Current:Home > InvestNewspapers stolen on day it publishes story with allegations of teen's rape at Colorado police chief's home -Infinite Edge Capital
Newspapers stolen on day it publishes story with allegations of teen's rape at Colorado police chief's home
View
Date:2025-04-17 04:13:38
A newspaper that published a story about an alleged rape at the home of a Colorado police chief said that week's paper was stolen out of racks, keeping people from purchasing the edition.
The Ouray County Plaindealer reported on Wednesday that a teenage girl had allegedly been assaulted multiple times during a late-night party with the Ouray County police chief's stepson and two others in May. The 17-year-old reported the alleged assaults to investigators, and said that she screamed and fought back while Police Chief Jeff Wood and his family slept upstairs. Wood declined to comment for the Plaindealer's story.
According to the Plaindealer, the initial case report was taken by an investigator from the Ouray County Sheriff's Office before the case was referred to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. In a statement on Thursday, Ouray officials said they had been monitoring the case since May because Wood's residence was involved in the alleged assault. The Ouray Police Department was not involved in the investigation, the statement said, and "no personnel investigations are being conducted in the Ouray Police Department" as a result of the allegations.
According to the Plaindealer and a news release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Wood's stepson and two other men were arrested on charges of felony sexual assault in December.
The story outlining the alleged assault, charges and ongoing case was meant to be on the front page of the Plaindealer this week, but physical copies sold in newspaper racks throughout Ouray County were stolen, the paper said in a statement above its online edition attributed to co-publisher Erin McIntyre. McIntyre was the author of the piece about the alleged assault.
"I'm sorry that most of you locals who like to get your papers from the racks were not able to put your quarters in and receive your weekly news today," the statement said. "All of our newspaper racks in Ouray and all but one rack in Ridgway were hit by a thief who stole all the newspapers. From what we know so far, it seems this person put in four quarters and took all the papers at these racks. It's pretty clear that someone didn't want the community to read the news this week."
The newspaper asked anyone with information about the thefts to contact the Montrose County Sheriff's Office. Montrose County borders Ouray County.
"I'll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions on which story they didn't want you to read. Whoever did this took the time to steal hundreds of newspapers around the county, to prevent you from reading the news," the paper's statement continued. "Whoever did this does not understand that stealing newspapers doesn't stop a story. We're not going to stop doing our job, which is to shine light on important issues in our community and keep you informed. This person is not going to shut down the freedom of the press by stealing a few hundred newspapers. Our community won't stand for it and we won't, either."
The paper said that it is working with the Montrose Daily Press to have another run of papers published, and said it would update readers again when those newspapers are available for distribution.
"If you meant to intimidate us, you just strengthened our resolve," the statement added.
CBS News reached out to Wood, but has not received a response.
- In:
- Colorado
- Assault
Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
TwitterveryGood! (59462)
Related
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Sixth Outer Banks house collapse since 2020: Photos capture damage as erosion threatens beachfront property
- Ford recalls 109,000 Lincoln Aviator vehicles: Cellphones could cause issue with rearview camera
- 2 Minneapolis officers, 4 civilians injured in active-shooter situation, law enforcement says
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Man charged in AP photographer’s attack pleads guilty to assaulting officer during Capitol riot
- Not guilty plea for suspect in killing of nursing student found on University of Georgia campus
- Kourtney Kardashian Reveals She and Travis Barker Keep Vials of Each Other’s Blood
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Prosecutors unveil cache of Menendez texts in bribery trial: It is extremely important that we keep Nadine happy
Ranking
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Horoscopes Today, May 29, 2024
- Every Gut-Wrenching Revelation From Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard's Summer House Breakup Convo
- South Carolina man pleads guilty to first-degree murder in Virginia police officer’s shooting death
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Boeing shows feds its plan to fix aircraft safety 4 months after midair blowout
- McDonald's president hits back at claims Big Mac prices are too high amid inflation
- Elon Musk sees another big advisory firm come out against his multibillion dollar pay package
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Person dies after falling into engine of departing passenger jet at Amsterdam airport
Buc-ee's largest store location to open in Texas next month: 'Where the legend began'
Former intel agency chief set to become the Netherlands’ next prime minister in hard right coalition
Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
Sofía Vergara Reveals How She'll Recycle Tattoo of Ex Joe Manganiello
‘Ayuda por favor’: Taylor Swift tells workers multiple times to get water to fans in Spain
Death penalty in the US: Which states still execute inmates, who has executed the most?