About this report
This report documents a selection of public-safety incidents occurring in Boulder, Colorado across a two week period using police reports obtained through Colorado Open Records Act requests following the encryption of routine Boulder Police radio dispatch communications in October 2025. The incidents summarized here were reconstructed primarily from written police reports and related official records.
These incidents represent only a small fraction of public-safety activity occurring in Boulder during this period. Limitations in availability of official records continue to restrict how much can be confidently documented. Numerous additional disturbances, overdoses, mental-health calls, thefts, trespassing incidents, welfare checks, and other police responses occurred during the same timeframe but are not included here.
Disturbance at fast food restaurant leads to arrest
4/19
(A fast-food restaurant on 28th Street)
1:04 AM
Officers responded to a fast-food restaurant after a man was reportedly throwing chairs, yelling at staff and customers, stealing food, and attempting to force his way back into the restaurant after being kicked out. When officers attempted to contact him outside, he fled across 28th Street into a nearby parking lot. Officers caught him after he ran into an officer and fell.
Police said the man resisted arrest by keeping his hands underneath his body while officers attempted to handcuff him. Staff told officers the incident began after employees confronted him about stealing approximately $10 worth of food. The suspect allegedly yelled profanities at employees and customers, threw food on the floor, and knocked signs off tables. No property damage was reported.
The man was booked into the Boulder County Jail on suspicion of disorderly conduct, obstruction, resisting arrest, theft, and two unrelated failure-to-appear warrants.
Male masturbating at park in presence of families
4/19
800 Cherry Ave, Foothills Community Park
6:10 PM
Police responded to a park near 800 Cherry Ave after reports that a man had been exposing himself near families and children. Witnesses told officers the suspect had been masturbating in the park in view of multiple people, including juveniles. A family told officers they no longer felt comfortable using the park because of the behavior.
Officers contacted the suspect near the playground. According to the report, he initially attempted to walk away but was detained. During questioning, he admitted he’d had himself exposed and claimed he may have only been scratching himself. Witnesses reportedly identified him as the same person they had observed exposing himself.
The man was arrested and booked into jail on felony indecent exposure involving the presence of a child under 15, along with additional misdemeanor indecent exposure charges.
Menacing outside the shelter; no charges filed
4/20
4869 Broadway, the shelter
9:21 AM
Officers responded to a reported menacing incident outside a public building near Broadway. Witnesses said a man armed with a large metal pipe threatened another individual during an argument. One witness reported seeing the suspect raise the pipe while yelling aggressively, prompting concerns he intended to strike the victim.
Another witness said the victim eventually convinced the suspect to hand over the pipe, after which staff secured it inside the building. Police noted the exterior portion of the incident was not captured on security cameras.
The suspect was identified by witnesses but the case was ultimately closed without an arrest due to contradicting stories from witnesses and insufficient evidence to support charges.
Per the report:
“Staff advised they had security cameras inside the facility but none covering the exterior area where the incident occurred.”
Harassment on Pearl Street Mall leads to assault and arrest
4/20
1200 block of Pearl St
5:56 PM
Police responded to reports of a disturbance involving a group of juveniles near Pearl Street. Witnesses said a group of young males had been following another male through the area while yelling threats, including statements that they were going to kill him, accusations that he owed one of them money, and referring to him with a racial slur.
When officers arrived, several juveniles ran. One juvenile continued fleeing through an alley despite repeated commands to stop, leading an officer to draw a Taser before the juvenile complied and was detained. Witnesses stated the group had followed the victim through multiple blocks while yelling threats and attempting to provoke a fight.
The detained juvenile said he had been jumped earlier and claimed he did not hear officers initially identify themselves. He was arrested on suspicion of harassment and obstruction before being released to a guardian.
Mother/daughter fight leads to arrest
4/24
(A hotel in downtown Boulder)
12:34 AM
Police responded to a hotel after a mother reported her intoxicated daughter was assaulting her during an argument following the daughter’s 21st birthday celebration. The mother told officers the argument escalated after she refused to contact the daughter’s friends and encouraged her to take medication and go to bed. The daughter allegedly threw items around the room, pulled her mother’s hair, struck her, and grabbed at her neck while the mother was on the phone with 911.
When officers entered the hotel room, they found the suspect resisting commands and struggling with officers in the bathroom area. Police said she resisted handcuffing, made suicidal statements, and continued fighting officers while being escorted from the room. Multiple officers later reported being kicked and struck during the arrest and transport process.
