from non-members) about fireworks in the area. Officer responded immediately to the area but the people setting off the fireworks were gone upon arrival. Officer patrolled the area but did not see or hear anything unusual or related. No other calls received.

7/5…12:15 pm…Zone 8…Pourtales Road: Received a call from a BIS member about a vehicle that has been parked in the area for about ten days, dark green Toyota Tacoma with a camper shell and CO plates. The truck was checked by BIS officer which was unoccupied, and vehicle info was called into CSPD.  BIS officers patrolled the area throughout the day and noted the truck departed the area later in the evening.

7/5…6:47 pm…Zone 10…Upland Road:  Received an alarm call for a member's house from ADT security - activated at the garage door. The BIS officer arrived at 6:52 pm and noted that the alarm was not audible. House appeared secure. Officer conducted a full perimeter check. No signs of attempted entry or other foul play. The member was called but the officer was not able to speak directly with the member. Voice message left for member. Received a second alarm call at 7:54 pm coming from multiple locations inside the house. The BIS officer arrived at 8:00 pm and three units from CSPD were on scene.  CSPD informed the BIS officer that they were responding to the first alarm which occurred at 6:47pm. Apparently ADT did not notify CSPD that the first alarm was cleared by the BIS officer. CSPD pulled on a patio door setting off the alarm and then they entered the house setting off the numerous alarms.   CSPD informed the BIS officer that all was secure. The BIS officer called the member a second time and advised everything was secure. BIS officer cleared at 8:09 pm.

7/6…9:04 pm…Zone 2…Polo Drive-Fireworks:  Member called stating that someone had set off two Cherry Bomb firecrackers. The member advised the fireworks were possibly coming from the Polo Circle area. The BIS officer arrived at 9:16 pm. No vehicles or individuals observed in the area, no other fireworks heard. Officer did not see any firework debris on the street or smell any gunpowder. Several streets in the area were checked by the officer where other fireworks complaints were recently reported to BIS. No one was seen in the area. BIS member was called back and during the conversation advised that whoever is doing this, lights 2-3 fireworks and then waits 30-40 minutes before doing so again. Member stated he will call back if heard again. Officer cleared at 9:28 pm. No other calls received.

7/6…10:59 pm…Zone 2…Polo Drive-Fireworks: BIS member called back after hearing 3-4 more fireworks being set off. While on the phone with BIS, the member heard 2 more fireworks, and advised BIS Officer that it sounded like they were being set off from the area of Polo Circle again. Officer advised member if the location/house it is coming from is found, then CSPD will be notified. The BIS officer arrived at 11:11 pm, driving around Polo Pony and Polo Circle areas with no contact, no vehicles or individuals observed in the area. Officer parked at Polo Circle out of sight until 11:35 pm, no further fireworks seen or heard, no vehicles seen driving around the area. No other calls received.

7/7...11:33 am...Zone 7...Broadmoor Avenue: While patrolling through CSS, BIS Officer was flagged down and notified about a suspicious male at the Arts Festival that several vendors had reported as acting nervously and handling multiple items numerous times. The subject was described as a WM, 20 to 30 years old, wearing a tan jacket. BIS Officer immediately located the suspicious person and while monitoring his actions numerous other vendors and patrons approached the Officer and expressed similar concerns about the male subject. The subject was not observed by anyone to have stolen any goods. The BIS officer monitored the subject until he left the festival. Officer cleared at 12:04 pm.

Special Note: Members Please Be Aware and Use Caution. Shooting in the area is not uncommon and often takes place in the National Forest property. While most firearms users are safe and responsible there are users who are careless and not responsible when aiming their guns thus endangering hikers, pets, homes and property in the immediate area. BIS responds when possible but lacks jurisdiction - both geographically and legally - to handle these types of incidents. When they are received, we pass the information along to CSPD or El Paso County Sheriff offices as appropriate.  CSPD will most likely not be involved with these types of incidences when they occur outside of the city limits.

The BIS Board of Directors along with Chief Mark Trostel are diligently working with our contacts at the El Paso County Sheriff’s office and National Forest agencies to determine what if any actions can be taken.   We will maintain communication with our members by posting updates as soon as we have them.  For information, please contact Chief Mark Trostel at chieftrostel@bis80906.com or call and leave a message at 719-634-4000 (choose option 2).