Broomfield Teen Case: Alleged Stalker Charged With Cop Assault

BOULDER, CO -- UPDATE: Adams County Sheriff Michael McIntosh announced Feb. 9 that Joseph Michael Lopez, 22, had been arrested in connection with the death of Natalie Bollinger.

Drifter Shawn Schwartz, 37, a "person of interest" in the murder of Broomfield teen Natalie Bollinger, 19, was charged Wednesday with assaulting Boulder police officers who tried to take him to a hospital for mental health treatment.

On Dec. 15, Bollinger had obtained a restraining order against Schwartz and complained on her Facebook page that he had sent her hundreds of messages, followed her across the country and "slept outside my work for weeks." Bollinger said Schwartz had threatened to harm her and her family and had announced he would kill himself in front of her.

Bollinger disappeared from her Broomfield home Dec. 28 and her body was found in the woods on a dairy property near Thornton Dec. 29. The Adams Co. Coroner did not release a cause of death, but Broomfield Police called the case a homicide.

Boulder police were notified that Schwartz was posting what could be considered suicidal messages on his own Facebook page Jan. 5. Schwartz posted that he had spoken to Broomfield police about Bollinger's disappearance, an arrest affidavit from Boulder Co. said. He said was headed to St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder and challenged police to "put me in the ground, you f--- cowards."

Boulder officers met up with Schwartz who told them he was sad because his friend Natalie was dead. Schwartz reportedly began to cry and say he couldn't talk to his friend anymore and no longer wanted to live, the arrest report said.

Officers brought Schwartz Saturday night to Boulder Community Health's Foothills Hospital Emergency Room, but Schwartz began screaming and yelling and tried to leave, the affidavit said. Officers attempted to arrest Schwartz, but he struggled, and tried to kick, bite and spit on officers, the arrest affidavit said. He was transported to Boulder Co. jail.

Schwartz was charged Wednesday in Boulder with second-degree assault on a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Schwartz had one previous arrest in Boulder Co., the Daily Camera reported.

He is scheduled to reappear in court Feb. 1.

A video from the Daily Camera showed Schwartz confronting reporters who asked him if he knew what happened to Bollinger. In the video he claims he has not been officially interviewed by Broomfield police and denies he is a person of interest.

"You guys are all up in my bubble and freaking me out," Schwartz told a TV reporter. "You're seriously giving me a panic attack."

Update: The Adams County Sheriff arrested Joseph Michael Lopez, 22, on Feb. 8 in connection with Bollinger's death. Sheriff Michael McIntosh said no further persons of interest were thought to be involved in the homicide.

Read more on Patch:

Broomfield Teen Homicide: Arrest In Natalie Bollinger Case

Broomfield Teen Goes Missing: Police Seek Help

Missing Broomfield Teen Was 'Murdered,' Father Says

Image: Natalie Bollinger via Broomfield Police