The daughter was booked into the Boulder County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault, resisting arrest, obstruction, and multiple felony assault charges involving officers. Jail staff later reportedly used pepper spray after she continued resisting at the jail.
Hotel hallway indecent exposure arrest
4/25
(A hotel in North Boulder)
3:47 AM
Officers responded to a report that a hotel guest encountered a nude man masturbating in a hallway outside her room around 3:45 AM. The reporting party said the man was lying naked on the floor and exposing himself while masturbating. When officers arrived, they found the suspect still nude in the hallway. He appeared intoxicated or impaired and gave officers false identifying information before eventually being identified.
Police determined he had prior indecent exposure convictions, an active failure-to-appear warrant, and was out of compliance with sex offender registration requirements. Officers also located drug paraphernalia on his person.
The man was arrested on charges including felony indecent exposure, false reporting to police, failure to register as a sex offender, paraphernalia possession, and failure to appear.
Threats at downtown bar lead to felony menacing arrest
4/26
1000 block of Pearl
12:32 AM
Bar employees reported that an intoxicated patron was being removed from the business when he threatened to “shoot” staff members while making finger-gun gestures and reaching toward his back pocket as though armed.
Employees said the suspect repeatedly implied he had a firearm. Officers later located him near another bar on 11th Street. He refused to identify himself, and at one point he said he would have his lawyer sue them. He physically resisted officers as they attempted to detain him.
He was arrested for felony menacing, obstructing, and resisting arrest. Witnesses later positively identified him as the suspect.
Threatening incident at residence results in summons
4/28
(Residential address redacted)
8:00 AM
Officers responded to a harassment/threat after a security guard reported she had asked a resident to take her cigarette outside and the resident said “I’m gonna kill you.” The victim said the suspect appeared intoxicated or otherwise impaired and characterized her as a very aggressive person. She added this was not the first time the resident had threatened her and wanted to press charges for harassment. Another witness also said the suspect had made threats to other people in the past.
The suspect was given a summons for threatening bodily injury.
Per the report:
“I advised [suspect] that we had received calls about her smoking inside the building and that this violated Boulder Housing Partners policy.”
*** I believe this was at Bluebird, the permanently supportive housing facility at 2445 30th Street. ***
Repeated disorder calls on Pearl Street end in arrest
4/28
(numerous calls downtown)
4:50 PM
Officers responded after multiple calls throughout the day regarding a man reportedly “screaming about sodomizing passerbys,” walking into traffic, and interfering with vehicles downtown. Another call from Broadway and University described him as “grabbing at cars.” Another witness described him as trying to fight his customers and making them uncomfortable by yelling.
Police recognized the suspect from earlier contacts the same day. An officer noted: “As I was approaching him, I saw him get in the face of an elderly female and follow her in a circle as she walked away.”
When officers attempted to detain him, he ignored commands, attempted to walk away, and resisted officers as they physically restrained him. Additional officers responded to assist with the arrest.
He was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstructing government operations.
Assault near Pearl Street involving child victim
5/1
14th and Pearl
8:16 PM
Officers responded to an assault involving both an adult and a child victim near downtown Boulder. The suspect said they were “preaching” when approached and confronted by a group of juveniles. The suspect then pushed one of the juveniles to the ground before leaving the area. Officers were able to view a recording taken by a bystander showing the incident.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and child abuse causing bodily injury. Victim rights information was provided to those involved.
Shirtless man with gas can runs through restaurant, fights officers
5/4
(Area of Folsom and Arapahoe)
7:27 PM
Police had earlier received calls about a shirtless man walking around inside a restaurant attempting to “engage” with patrons and behaving oddly. About 7:27 PM, another call reported the same man near a restaurant while carrying a gas can, wearing a trash bag, and looking into vehicles.
When officers contacted him behind the restaurant, he ran through the kitchen and dining area. Officers pursued him through the business and tackled him near the bar area. He physically resisted arrest and refused commands before multiple officers subdued him.
The suspect made incoherent statements afterward and appeared to be in mental distress. Officers recovered the gas can which officers found contained gasoline, and also a bicycle tire he had dropped while fleeing.
The suspect was arrested on charges including trespassing, obstructing, and resisting arrest.
Boulder Public Safety 
Leave a comment