A registered sex offender who drives around town with a puppy in his lap and hangs out at schools, parks and soccer games has one man so unnerved he made a public spectacle of himself Wednesday morning outside the Battlement Mesa Activity Center.
Travis Metcalf made such a display that he was issued a citation by police for disorderly conduct after allegedly threatening a registered sex offender. He has a court appearance set for June 25.
Other witnesses to the outburst told attendants inside the activity center, 398 Arroyo Drive, to call the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department because a fight between two men was imminent, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Tanny McGinnis said.
Metcalf said he was telling everyone that Timothy Alan Larsen, 62, of Battlement Mesa, is a registered sex offender.
Larsen was convicted of sexual assault on a child in 1997, spent seven years behind bars and is now a free man, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Larsen has no restrictions on where he can live, where he can go or whom he can associate with, McGinnis said.
The only thing Larsen is required to do is register with local law enforcement and keep the Sheriff’s Department advised of his current residence, which he is doing, she said.
“He is absolutely in compliance,” McGinnis said.
Yet, according to Metcalf, he’s been acting suspicious.
“He hangs out at the elementary school watching the little boys go to school, he goes to the soccer field and watches the little boys practice,” Metcalf said.
When he saw Larsen at the activity center, where a temporary preschool is being held, Metcalf admits he lost control of his emotions.
“I was screaming at the top of my lungs at him,” said the 34-year-old Metcalf, a husband and a father of three children, ages 14, 12 and 5. “I ended up getting a ticket for disorderly conduct out of the deal.”
McGinnis said deputies had little choice in the matter.
“(Larsen) is a sex offender, but he has rights,” McGinnis said. “We have the responsibility of keeping him safe as well.”
Metcalf said he understands that, but he was told authorities would not act unless Larsen broke the law.
“That’s what they said: They’ve got to catch him with his hand in the cookie jar. And I said, ‘That is really nice, being that the cookie jar is going to be a 6-year-old boy,’ ” Metcalf said.
After the confrontation, Larsen was banned from returning to the activity center, said Bob Jasper, district manager of the Consolidated Metropolitan District, which oversees the activity center.
Despite his June 25 court date, Metcalf said he is keeping the pressure on Larsen by distributing fliers with Larsen’s picture and identifying information, and Metcalf is attempting to organize a “parent watch” to raise public awareness.
“I don’t want him arrested. I just don’t want him hanging out watching kids,” Metcalf said. “(For anyone convicted of a sexual offense on a child) there should be a distance stipulation on parks and schools, and if that inconveniences them for the rest of their life, they should have thought about that before they molested a child.”
Metcalf said he is getting his information about Larsen from a Web site, www.familywatchdog.us, that documents convicted sex offenders nationally.
According to the Web site, there are five Grand Valley area schools with more than 10 registered sex offenders living within a half-mile of the school. Steve Roddel, president and CEO of Family Watchdog, said the 3-year-old site is updated throughout the day with the latest information available. He said he is unable to chastise people like Metcalf who use the site as a tool to protect their children and their community.
“It would be awfully hard for me to find fault with someone who is out trying to protect his community,” Roddel said.
He added that if a convicted sex offender is displaying high-risk behaviors, like hanging out at parks and schools with a puppy, that person should be confronted and made aware that he is being watched.
Tell them you know who they are, and, ‘You are not going to do it on my watch,’ ” Roddel said. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it overreacting.”
Registered sex offenders living within
half-mile of Grand Valley schools:
• R-5 High School, 310 N. Seventh St. — 26
• Hawthorne Building, 410 Hill Ave. — 12
• East Middle, 830 Gunnison Ave. — 11
• Columbine Elementary, 624 N. Ninth St. — 11
• Chatfield Elementary, 3188 D 1/2 Road — 10
• Lincoln Park Elementary, 600 N. 14th St. — 9
• Nisley Elementary, 543 28 3/4 Road — 8
• Dual Immersion Academy, 552 W. Main St. — 8
• Pear Park Baptist School, 3102 E Road — 7
• Tope Elementary, 2220 N. Seventh St. — 7
• Orchard Avenue Elementary, 1800 Orchard Ave. — 7
• New Emerson School, 2660 Unaweep Ave. — 7
• Lutheran Church and School of Messiah, 840 N. 11th St. — 7
• Orchard Mesa Middle, 2736 C 1/2 Road — 6
• Bookcliff Christian School, 2702 Patterson Road — 6
• Grand Junction High, 1400 N. Fifth St. — 6
• Clifton Elementary, 3276 F Road — 5
• West Middle, 123 West Orchard Ave. — 5
• Career Center, 2935 North Ave. — 4
• Deep River School, 2813 Patterson Road — 4
• Shelledy Elementary, 353 N. Mesa St.— 4
• Grand Mesa Middle, 585 31 1/2 Road — 4
• Dos Rios Elementary, 265 Linden Ave. — 4
• Bookcliff Middle, 540 29 1/4 Road — 3
• Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary, 2888 B 1/2 Road — 3
• Valley School, 2508 Blichman Ave. — 2
• Central High, 550 Warrior Way — 2
• Fruita Middle, 239 N. Maple St. — 2
• Fruitvale Elementary, 585 30 Road — 2
• Rocky Mountain Elementary, 3260 D 1/2 Road — 2
• Rimrock Elementary, 1810 J 6/10ths Road— 2
• Pear Park Elementary, 432 30 1/4 Road — 1
• Liberty Christian Academy, 448 Camp Road — 1
• Pomona Elementary, 588 25 1/2 Road — 1
• Wingate Elementary, 351 Camp Road — 1
• Broadway Elementary, 2248 Broadway — 1
• New Horizons Christian School, 641 Horizon Drive — 1
Source: www.familywatchdog.usWho must register
as sex offenders
• Adults convicted of an unlawful sexual offense on or after July 1, 1991, or who were released from prison for a sexual offense are required to register as a sex offender.
