Signature Gathering Firm Accused Of Stealing Thousands Of Petitions

DENVER (CBS4) -- The Colorado Rising ballot initiative campaign is accusing the signature-gathering firm, Direct Action Partners, of stealing seven large boxes of petitions for Initiative 97, the oil and gas setback initiative.

"Direct Action Partners has refused to return the petitions, first demanding money and then demanding that Colorado Rising sign an agreement waiving DAP of responsibility and requiring Colorado Rising to keep DAP's actions secret," organizers stated.

Colorado Rising said they filed suit in Denver District Court on Wednesday night calling for an emergency hearing to retrieve the stolen property.

The battle is over Initiative 97. If approved by voters, it would require a 2,500 foot buffer - or just under a half mile - between new oil and gas drilling and any occupied building or vulnerable area like open space.

Colorado Rising, the group pushing the initiative, says the owner of Direct Action Partners, the firm it hired to circulate petitions, stole at least 15,000 signatures and $20,000 to use as leverage to break his contract. They say he returned their signatures after they went public but not the money. Now, they're suing.

But, opponents questioned whether the whole story was made up.

"Sounds a lot to me like a day of excuses for why they couldn't make it happen," says initiative opponent Matt Dempsey.

Two years ago, a similar measure failed to make the ballot after supporters turned in half empty boxes to the Secretary of State's Office.

"We've got 10 days to go been through before groundhog day all over again," says Dempsey.

The dustup the latest in a high stakes drama. There have been allegations of harassment on both sides and they have each released cell phone videos showing just how ugly the race has become.

The deadline to turn in signatures to make this year's ballot is Aug. 6.

Colorado Rising said a harassment complaint has been filed with the Boulder District Attorney's Office.