Latest news with #Conifer
CBS News
24-06-2025
- CBS News
Former Colorado councilman accused of shooting teen in the face going to trial
The former Colorado town councilman who's accused of shooting a teenager outside his home will go to trial, court records show. Brent Metz was arrested outside his Conifer home in September 2024 after the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said he shot a 17-year-old boy in the face. Metz's attorney says the shooting was accidental and that Metz's gun went off without him pulling the trigger. Two teen boys hopped the fence of the property to ask the homeowner for permission to take homecoming photos at the property, according to the sheriff's office. When no one answered the door, they returned to their car and started writing a letter seeking permission to take the photos at the house. Metz's girlfriend, who was home at the time, saw the boys on security cameras and called Metz and 911. Metz is charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of menacing with a weapon, and illegal discharge of a firearm -- all felonies. He pleaded not guilty in April. Brent Metz, right, is seen leaving the Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. CBS Metz's attorney, Chris Decker, told CBS News Colorado in May that the gun Metz used that day -- a Sig Sauer P320 -- is at the center of several safety recalls and lawsuits, both resolved and ongoing, due to instances of it reportedly going off without the trigger being pulled. The sheriff's office confirmed that was the firearm model recovered from the scene. The sheriff's office is doing forensic tests of the gun that was recovered and Decker said he ordered an independent investigation of the gun, the findings of which, he said he plans to present in court. A 15-year-old friend of the boy who was shot, and who was sitting in the car with the 17-year-old at the time of the shooting, also told investigators he didn't believe the shooting was intentional and said he heard Metz say "Oh s..., my gun went off." The teens are not being identified due to their age, and a sheriff's office spokeswoman said investigators don't believe they had criminal or malicious intent when they entered Metz's property. The letter seeking permission to use the property was partially written when the boy was shot and investigators say they recovered that at the scene. Decker confirmed on Monday that the case is set to go to trial in January but didn't have any additional comment on the case. In May, Metz was recalled as a councilman in Mountain View, a town of about 500 residents in the Denver metro area about 30 miles northeast of Conifer, a town official confirmed. Of the 200 votes in that recall, 128 residents voted to remove Metz and 72 voted to keep him. "We, the undersigned, are calling for the immediate recall of Brent J. Metz from his position on the Town Council due to a significant loss of trust, safety concerns, and recent criminal charges that have further undermined his ability to lead effectively," a letter from community members leading the recall effort read, in part. "In light of recent events, including criminal charges brought against Councilmember Metz, it has become clear that his actions no longer reflect the integrity and responsibility required of an elected official. These charges have not only damaged his reputation but have also cast a shadow over the trust and confidence our community once placed in him. His continued presence on the Council raises serious concerns about the safety of our town and the integrity of our local government." The ballot also included a letter from Metz. That full letter appears below: Mountain View Neighbors, as your Council Member, I have worked to meet my neighbors and learn their individual stories. These perspectives have helped inform my legislative decisions. Unfortunately, the legislative process for a diverse community generally results in some being unhappy. This is often a sign of appropriate compromises to achieve successful legislation. Last September, I was involved in a difficult situation outside this community. This involved the unintentional discharge of a firearm. The media attention surrounding this has not been accurate, fair, or supported by the underlying facts. While I am not at liberty to fully discuss this matter, I can say this, I am not guilty of the unresolved charges against me and have full faith that the ongoing judicial process will result in the same determination. Everyone who knows me well understands that I have lived a life of service to others, as an Eagle Scout, a member of the military, a parent, and my years dedicated to this town. Please trust the legal system before you make conclusions, trust my character as demonstrated over a life of service, provide me the opportunity to continue serving the community that I love. Sincerely, Brent Metz.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Morning Brief Podcast: India's Rare Earth Reckoning
Morning Brief Podcast (ET Online) India's Rare Earth Reckoning Anirban Chowdhury | 24:31 Min | June 13, 2025, 6:16 AM IST LISTEN 24:31 LISTENING... As rare earth shortages disrupt global manufacturing, India's auto sector is feeling the crunch. In this episode of The Morning Brief, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Shally Seth Mohile speak with Ankit Somani (Co-founder, Conifer), Hemal Thakkar (Senior Practice Leader and Director, Crisil Intelligence), and Vinnie Mehta (Director General, ACMA) to unpack how China's tightening grip on rare earth exports is sending shockwaves through India's auto sector. With restrictions on critical elements and magnets used in EVs, defense, and electronics, Indian supply chains are earth magnets up to 15 times stronger than steel magnets and power everything from regenerative braking and sensors to infotainment and battery systems. Yet despite having the world's fifth-largest reserves, India lacks the refining capacity, magnet-making infrastructure, and policy clarity to compete. The result? Deepening dependence on China, which controls more than 85% of global export approvals get entangled in a multi-agency licensing maze, Indian manufacturers are scrambling to respond from redesigning tech to lobbying for domestic capacity. This episode explores whether India can future-proof its clean-tech ambitions or stay magnetized to global risk.