• Those guilty of a nonsexual offense also must register as a sex offender if the underlying factual basis of their crime involved an unlawful sexual behavior.
A sex offender is a person convicted of one or more of the following:
• Sexual assault; unlawful sexual contact; sexual assault on a child; sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust; sexual assault on a client by a psychotherapist; enticement of a child; incest; aggravated incest; trafficking in children; sexual exploitation of children; procurement of a child for sexual exploitation; indecent exposure; soliciting for child prostitution; pandering of a child; procurement of a child for prostitution; keeping a place of child prostitution; pimping of a child; inducement of child prostitution; patronizing a prostituted child; criminal attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit any of the above offenses.
Source: Colorado Sex Offender Management Board
Comments
By ZMan
May 15, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
Carisma,
Then why do you have a YouTube page AZUCarisma? You are a part of AZU, and you know it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AZUCarisma
Distort the truth, that is something you are definitely good at, I'll give you credit for that one.
And once again, MetCalf is taking stuff I said out of context as well.
Anyway, I will not argue with you anymore. People can look up Carisma and see they belong to AZU, and I don't care if you do know what I look like, so what.
I simply came here, posted my thoughts, and then everyone ganged up on me and attacked me, like usual.
So I posted back, but I'll leave it well alone now, it's clearly evident you will not until I do, so see you later..... And get a life, please!!!!
By Carisma
May 15, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
First of all zman I don't post "crap", you on the other hand, post enough to fill an outhouse.
I know your delusional, just look at your posts. I know what you look like and
I have never made fun of your appearance. You have no idea what I look like.
Just because someone posts that they agree with Metcalf doesn't mean they are
with PJ or AZ. That is just your blind fury.
By Mr. Metcalf's Wife
May 15, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
ZMAN--You didn't say, "If there are red flags call the cops", You said "He should be confronted if he is throwing red flags" so if you don't want your words misinterpreted
say it like you mean it. Nobody but you cares about all this mumbo jumbo you keep dishing out. State your opinion and MOVE ON already.
Nobody has asked you to support or condone what my husband did. He made a legal mistake and will face the music for that.
It has nothing to do with you. You don't even live here. Don't worry about what "Metcalf wants to do about the laws". We got this one covered.
You can surely find some other venue to entertain yourself, it's been over a week. Thank you for letting us all hear from
"the other side".
By ZMan
May 14, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
Carisma,
Delusional? Are you kidding. You are here as well, posting crap. So look in the mirror for once. Well, you might get freaked out from that ugly bloated face of yours.
And Summer Rain should change her name to Summers Eve!!!!
See I can call people names to. Doesn't prove anything..
And yes, I will leave now, maybe you should do the same...
But I'm sure, I'll post this, and 5 more emails from the CYBER-TERRORISTS will pop up. They always have to have the last word...
By ZMan!
May 14, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
Once again, you do not comprehend what I have said. And this is the last time I'll repeat myself.
When the father got there and noticed the offender being suspicious, he should've called the cops and waiting until they arrived, if they did not show up, call them again.
Only if the offender starts to harm a child, then you can intervene, but until then, it's not your right to do anything except contact the police.
PERIOD.. Now can you comprehend that? I doubt it!!!
By Mr. Metcalf's Wife
May 14, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
Dearest "Z-Man"
Once again, you are contradicting yourself. Let's see, do we "confront them because they are throwing up red flags" as you
just stated at 4:24 AM this morning? Funny, you said that was being a vigilante and a harrasser and a terrorist five seconds before
that...didn't you??? You are talking in circles just to hear (see) yourself talk. We're all tired of your misinformed rants so
shut-up and find someone else to HARRASS!!!
