AURORA | Five people are facing trespassing charges following two separate incidents where police responded to rescue people who had gotten stuck in an underground shaft.

The first incident happened around 6 a.m. July 8, when an 18-year-old woman and two juveniles climbed into an abandoned missile silo near the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds using a rope ladder. The juveniles were able to climb out, but the woman couldn’t get back up. 

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, South Metro Fire Rescue and Sable Altura Fire Rescue retrieved the woman from the silo and she was transported to the hospital for treatment of exposure to high levels of carbon dioxide.

Investigators determined the group ignored a no trespassing sign and all three people have been charged with second-degree trespassing. 

Then, around midnight July 14, sheriff’s deputies found a 19-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman about 60 feet down in the silo. The man was able to climb out using a rope ladder, but the woman had to be rescued by Sable Altura Fire Rescue. 

Neither person suffered any injuries and both received summons for second-degree trespassing. The penalties include up to 10 days in jail and/ or a $300 fine. 

The silo property is owned by Denver, but managed by Waste Management.

In a social media post from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department, officials remind the public of the risk of “hidden hazards,” including unstable conditions, toxic gases and deep vertical shafts.

“Please respect gates and posted signs, stay off private property, and avoid entering confined spaces,” the post says. 

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