Houston Firefighter Jailed In Denver Accused Of Date Rape

DENVER, CO -- A Houston, Texas, firefighter was arrested in Denver Feb. 12 and charged with sexual assault and kidnapping, accused of raping a University of Colorado student, and possibly drugging her, in March, 2015.

Luke McIntosh, 28, was working as a firefighter for the Houston Fire Department when an arrest warrant was issued in Denver Jan. 26. He was taken into custody in Denver Feb. 12 and is being held on $100,000 bond, the Denver District Attorney's Office said.

A woman, who was a student at CU at the time, told Denver police and CU's Title IX sex crime investigators that on March 25, 2015, she arranged to meet with a female friend and McIntosh, with whom she had exchanged friendly instant messages in the past, to watch a Colorado Avalanche hockey game at a sports bar near her apartment. The friend did not show up, so she and McIntosh watched the game together, according to an arrest affidavit.

She told police she drank beer and "about three shots" and that after she went to the bathroom, new drinks were on the table and she felt "fuzzy" after that. She remembered McIntosh allegedly asking how she would get home, and she said she would walk to her nearby apartment. She told police she thought it was possible a drug was put into her drink, the affidavit said.

She told police she woke up in her bed with McIntosh allegedly on top of her, having sex with her, but she could not remember walking home, or giving assent. She said she then woke up again having been moved, naked, onto an outdoor balcony, where she said McIntosh allegedly again had sex with her, as she moved in and out of consciousness.

The woman told police she did not report the incident to authorities, but told a friend. Two other women told Title IX investigators in 2015 that McIntosh had unwanted sexual contact with them.

Police detectives and CU investigators presented the case to the Denver DA's office earlier, but the DA declined to file charges, the affidavit said.

During the time of the incident, McIntosh worked as a volunteer firefighter between 2011-2016 for the Falcon Fire Department.

McIntosh was fired by the Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena, who told Houston KTRK that he was taken by surprise by the charges.

"We do know that it doesn't seem like the arrest with the charges were listed in his application for employment," Chief Pena said. McIntosh was trained through the Houston Fire Academy, reports said.

McIntosh's next court date is scheduled for March 8.

Image Luke McIntosh via Denver District Attorney's Office