Ouray County Plaindealer: A Ridgway man was cited this morning on suspicion of petty theft in connection with the theft of more than 200 printed copies of this week’s Ouray County Plaindealer.

The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office cited Paul Choate, 41, who admitted to stealing the newspapers early Thursday morning. He returned them to the Plaindealer office Thursday night with an apology.

Copies of this week’s edition, which featured a front page story detailing an alleged sexual assault reported to have occurred at the home of the Ouray police chief, were stolen from 12 racks in Ridgway and Ouray.

Investigators were able to use video surveillance and several leads to conduct the investigation. The evidence showed Choate took the newspapers early Thursday morning after the new edition had been distributed to vending racks.

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