Boulder Condemns Saturday Disturbance, Looks To ID Participants

BOULDER, CO —The City of Boulder released a statement Sunday condemning the violence and destruction of property that took place a day earlier at University Hill, when a large student party escalated into confrontations with police. The city said there would be legal, economic and perhaps academic consequences for those found to have participated in the disturbance.

Boulder asked for the public's help in identifying those who took part in the violence, which Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said included attacks on three police officers, who suffered minor injuries.

City officials also said the size of the gathering in a residential neighborhood, estimated at between 500 and 800 people, was not permitted under any circumstances, but was especially dangerous during the pandemic.

The city released a timeline of the disturbance, which began with multiple calls to authorities at approximately 5 p.m. about a large party on 10th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and College Avenue.

Within an hour, individuals began pelting officers with glass bottles and the Boulder Police Department's SWAT team was activated.

Later, between 8:22 .p.m. and 8:42 p.m., officers made three announcements for the group to disperse. But individuals pelted vehicles with rocks and bottles. At least three SWAT officers were struck with rocks, some of them the size of a softball.

At that point, according to authorities, officers deployed pepperball projectiles directed at the ground around those causing harm. They also deployed two cannisters of smoke and one canister of CS Tear Gas. However, a change in wind direction lessened the effects of the gas.

Eventually, the decision was made to pull the officers from the area, in order to observe actions of the crowd. Around that time, the windshield of an armored vehicle was shattered.

At 9:13 p.m., University of Colorado Boulder officials sent out an alert, the school's second of the evening, telling students involved in the disturbance they could be subject to arrest and sanctions by the university.

The crowd finally began to disperse around 8:45 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The City of Boulder asked anyone with information on the case to submit it to the Boulder Police Dept. - CO Evidence Submission Portal. Those who have information and wish to remain anonymous can contact Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips also may be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website, the Safe to Tell website or the tip line, at (303) 441-1974.

University officials released a statement on Saturday, and there was another from Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano on Sunday, both condemned the violence and the lack of compliance with COVID-19 health orders among students. Both statements also said there would be consequences for this behavior, potentially including expulsion from the university. DiStefano also apologized to the local community.

Students who were present at the crowded Hill gathering also have been advised to quarantine immediately and complete a COVID-19 test on Thursday or Friday.

Read the full statement and the timeline of events from the City of Boulder.