Arvada Crime Update: May 12 - May 18, 2025

Arvada Detective Honored for Auto Theft Investigation

Arvada Police Detective Hettinger and fellow members of the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force were awarded “Investigation of the Year” at the Colorado Auto Theft Investigator Conference for the second year in a row. The investigation uncovered a vehicle theft ring tied to a Mexican cartel and resulted in 17 indictments of individuals involved in the theft of over 190 vehicles worth nearly $10 million. 

Officers Safely Detain Armed Unconscious Driver

On May 13, 2025, officers responded to a report of an unconscious individual behind the wheel of a running vehicle on the 5900 block of Carr Street. The vehicle was in gear and the suspect was in possession of a knife. Officers devised a plan to safely remove the individual, who was arrested on DUI and drug charges. One officer sustained a minor injury. (AR25007959)

Stolen Vehicle Suspect Apprehended at Local Goodwill

On May 17, 2025, officers responded to a welfare check at Goodwill for two individuals unconscious in a truck. Officers arrived and discovered the truck was unoccupied and stolen. Officers located one suspect inside the store and attempted to detain him. The suspect attempted to flee and resisted arrest, prompting officers to deploy a Taser. He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for medical clearance. One officer sustained minor injuries. (AR25008285)

Community Outreach Resources Enforcement (CORE)

The CORE team focuses on issues in the community related to homelessness. They respond to calls involving homeless people, proactively offer resources, and conduct enforcement when other support methods are not effective.

22 Total CORE Team Contacts - All contacts resulted in an enforcement action.

Resources Offered

• 1 Mental health

• 0 Substance abuse

• 2 Housing

• 3 One Small Step info

• 7 Other

• 1 Navigator assistance

• 0 Employment

• 1 Vital document recovery

4 Resources Accepted

Enforcement Actions*

• 5 Trespass

• 3 Verbal Warning

• 10 Citation

• 5 Arrest - New Charges

• 8 Jailed - Warrant

*More than one enforcement action may be used per person.

Arrests

85 Total Arrests*

• 34 Taken into custody

• 51 Released on summons

*Arrested persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Classification of charges may change any time after arrest. Arrest data may not be finalized at time of publication.

Crime Data

220 Total Crime Reports*

Crimes most reported

• 33 Theft (other than vehicle and shoplift)

• 24 Assault

• 21 Criminal Mischief

• 19 Fraud

• 17 Harassment

• 11 Drug Paraphernalia

• 11 Motor Vehicle Theft

• 11 Burglary

• 9 Driving Under the Influence

• 8 Disorderly Conduct

*Incidents under investigation may be re-classified as criminal or noncriminal after publication. Crime reports may contain more than one criminal charge. All figures are preliminary and are not meant to be final crime statistics.

Traffic

29 Reported Crashes

• 1 Injury Crashes 

• 0 Fatality Crashes

220 Traffic Stops

• 158 Drivers Cited

Top Violations Cited

• 51 Speeding 10-19 mph over limit

• 18 No proof of insurance

• 18 Plates expired 60+ days

• 12 Careless driving

• 12 Speeding 25-39 mph over limit

Calls for Service

2,221 Total Calls for Service*

Top call types received and dispatched:

• 58 Homelessness Related Call/Incident

  • Top calls for service:

    • 5 Criminal Trespass

    • 5 Ordinance Violation 

    • 5 Suspicious Incident

    • 4 Drug Related

    • 4 Unwanted Party

• 54 Welfare Check

• 38 Traffic Complaint

• 36 Citizen Assist

• 31 Suspicious Incident

• 28 Domestic

• 25 Disturbance

• 20 Suspicious Person

• 19 Harassment

• 19 Theft

• 13 Suspicious Vehicle

*Total calls for service includes all dispatched and self-initiated activity by Department personnel. Calls for service include criminal and non-criminal activity and may not result in a written report.