A Wednesday evening traffic stop near City Center Drive and West 93rd Avenue took a troubling turn when Westminster police say officers opened a car trunk and found three children inside. According to the department, the temperature was below freezing at the time. Officers reported that the children were unharmed when they were found, and the driver was handcuffed on the spot and taken into custody.
Police say they pulled the vehicle over after seeing it driven erratically and noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from the car. Body-worn camera video released by the department shows the driver telling officers at one point, "My kids are in the trunk," before they opened it and discovered three children along with several bottles of alcohol. The children were examined at the scene, and Child Protective Services was notified. Authorities say the kids were later released to family members. The driver was arrested and booked into the county jail on multiple charges, as reported by CBS Colorado.
Children, CPS And Custody
As part of the response, officers contacted county child-welfare workers, who typically team up with law enforcement on safety checks, emergency care, and short-term plans for where children will stay. Colorado's Division of Child Welfare oversees county practice and offers guidance on investigations and placements, while local county offices make the day-to-day calls about whether kids can safely reunite with relatives. For an overview of how child-welfare services operate in the state, see the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Arrest And Charges
Westminster police identified the driver as Thomas Michael Raiola and said he was arrested during the stop, then booked into the Adams County Detention Facility. According to the department, Raiola faces multiple counts, including DUI, reckless driving, failure to provide valid insurance, and three counts of child abuse. Detention and booking in the case are handled by the Adams County Sheriff's Office, which maintains county detention information and public records.
Legal Implications
Colorado law specifies that allowing a child to be in a situation that threatens the child's life or health can meet the definition of child abuse. Penalties depend on whether any injury occurred and on the defendant's state of mind. Child-abuse crimes in Colorado can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on whether the conduct was negligent, reckless, or knowing and whether serious injury resulted. The statute is summarized at FindLaw, which explains the different possible tiers of charges.
Body Camera Footage And Next Steps
The Westminster Police Department released body-worn video linked to the stop as part of its public notice about the arrest and has said the children were unharmed and that there is no ongoing public-safety threat. The Adams County Detention Facility will continue to hold the arrestee through initial processing while prosecutors review the case and decide whether to formally file charges. For official city and police contacts regarding the incident, visit the City of Westminster website at Westminster, CO.
