Police respond to protest in downtown Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs police officers and SWAT responded to a protest against police brutality after they say two bail bondsmen rolled up to the protesters on motorcycles and one, if not both, pulled their guns.
Police say the bondsmen were fighting with the protestors when the gun or guns, were pulled out of their holsters. Police tell us no one was hurt, and the bondsmen were arrested.
Colorado Springs Police Information Officer, Lt. Jim Sokolik, told KRDO the bondsmen will likely be charged with disorderly conduct. Officers cited this as the reason the protest was shutdown.
Many of the protesters were calling for more information from police after De’Von Bailey, 19, was fatally shot by police officers who were responding to an investigation near Memorial Park.
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The protest grew rapidly as it moved across downtown to the police command center.
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers released a statement Tuesday asking for the public’s patience while the investigation continues.
” The City of Colorado Springs and CSPD recognize the concerns of many citizens of our community following the officer-involved shooting of Devon Bailey on Saturday night. It is in the best interest of everyone involved, and our entire community, to ensure that the incident is fully and effectively investigated and an appropriate conclusion is reached. We know that there can be frustration with the time this takes, but we cannot compromise the investigation by failing to spend the appropriate time gathering the facts; that would serve no one.
We pledge that the City and CSPD will work cooperatively and diligently with the investigating agency, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, to ensure a thorough evaluation of the evidence, and there is a robust process in place to accomplish this. The evidence gathered by the EPSO will be provided to the district attorney who will review the evidence and apply the Colorado law regarding use of force by police officers. The DA can decide whether or not to bring charges or refer the matter to a Grand Jury to make the determination. If the DA decides not to charge an officer with criminal conduct, he is required by law to issue a public report explaining his findings. A Grand Jury, in its discretion, can issue a report concerning its decision.
A credible investigation and charging decision takes time and I ask the community to exercise patience as we allow the investigative and judicial process to work. ”
-Mayor John Suthers
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The deceased robbery suspect has been identified as 19-year-old De’Von Bailey.
Bailey was transported to a local hospital after being shot by officers and later succumbed to his injuries.
CSPD officials were called to the scene for an armed robbery and say that the suspect’s gun was recovered at the scene. Community members at the scene Sunday say the victim was shot in the back multiple times.
The shooting occurred on Preuss Road, near the 2400 Block of East Fountain Blvd, not on Manitoba Drive as previously reported.
The two officers involved were not injured and have been placed on routine administrative leave.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has assumed the lead of this ongoing investigation. Check back at KRDO.com for updates.
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Colorado Springs Police says one of its officers was involved in a shooting near Memorial Park.
Police tweeted that it happened in the 2100 block of Manitoba Drive. Officers originally responded to an armed robbery at 6:45 pm on Fountain Boulevard. Two suspects were involved. One was shot and transported to the hospital. Their condition is unknown. The other suspect was detained.
At least a dozen officers were at the scene. The officer involved in the shooting is on administrative leave.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the shooting.
