Police seek suspect identified in connection with hit-and-run fatality
Investigators from the Lakewood Police Department’s traffic unit have identified the man they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident.
A warrant has been issued for Heriberto Palacio, 35, who is suspected of driving the black Ford Expedition that struck motorcyclist Jesse Pringle on Aug. 9. Palacio is also known as Heriberto Palacio-Martines. According to police reports, Pringle was riding his motorcycle at the intersection of W. Alameda Avenue and S. Benton Street at about 9 p.m. when Palacio’s Expedition turned left in front of him. The driver left the scene before police arrived.
Pringle, 26, later died from injuries received, and a passenger suffered a serious head injury. The arrest warrant for Palacio lists two counts of felony hit and run. Interviews with coworkers and family lead police to believe Palacio is still in the Denver metro area. Anyone with information on Palacio should contact Lakewood Police at 303-987-7111.
Chinn arrest not connected
to McKnight murder
investigation
The Lakewood Police Department wants residents to know that the recent arrest of John Ramsey Chinn by the Englewood Police Department is not connected to the July 21, 1991, murder of Jakeob McKnight.
Chinn was arrested earlier this month and charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child following an investigation of more than two years.
Chinn, 42, was the focus of the McKnight investigation early on, and remains a person of interest while police still work on the case. McKnight, 10, was stabbed 30 times while he was walking home from swimming at a park near his home. His body was found in the Bear Creek greenbelt area.
McKnight’s family has asked for privacy and does not wish to comment on the case or their son.
Public art master plan
Lakewood is developing a public art master plan, and will conduct an open house to gather community input.
The open house will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway. Public art is defined as any kind of artwork that is placed in a public space and available to all. The plan will establish a goal for the city’s public-art program, and outline ways to fund and execute the program.
The aim of the open house is to give residents background on the plan, and it will cover three main topics: establishing a community-supported vision for public-art forms in Lakewood; identifying goals and action steps to achieve this vision; and identifying creative and innovative ways to incorporate public art into the community. Those interested should go online to www.lakewood.org/publicartmasterplan for more information and to take a survey about the issue.
For questions or a printed copy of the survey, contact Lorene Joos, arts programming curator, at 303-987-7844.
Cops That Cook event
The Lakewood Police Department and Older Adult Program staff will be hosting the 14th annual Cops That Cook pancake breakfast on Friday, Sept. 21.
The event will go from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow St. Breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee, served by police officers.
Adult tickets are $4; $6 on the day of the event. Tickets for children, ages 12 and younger, are $3.
Tickets are available at the Clements Community Center; the Police Department, 445 S. Allison Parkway; and Lakewood’s Department of Community Resources, 480 S. Allison Parkway.