Families caring for loved ones with memory loss know they can often wander. The Aurora Police Department says at-risk missing person cases come through almost daily. A grant received by APD has allowed them to give out free safety devices to residents caring for someone who needs special attention.

The device is called AngelSense. The GPS tracking system helps families and law enforcement find adults and children living with Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, autism and other related disorders.

It’s a small, fob-style device worn by at-risk individuals that notifies loved ones of their location through GPS. When they get lost, the trackers use receivers to locate the signal and find them. It provides a detailed timeline of their day and sends proactive alerts to the caretaker’s phone.

Det. Virgil Majors with Aurora Police SVU has been delivering them to families and showing them how to use it.

“The caregiver also has the ability to send the police department their live location when they can’t retrieve their loved one themselves. It’ll cut down on resources that we use, and it’ll cut down on the time they’re away from the caregiver as well,” said Majors. “Without this device, they’re hard to track down.”

He says missing at-risk individuals are often non-verbal, or can’t remember their address, phone number or name. Personal information is registered to the device that allows police to identify them if found.

“When we get that alert, we know exactly who they are, we know what they’re diagnosed with, how to approach them, and how to best help them,” explained Majors.

Majors brought one to Elizabeth Johnson last week. Her 2-year-old son has autism.

“He’s ran away from me in the grocery store, and I couldn’t find him. That was really scary,” said Johnson. “It gives me so much more confidence in being able to locate him and knowing that he’s okay. I’m actually able to find him without screaming his name.”

While CBS Colorado was speaking with Majors about the device, APD received an alert about a missing man with Alzheimer’s disease. Richard was eventually found several miles from his home, about a four hour walk away. His daughter, Allison, was relieved he made it back safely.

“Sometimes you don’t have happy endings in cases like this,” said Allison. “It’s very scary. If he can’t communicate where he lives or what his phone number is, he can’t get in contact with us.”

APD delivered an AngelSense device to their home and showed his family how to use it.

“I’m just grateful to all the police officers and everybody that was involved and helped find my father today. I’m eternally grateful for this device,” said Allison. “He will not go that far again.”

APD still has several AngelSense devices available to give out. The grant also covers a 3 month subscription for the cellular service it requires, and they’re working to get more funding to extend that free coverage.

Caretakers interested in a device must live in Aurora and fill out an application to make sure their loved one is eligible.

For more information contact Aurora SVU at 303-739-6229.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A Colorado Springs man faces multiple charges for two incidents in and around his Broadmoor neighborhood.

Springs police arrested Brian Edwards May 7, 2024, after they found him damaging multiple cars with a baseball bat and other tools in the 300 block of Ramona Avenue.

Charging documents show Edwards allegedly used a number of tools in his attack including a rock, baseball bat, and a hammer. They said the total damage comes out to roughly $2050.

He’s charged with Assault in the Second Degree, Menacing, and Criminal Mischief.

Edwards is also facing charges for a February incident where he allegedly hit an off-duty Colorado Springs police officer with his car.

The officer was not seriously hurt but his 16-year-old dog died.

Charging documents in that case show Edwards claimed the incident was a result of mechanical issues with his car but evidence at the scene and an eyewitness statement suggest the incident could have been intentional.

Edwards faces charges of second-degree assault and aggravated cruelty to animals in that case.

Edwards will make his next court appearance Tuesday, May 16.

Copyright 2024 KKTV. All rights reserved.

A pandemic-era program making mental health support accessible for young people in Colorado will become permanent, as state lawmakers have made the program permanent.

Thursday, May 16 is Mental Health Action Day and CBS News Colorado is highlighting ways we all can prioritize our mental health as high as our physical health.

The free counseling offered to youth via “I Matter” has served more than 12,000 youth since its founding.

“It breaks down the barriers for our students to be able to access mental health, so I think this is huge,” said Nova Center Coordinator Emily Nickerson. 

The Nova Center is an alternative school in Littleton Public Schools.

Nickerson says the I Matter program, which offers up to six free counseling sessions with a licensed therapist, has been a game changer.

“I think it’s extremely accessible and easy for kids to navigate and for families to navigate,” Nickerson said.

“This can be done through telehealth, this can be done in person, and there’s no cost,” said Matt Holtman, children and youth intergovernmental liaison at the Behavioral Health Administration.

Since its launch in 2021, youth in 63 Colorado counties have taken part in some 47,000 therapy sessions. More than half of the sessions have been in person.

And 80% of youth end up being referred for additional behavioral health care. 

“Even though it’s been wildly successful, again over 12,000 youth in Colorado, we know there’s more out there who haven’t accessed the program,” said Holtman.

For too long, I Matter’s proponents say, young people suffered in silence.

The most common reasons for seeking the therapy include anxiety, depression, concerns over self-esteem, and conflicts with family or peers.

“We have an additional opportunity for our kids to be able to access mental health, whether it’s during the school day or they’re at home but it just provides that opportunity,” said Nickerson.

Access I Matter therapy by going to its official website. 

Young people and their parents are encouraged to be as honest and forthright as possible in the questionnaire in order to be matched with the right therapist.