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Boulder Fires & Arsons (2021–2024)
About this report
Fires in Boulder are common and take many forms. This document focuses on fires in public spaces and arsons—incidents where fires were intentionally set and caused property damage. The material is drawn primarily from police reports, with some additional sources. In some cases, photos are provided.
This timeline begins on 12/31/21, the day after the Marshall Fire.
This is only a sampling. Many more incidents exist in the city’s public datasets, including calls for service related to non-structure and wildland fires in 2024, 2023, and 2022. These datasets do not include structure fires, fire assists, fire alarms, or incidents where fire was a secondary factor.
No one was seriously injured in the incidents documented here. This piece is not intended to alarm, but to record. If anything, it reflects the work of first responders who handle these situations daily, often while the rest of us are asleep or going about our routines.
This document is presented chronologically and without thematic grouping. Readers are encouraged to read sequentially or use keyword search based on their interests. No prioritization or weighting of incidents is implied.
Important notes regarding sources and methodology
This report is based primarily on police reports and other public records. Summaries here were reconstructed with resources available at the time. Names and other identifying information are not included in this report.
Some of this content was located in part by reviewing police scanner traffic. The Boulder Police Department encrypted routine dispatch traffic on October 28, 2025, ending public access to most real-time law-enforcement communications. As a result, incidents beginning in November 2025 are substantially more difficult and expensive for members of the public to independently document using public records alone.
The screenshot below is from body camera footage of a fire at 28th and Taft, near Boulder Creek, on 12/5/21 (this was 25 days before the Marshall fire). You can see the fire on the left. On the right, the bright white dot is the officer illuminating the scene with his flashlight. On the far right, two firefighters hose down the area. Officers interviewed several witnesses from a nearby apartment building, however no suspects were identified.
This photo was taken later that day
Marshall Fire, 12/30/21. This was covered extensively in the press.
12/31/21
Near 28th and Pearl
2:16 AM
An officer speaks with a woman by phone regarding a cold arson. The woman says she heard that a nearby store had a call the night before regarding a small fire; responding officers had noticed a second fire at this location. She says she reviewed security footage in which she saw a man lighting a small fire by the receiving door, then looking up at the security camera and walking away. The fire went out on its own and did not spread.
1/1/22
1300 Canyon
5:12 PM
Two women are sitting on the east side of the building at 1300 Canyon. One, the victim, is in a wheelchair. The second woman has a candle burning in a can. She is wearing a sleeping bag and a blanket. She says, “I’m setting it all on fire. I’m giving it all up.” She pours hand sanitizer on her candle, then throws leaves on it. The fire grows “uncontrollably,” spreading to the east side of the building. The victim’s wheelchair catches fire as well. The suspect runs south toward the tea house.
When police arrive, the victim is laying on the ground by the fire and unable to get away. Officers drag and carry her to safety. BFD extinguishes the flames. The victim is treated for her injuries.
The suspect is contacted for trespassing at a nearby business about 2.5 hours later. She is identified as the suspect in the arson and arrested.
There is body camera footage from this dramatic rescue here.
On 10/28/21, the suspect had been contacted for lighting a trash bin on fire by the pumps at a gas station in central Boulder.
On 12/15/21, she was arrested near 28th and Walnut, for trespassing and a FTA for the gas station arson.
1/1/22
1001 Arapahoe, Boulder Public Library
8:05 PM
Officers respond to an RV fire in the library parking lot, where FD is already on scene. They find a 1981 Winnebago with a rear window broken out, a blanket hanging out of it, and a strong smell of gas coming from the window.
Officers speak with the RV’s occupants, one of whom says they were watching it while the owner was visiting her son. They were sitting on the couch when they saw and heard a man smack the windshield, asking the owner’s whereabouts. They then heard the window break and saw fire in the bedroom area. They put the fire out with 3-4 sodas before calling 911.
One occupant advises the man was the owner’s ex-boyfriend, who had just gotten out of jail, and was angry with her. They believe an accelerant was used. They are allowed to go grab some food before coming back to warm up in an officer’s car. The occupants go on to say the RV could have gone up in flames very quickly, and that they were unable to open the door from the inside, so FD had to open it from the outside.
The man is located by officers behind a grocery store in north Boulder. He is arrested. Officers learn the RV’s owner had a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting her, and that it was also a bail bond condition.
1/24/22
Broadway and Pearl
4:17 PM
Officers respond regarding a fire. They are flagged down by the RP at Broadway and Pearl. He says he saw a man setting a fire in a flower bed, but provides no other details and walks away.
Officers find the flower bed; there is smoke coming from it but no flames. They put it out with a fire extinguisher. No suspects are identified. The damage is estimated at $25.
1/27/22
1303 Pearl St (public bathroom on the Pearl Street Mall)
12:00 AM
Per the report:
“The cleaning staff reported at approx. 12 AM 1/27/2022, that they entered the men’s restroom and found a mass burning on top of the toilet. The fire was extinguished by the cleaning staff and reported to the manager. The toilet was damaged beyond repair along with the wall mounted flush handle. A replacement toilet and handle components have been ordered for the needed repairs.
…
Damage: steel toilet and fittings
Value : $3,000”
This bathroom was closed while this was repaired.
