2 Boulder officers accused of conspiring to kill elk

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Two Boulder police officers have been arrested on charges alleging they conspired to unlawfully kill a trophy elk.

Officers Sam Carter and Brent Curnow were free Friday on $20,000 personal recognizance bonds. They have unlisted phone numbers and couldn’t be reached for comment. Carter allegedly told police the elk looked like it needed to be put down, though a resident has disputed that.

The Daily Camera (http://bit.ly/13MHFZ5 ) reports the officers face felony counts including evidence tampering, plus misdemeanor hunting charges, in the Jan. 1 shooting that sparked a community uproar. If convicted, they could lose their police certifications.

Investigators say the officers had texted each other about killing the animal several hours before it was shot.

The police chief has placed the officers on unpaid leave.