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SILVER Star
Sheriff launches zero tolerance policy
Sheriff launches zero tolerance policy
A recent operation in Pike National Forest by Sheriff Jason Mikesell and his officers resulted in 100 contacts and issued 42 citations. At the same time, the officers put out campfires left unattended. “That was in one weekend,” Mikesell said. Speaking four days before holding a press...
gazette.com
A recent operation in Pike National Forest by Sheriff Jason Mikesell and his officers resulted in 100 contacts and issued 42 citations. At the same time, the officers put out campfires left unattended.
“That was in one weekend,” Mikesell said.
Speaking four days before holding a press conference, Mikesell offered a heads-up on the chaos on the forest.
“We’ve seen over 300 side-by-sides; the people are from Denver, Aurora, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and out-of-state,” he said. “We’ve found that they are ruining wildlife areas, running off road and tearing up roads that are an access to wildlife.”
The sheriff tells of an incident where drivers in a side-by side did multiple “360s” around a tent where a family was probably sleeping at 1:20 a.m.
“They’re scaring people who are out there,” he said.
Along with Teller County law enforcement, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement are also patrolling the forest, Mikesell said.
“If an illegal alien commits a criminal act, we do a criminal investigation and work with ICE,” Mikesell said.
With gunshots, ATVs running rampant and camping by members of drugs cartels, Pike National Forest is becoming a free-for-all.
“My biggest issue is watching how families are being treated in the forest,” Mikesell said.
Gunslingers are shooting trees, leaving trash and unattended fires, among other infractions, Mikesell said.
“We’ve had people almost being struck by bullets,” he said. “A lot of these folks have been threatened at gunpoint by these organizations; some are members of the cartels.”
Mikesell and his officers have been conducting extra patrols in the forest where the land is in Teller County.
“In last the last five years we’ve spent 490,000 hours of extra time; the forest service has only one or two people they use out there,” Mikesell said “But we also found out that they aren’t following through on things they think were caused by illegal immigrants.”
The forest service rangers were avoiding due to the danger associated with the patrols, Mikesell said.
“They were avoiding the issue because they do not want to look like they’re working with ICE,” he said. “The problem is that there are a lot of people coming here because they felt like they could do whatever they wanted. That created issues we are now dealing with.”
For the past two years, Mikesell has emphasized that he and his officers are only after immigrants who have committed crimes.
“We don’t care who you are but if you commit a crime we are going to charge you,” he said.
Four days after speaking with the Courier, Mikesell met in private with representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, Woodland Park Police, Colorado Parks & Wildlife and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in addition to St. Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, who is a member of the state’s Joint Budget Committee.
After the private meeting, Mikesell held a press conference for the news media where he said his office is working in partnership with the agencies to help patrol during Memorial Day Weekend.
“As a member of the JBC, we want to make sure we are backing our local law enforcement,” Kirkmeyer said.
Teller County commissioner Dan Williams emphasized the danger posed by campfires left smoldering in the forest.
Commissioners Bob Campbell and Erik Stone, along with Annie Durham and George Jones, mayors of Cripple Creek and Woodland Park, respectively, represented their towns.
“What is going on in the forest is egregious,” Durham said.
Teller County Commander Kevin Tedesco is leading the patrol over the weekend.
“I’m proud of our outdoor recreation opportunities but our families are feeling unsafe,” Tedesco said. “We have state, federal and local partners who are eager to participate in our partnership.”
Mikesell talked about the role of ICE in the operation.
“Without federal partnerships it makes it really difficult to work within the forest service operations,” he said.
With increased patrols in the forest, the sheriff’s zero tolerance policy was in high gear effect over the weekend.
“If you are a foreign national committing a crime in the forest you are going to deal with ICE,” he said. “That’s just how it is.”
Because the forest is federal property, the county has a right to form a partnership with ICE, Mikesell said.
“The forest is a federal location, and ICE can partner with us in investigations,” the sheriff said. “And that’s what the state allows.”