by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG — Police arrested a man early Tuesday morning for sexual assault and menacing, and Chief McLallen said additional charges are expected.
The suspect has been identified as Harold Eugene Lopez, 42, of Walsenburg. McLallen said the incident happened at approximately 1 am in the city and is being treated as a rape case. The victim was taken by ambulance to a Pueblo medical facility where she was examinated by a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurse and evidence collected.
McLallen said the victim and her assailant are acquaintances.
On Tuesday police obtained a warrant and arrested Mitchell Nadeau, 36, of Walsenburg for sexual assault from an incident this past weekend. The arrest was made without incident.
McLallen also told the Huerfano World Journal that three ‘cold’ sexual assault against a child cases have been reported within the last week.
All five of the sexual assault cases are currently under investigation.
Traffic accident downs power pole
City police and San Isabel Electric personnel responded Monday afternoon when a turning semi tractor-trailer hit and felled a power pole at Albert and 7th, adjacent to Time Traveller Antiques.
Walsenburg Police Chief Tommie McLallen said Tuesday the traffic incident occurred at 4:35 pm and no injuries were reported, and electric power was only lost to street lights which were not in use at the time.
The truck driver, 46-year old Tracy Reeves of Peyton, CO was cited for careless driving. McLallen said SIEA response was very quick, noting an electric co-op vehicle was just behind the 42-foot long trailer that was hauling ice, when the accident happened.
The driver told police he had been driving 38-foot trailers for some months, but was not as familiar with the longer trailer and it was his first time driving through Walsenburg
McLallen said the rear tire of the trailer caught the power pole right at its base and snapped it off at sidewalk level.