By Mr. Metcalf's Wife
May 14, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Dearest "Z-Man"
Once again, you are contradicting yourself. Let's see, do we "confront them because they are throwing up red flags" as you
just stated at 4:24 AM this morning? Funny, you said that was being a vigilante and a harrasser and a terrorist five seconds before
that...didn't you??? You are talking in circles just to hear (see) yourself talk. We're all tired of your misinformed rants so
shut-up and find someone else to HARRASS!!!
By Carisma
May 14, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Hahahahaha
Everybody point and laugh at zman.
Nobody wants to hear your conspiracy theories, zdork! Nobody want child molesters around their kids!!
Now do what you said you were going to do and leave. Leave these poor people alone already!
Only a delusional sex offender would continue to spam a news story about a guy protecting kids from a sex offender.
By sarah orona (wife of howard orona)
May 14, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
DEAR FELLOW BLOGGERS-- THIS IS MY FIRST TIME! AFTER MEETING WITH MY LAWYER TODAY I GUESS
I NEED TO ADDRESS THIS BLOG SITE. FIRST AND FOREMOST I OFFER OUR FULL SUPPORT TO THE
METCALFS AND I AM GLAD THAT THEY ARE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SECONDLY, MY HUSBAND, HOWARD ORONA, HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WE
NEED TO CLEAR UP SOME FACTS ON THIS MATTER. HE HAS NEVER HAD ANY SUIT FIELD AGAINST HIM
AND HAS NEVER HURT ANYONE IN HIS LIFE. THE "ANNETTE" WHOM IS THE MOTHER
OF CHRISTY PARKS, WHOM USED TO LIVE IN PARACHUTE, HAS MADE FALSE STATEMENTS.
SHE, ALONG WITH HER DAUGHTER CHRISTY ARE TRYING TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM AN ONGOING CASE
THAT CHRISTY PARKS HAS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. ON APRIL 20, SHE PLEAD GUILTY TO
YET ANOTHER FELONY AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE IF I WOULD HAVE PRESSED CHARGES AGAINST HER
FOR STEALING MY CREIT CARD TO THE AMOUNT OF 2500$.
THIS IS NOW HER 3RD OR 4TH FELONY(I HAVE LOST COUNT). SEVERAL FELONIES HAVE BEEN DROPPED.
THIS WAS AN UGLY MESS YEARS AGO AND I WAS HOPING THAT IT WAS OVER-END OF STORY
CHRISTY MADE FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HOWIE REGUARDING HER DAUGHTER ONLY. SHE IS DUE TO
GET SENTENCED ON JUNE 9TH AT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE (CASE NUMBER 061948) FOR
FELONY FRAUD AND FORGERY SO IF ANYONE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HURT BY THIS PERSON
WILL YOU PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO DEPUTY DA MICHAEL FREEMAN, 500 JEFFERSON COUNTY PARKWAY,
GOLDEN, COLORADO, 80401-6020. HE AND THE HONORABLE JUDGE TAMARA RUSSELL NEED TO KNOW WHAT
KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE DEALING WITH. I AM GLAD TO LEARN OF THIS "BLOGGING" DUE TO THE FACT
THAT I NOW HAVE WHAT I NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON MY PENDING CASES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND
A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FRIENDS WHOM HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT US.
SINCERELY,
SARAH ORONA
P.S. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE COMING TO CONCLUSIONS-- WE DO NEED TO MAKE THIS
WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND SAFER PLACE TO LIVE AND ALWAYS CONCIDER THE SOURCE!!!!
LIVES ARE AT STAKE SO GET GOOD, VALID INFORMATION--- GET INFORMED-GET INVOLVED AND WATCH YOUR KIDS.
By ZMan
May 14, 2008 4:24 AM | Link to this
It's funny how when I simply voice my opinion on an article, the VIGILANTE TERRORISTS come around and gang up on people. BRD, Summer Rain, Charisma, Stitches and all TERRORISTS who love to start things and say it's a WAR....
They are the ones turning stuff into fantasy wars.
They cannot read and comprehend what I say without throwing out words to try to insult me. Hilarious!!!!
I NEVER SAID WHAT THIS OFFENDER WAS DOING WAS OK!!!!!!!! BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.....
He is throwing up all kinds of red flags and should be confronted, but from the original article, even the reporter said in the title of the news article "MAN ACCUSED OF HARASSING SEX OFFENDER" and from the whole news article, that appears to me exactly what he was doing.
Like I said several times as well. If he had a problem with the person, call police and wait for them to show up. If the man starts to harm a child, kick his butt, you have every right to defend a child. I NEVER SAID OTHERWISE....
But getting in someones face and screaming at the top of your lungs and the other things mentioned in this article, like they said he used FamilyWatchDog web site, which it says on their web site that the info should not be used to harass an offender, and this is exactly what he did.
Maybe you should bust out the dictionary... Read that 1st item below...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARASS:
1 a: exhaust, fatigue b (1): to annoy persistently (2): to create an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct
2: to worry and impede by repeated raids
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