30 years ago – March 10, 1989
A ruling to suppress evidence in criminal charges filed against Thomas A. Sundermeyer of Central City was overturned on February 27 by the Colorado Supreme Court. Justice Erickson delivered the opinion of the court that the omission of the name of Dawn Robinson, informant in the case which led to a search of Sundermeyer’s property, was not “substantially misleading to the judge who issued the warrant.” Judge Winston W. Wolvington of Gilpin County District Court granted suppression of the evidence obtained on June 24, 1988, saying the search warrant was improperly obtained. Wolvington, who is now retired, based his decision last year on the fact that the search warrant was issued upon a statement that Central City Police Officers Elmo Gatlin and John Strong observed alleged marijuana plants growing inside Sundermeyer’s residence. The affidavit to obtain the search warrant was issued on October 1, 1987 based on statements made by the officers. The affidavit omitted that on September 29, 1987, Dawn Robinson, a Central City reserve police officer, reportedly told Officer Strong that she had been at a party at Sundermeyer’s house and had observed marijuana plants growing in the greenhouse area. Robinson reportedly requested that her name not be used because she knew Sundermeyer. Following Wolvington’s decision to grant suppression of the evidence, he stated that the Jefferson County judge who issued the search warrant may have wanted more information if he had known an informant was involved. However, the Supreme Court ruled that “the omission did not make the affidavit misleading.” The case against Sundermeyer for alleged cultivation of marijuana has not been brought before the court. In a separate case, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, requested by former Central City police chief Mike Brewer, filed a civil suit against Sundermeyer. The suit could result in the forfeiture of Sundermeyer’s home, valued at $80,000, as well as disposition of all personal property. The proceeds, if the civil suit is successful, would be divided with the law enforcement agencies of Gilpin and Jefferson counties.
A second place win at the regional Academic Decathlon competition February 24 qualifies the Gilpin RE-1 team to participate in the meet. It will be held March 13 and 14 in Gunnison. Although Vail’s Battle Mountain High School beat the Eagles for first place, four Gilpinites were among the top 10 scorers. Jennifer Blake, Jeff Lorenz, Chris Harris, and Andy Rohrer were all among the high scorers. Bringing home gold medals were Lorenz, who earned top honors in social studies and science; Blake in economics; Harris in science; Rohrer in fine arts; and Trent Cate in social studies.
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