'Sleuth Work' Helps Track Down Thumbtacks Suspect
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)– Investigators have identified one suspect in the case of thumbtacks scatted on a mountain bike route that resulted in flat tires for several bicyclists.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office issued a summons to Calvin Chambers on the misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
The charges allege that Chambers, 27, was one of two suspects who scattered thumbtacks along Deer Creek Canyon Road on July 3. At least eight bicyclists experienced flat tires due to the tacks.
"They were everywhere," Dave Evans, with the cycling advocacy group Bike Jeffco, said. "They just essentially tipped whole boxes of tacks onto the hard shoulder the side of the road there."
Had the flat tires caused cyclists to crash, Evans says people could have been seriously hurt.
"The danger here was that somebody could have fallen off their bike, especially if they were riding at speed," he said.
Investigators claim Chambers purchased the thumbtacks at a King Soopers store and was identified through the purchase transaction and store video surveillance. A summons is pending for a second suspect who has not been identified.
"This is big," Evans said, "It was only through some sleuth work of identifying where they were purchased and then chasing that back to the photo video."
Over the years, Evans says tensions have flared between "intolerant" drivers and cyclists who don't follow rules, the few "bad apples" on either side. Some days, as many as 900 cyclists pass through the canyon.
Deer Creek Canyon is popular with cyclists and drivers for its scenery. Prior to the July 3 incident, he says cyclists have found tacks in their path on two occasions, but never before has someone been cited criminally for putting them there.
"The sheriffs did a wonderful job," Evans said, "We hear a lot of complaints about police behavior, but they did a really good job in finding the people, talking to the victims and generally communicating the issue."
Lauren DiSpirito reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. She covers breaking news and feature stories along Colorado's Front Range. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.