CBS News
17-05-2025
- CBS News
Defense for Colorado man accused of shooting teenager says gun to blame
The defense for a Colorado man accused of shooting a 17-year-old in the face last September plans to put the onus on the weapon used. "He's absolutely sorry for what happened. It was a complete mistake. It was an unintentional firing of his weapon," said defense attorney David Jones. Jones and co-counsel Chris Decker plan to make the case that the weapon used by Brent Metz in a shooting along Pleasant Park Road in Conifer was faulty and misfired. The teen survived. CBS "The facts as we understand them are he was drawing it from his truck to place it on his hip, as he was turning, the weapon went off," said Decker. Metz is very familiar with weapons and regularly carries, said the attorneys. "He's been a concealed weapon carrying permit for 18 years, he's got extensive experience with firearms," said Jones. The defense blames the functioning of the Sig Sauer P320 that Metz used. "There are a number of circumstances well documented where these weapons are going off without the intent or physical interaction of the person holding it," said Decker. "Should there be responsibility? Absolutely. And we feel that should fall on Sig Sauer." CBS There have been claims from some police officers that weapons have fired while holstered. In February, a federal judge in Georgia denied Sig Sauer's request for a new trial after a Georgia man was awarded $2.3 million after one of the P320s fired as he was holstering it. Sig Sauer did not reply to a request for comment on the allegations by Metz's attorneys. But last year, it did post a public statement about claims involving the P320. "Claims that the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull are without merit and have been soundly rejected as a matter of law." Still, the company did offer a free update on the weapon in 2017 and redesigned some internal parts, including the sear, a part that holds back the striker until proper pressure is applied to the trigger. Metz's gun was produced after the change, admitted Decker. "Which we believe does not and did not solve the problem here," he said. Some police departments, including Denver, do not allow the use of the weapon. "The Denver Police Department Firearm Unit evaluated the Sig Sauer P320 platform and were able to recreate safety issues, which ultimately led the department to make what we believe to be a prudent decision to disallow DPD officers' use of this firearm platform," said DPD in reply to an emailed inquiry. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the arresting agency in the Metz case, says its use of the P320 is under review. Deputies buy their own weapons, and about 8% use the P320. "We have had zero problems," said department spokesperson Jacki Kelley. CBS Metz, a town councilmember in Mountain View who is on leave after his arrest, faces a recall election next week. Whether the gun was faulty or not may not be the core issue of the case. The defense still has significant challenges, even if it claims the gun was faulty, says former prosecution attorney Raj Chohan. "Very likely the prosecution is going to say that's a bunch of nonsense, given all the context in place: pulling the vehicle in to block the other car from leaving, getting out, pointing the gun in the direction of the person who was shot, and then having the gun go off," said Cohan. Metz reportedly pulled his vehicle in front of the victim's car at an angle and got out, grabbing a gun off the seat. CBS The affidavit shows the other teenager in the car told the arriving deputy that Metz got out and walked toward their car. He "pulled a handgun from his holster and pointed it towards them," the teenager said, before it went off, firing a bullet through the windshield and into his companion's face. The 15-year-old said he heard Metz exclaim, "Oh _____, my gun went off." The defense says they will make the case that he was mistaken about the gun being pointed towards them. "We don't believe that's the case," said Jones. Among the gun safety rules published by the National Rifle Association, the first states, "Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety." At some point, the gun was pointed toward the victim to fire in that direction. Chohan believes the defense will have to put Metz on the stand to testify his version of events, which will open him to cross-examination. He said, "The question is going to be, why did you pull the gun to begin with? And if you didn't mean to use it, why was it out? And why did you block the car in?" The jury will have to weigh the motivation behind Metz's claims and any conflict with other testimony, particularly from the boys. "There's going to be some deference given to what they saw and what they remember. And the person who's got the most self-serving version of this is going to be the shooter," said Chohan. But he added that the defense is doing its job, going after the issue of intent, which is important for the most serious charge of assault in the second degree. The district attorney in Jefferson County had no comment, noting the case is pending. The next court date is in late June, and the trial will be beyond that. It will be up a judge or jury to decide the validity of the defense's arguments. "They're going to sit there and go, what makes more sense?" said Chohan.
Axios
11-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Bentonville's future farm-to-table fine dining
An elevated tasting menu restaurant — already scarce in Northwest Arkansas — is just one piece of Bentonville Chef Matthew Cooper's next project. State of play: RYN in northeast Bentonville has a more rural feel than Cooper's downtown restaurant, Conifer. The property includes a pre-Civil War home that's being renovated, as well as a full-fledged farm just outside the fine dining restaurant. What they're saying:"I want to train people for the culinary field and show them what real farm to table is," the James Beard Award-nominated chef said. "And not just like, 'Oh, we grew this and then we served it,' but what it means to have relationships with local farmers and understand how they do their business." The plan is to grow anything RYN and Conifer needs while using products from other local farms. RYN may grow vegetables for other farms or restaurants, but there's no plan for wholesales or to compete with other farms. RYN will have an educational component, and Cooper wants to work with culinary programs and kids. The big picture: The property will also be home to a store selling locally-made goods, host events and have a guest house for visiting chefs or those holding events. It'll also be a community space where people can hang out and have a drink from the mobile bar inside the store, with a pebble creek for the kids. Zoom in: The restaurant will feature a 26-seat dining room plus an eight-seat private space. There's also a parlor room and room for the chefs to research and write menus. Expect a simple, thoughtful aesthetic with wood floors, a fireplace and stained glass. How it works: Diners will make a reservation, offered at one time daily Wednesday through Saturday, and won't know what's on the menu until they show up. Think nine to 10 courses of American cuisine sourced locally and regionally as much as possible (with exceptions, like fish). Like Conifer, RYN will serve an entirely gluten-free menu and can accommodate other allergens or dietary restrictions. Background: Cooper is originally from Arkansas and returned in 2010 after living in the Pacific Northwest. He's been cooking for some time, but Conifer was the first restaurant he 100% owned. It opened in 2022. "Being able to own something and not have to answer to anyone has really given me the opportunity to break all the chains and do all things that I've known that a restaurant was capable of doing in this area forever," Cooper said. He wants his restaurants to be a model, showing the industry that restaurants can sustainably offer livable wages, health care, and vacations. He also strives for "a good environment where you can successfully fail and not get yelled out and not have any of these traumas from the restaurant industry."
