Colorado
Colorado man suspected in Tesla arson indicted on federal charges
A second Coloradan suspected of trying to set a Loveland Tesla store on fire was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with possessing an unregistered firearm and attempted property destruction.
Cooper Jo Frederick, 24, of Fort Collins was arrested in Plano, Texas, after a grand jury indicted him on two felony counts Thursday, according to court records.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Frederick’s arrest on social media and said there would be “no negotiating” because the case and others like it are a threat to public safety.
“I’ve made it clear: if you take part in the wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, we will find you, arrest you and put you behind bars,” Bondi said in a video posted on X.
Similar incidents of vandalism and property destruction have been reported throughout the country and world, an apparent backlash to the rising political influence of billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk in President Donald Trump’s administration.
Prosecutors will seek 20 years in prison in the case, Bondi said.
Frederick was arrested on suspicion of arson, possession of explosives and other state felony charges in March after Loveland police say he set a fire outside a Tesla store on March 7 and found an “incendiary device” at the scene.
In a statement, Frederick’s attorneys with Denver law firm Recht Kornfeld said Frederick and his counsel have been in touch with the Department of Justice and have cooperated in getting him to Colorado.
“We are in the process of gathering information and facts, and will rely on the professionalism of the U.S. Attorney in our district to treat Mr. Frederick fairly despite the recent press statements from Washington, D.C.,” Recht Kornfeld attorney Kelly Page said in a statement. “We intend to litigate this case in court, like any other federal criminal matter, and not in the media.”
Frederick is the second person arrested on suspicion of arson and vandalism at the northern Colorado store. Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, of Lyons, faces similar charges in state and federal court.
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Colorado
Denver City Council approves nonprofit Urban Alchemy as new manager of one of city’s homeless shelters
The future manager of one of Denver’s homeless shelters will also respond to mental health calls.
The Denver City Council approved two contracts with the nonprofit Urban Alchemy on Monday night. One, after a 9-4 vote, will be for $30 million to run The Aspen shelter in the city’s Central Park neighborhood for three years. The other will be for $3 million to answer 3-1-1 calls.
The Salvation Army will no longer operate the Aspen Shelter (a former Doubletree hotel on Quebec Street) and two others at the end of the year.
The St. Francis Center will take over the Stone Creek shelter and Bayaud Works will run the Tamarac Family Shelter.
Debate among the council and from the public before the vote was heated.
Urban Alchemy is based in San Francisco and runs shelters across the country. It says it has a culture of redemption, transparency and five-star service. In other cities, however, the nonprofit has faced allegations of wage theft, data misrepresentation, lobbying violations and sexual harassment. The Denver mayor’s office says Urban Alchemy has taken responsibility for those past mistakes and is ready to help.
“There (are) challenges at every single one of our locations. This is really hard work. But I have confidence in their ability to deliver a high quality of service to the people at our shelters and the Denver community,” said Cole Chandler, the senior advisor on homelessness in the mayor’s office.
Urban Alchemy sent a statement to CBS Colorado saying: “We look forward to partnering with the City of Denver to change lives and deliver meaningful results for people experiencing homelessness and in crisis. Our motto is: we can show you better than we can tell you, and we know our impact will speak for itself.”
Urban Alchemy has hired 70 people in Denver so far.
Denver’s Department of Housing Stability says it will investigate any complaints against Urban Alchemy and could recommend contract termination. Members of the department told CBS Colorado they are excited for the partnership.
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