City, county leaders release statements regarding explosion outside NAACP office

Colorado Springs and El Paso County leaders released statements Thursday morning regarding the explosion near the NAACP office on Tuesday.

The following statement is made on behalf of El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder, Fountain Police Chief Todd Evans, President Henry Allen Jr. of the Colorado Springs NAACP, and Colorado Springs Police Chief Peter Carey:

Tuesday morning, January 6, 2015, an improvised explosive device detonated against the exterior wall of the building housing the Colorado Springs NAACP and Mr. G’s Hair Design Studio. The investigation into this criminal act is a high priority and is being conducted as a joint effort with local and federal law enforcement resources. Community safety is of utmost concern and we are united in our response to this incident.

Members of the public are our best resource to help solve this crime. If you have any information on the person of interest: a Caucasian male; approximately 40 years of age and balding; driving a 2000 or older model dirty, white pick-up truck with paneling, a dark colored bed liner, open tailgate and a missing or covered license plate; please contact the FBI Denver tip line at (303) 435-7787.

Regardless of if this act is determined to be a biased motivated crime, the law enforcement community in El Paso County does not condone this or any act of violence. We stand with the business owners at Mr. G’s Hair Design Studio and the NAACP denouncing any violence or aggression brought against our community.

The statement below is from Mayor Steve Bach:

I am saddened by the act of violence that happened near the NAACP building and Mr. G’s Hair Design Studio. Fortunately there were no injuries or significant damage. Nonetheless, this type of criminal act is unacceptable. I expect that law enforcement will work together to solve this crime and bring the responsible individual to justice. There is no place for this type of activity in our city.