2/1/22
Near Elder and Broadway
2:42 PM
Officers respond regarding a non structure fire in a parking garage beneath a building. They find FD on scene with the fire already out. They find a broken/charred cinder block with burnt plant material in and around it. They enter the building and find the stairway and hallways filled with smoke, which FD ventilates out.
Officers speak with a witness. She says she was in her office and discovered the hallway filled with smoke. When she entered the parking garage, she saw 5-6 young people with a fire going. She shooed them away and ran to get some water. She then came back, finding the kids gone, and doused out the fire. She says she believes the kids were clients of a youth shelter nearby; however no suspects are identified.
4/8/22
Broadway and Canyon, Central Park
11:46 PM
Officers traveling northbound on Broadway approaching Canyon observe a fire in a trash can on the east side of Broadway. They also see a woman beside it who starts walking away toward her campsite. Officers extinguish the fire and make contact with the woman.
Per the report:
“[Suspect] stated she had lit the fire to stay warm. […] also made numerous comments about going to jail and even began packing up her belongings for Officers to take should she be arrested. […] was operating under the mentality that this criminal act would be enough to have her taken to jail. […] stated things like “That’s arson, I’m going to jail”, as well as “I’ll do a week and not a day more”. […] was clearly hoping to be taken to jail, which is why she made so many comments alluding to starting the fire.”
The woman is issued a summons for second degree arson and left at her campsite. The trash can is valued at $75.
5/6/22
Near Broadway and Elder
1:48 AM
Officers respond regarding a non-structure fire. They find a man maintaining a small fire on the sidewalk. While officers are identifying him, he lights a cigarette with the fire. They ask him to step away from the fire so that FD can extinguish it.
Officers learn the man has 5 FTA’s, for trespassing x3 and camping/lodging on property without consent x2.
Officers tell the man he’s going to be arrested. He raises his voice and says he’s not. A third officer arrives. They take the man into custody and transport him to jail. He is given a summons for fires on public property.
5/20/22
A parking garage in north Boulder
11:40 AM
A woman pulls into the second floor of a parking garage. She sees a group of middle school age kids – four boys and a girl – around a fire on the ground. The kids try to stomp it out. The woman confronts the kids, after which they walk away.
An officer responds and finds a melted rubber duck. He also sees a substance apparently sprayed on the tire of a nearby truck. The woman recalls one of the kids had a spray bottle. No suspects are identified.
5/23/22
Goose Creek at Boulder Junction
12:49 AM
An officer responds to the report of a fire going inside a tent in the drainage tunnel along Goose Creek Path. He meets up with three firefighters, who tell him they had responded here earlier the same evening for the same reason.
Inside the tunnel are two men sitting beside a makeshift fire, a propane tank, and a large amount of trash and belongings. There is a third tent nearby, under the Boulder Junction bridge. Within one foot of one of the males, on a makeshift table, are a gun and an 18″ machete with serrated teeth.
The officer holds calls for emergency backup due to the weapons present. The two men are handcuffed. A third person, a woman, is coaxed out of one of the tents, while a fourth person (another man) remains inside the second tent.
Officers determine the gun is just a pellet gun. Because it does not meet the definition of firearm, it is returned to the owner, along with the machete.
The fire is extinguished. The two men, who admit to owning two of the three tents present, are cited for camping on public property, maintaining a fire on public property, and prohibited items. The woman is cited for camping.
6/23/22
Near Foothills and Arapahoe
4:26 AM
Officers respond to a non-structure fire near the railroad tracks just north of Arapahoe Ave. They see a man using a blowtorch tool attached to a propane tank on the railroad tracks. They also smell a strong odor of burnt materials. They contact the man, who says he was using the blowtorch to burn jewelry and melt it into gold. He says the propane tank was not his, but he found it and was using it.
Officers take the propane tank. They advise the man that fires are not permitted to be started or maintained on public property.
6/25/22
Near 33rd and Walnut
5:00 AM
Fire and police respond to a fire alarm at a business on 33rd St. They find a broken window and a burning mass on the floor which had been thrown in. They are able to extinguish it.
Officers investigate, including coordinating with the FBI. They find video of a man in a car who had broken out the window with a rifle, then lit a bottle of gas with a paper towel sticking out on fire and thrown it in.
Officers determine that the same man had menaced someone with the gun on the hill later that morning. The victim in that case was able to record part of this, including the man’s license plate.
Officers identify the man. They learn he has an extradition warrant out of Texas and that he is living in his car. They locate him and his car in a parking lot at 30th and Baseline. They are able to confirm his identity even though he has changed his license plates. He is arrested.
Officers interview the man after reading him his rights. He says he had suffered a head injury, that he took medication for it, and that it wasn’t helping. He admits committing the arson after learning the business he had targeted was involved in manufacturing the medication.
The man goes on to describe shooting out windows at BCH with his BB gun, lighting a van on fire in Texas, and damaging a car with a 45 lb. weight at his high school, also in Texas. He also discloses information about a sexual assault he committed on two minors, also back in Texas. Finally, he claims the medication he took resulted in pedophiliac ideation, and that officers would find his phone had been used to access sex trafficking websites containing child pornography.
7/11/22
Goose Creek Path under 30th St
4:54 AM
No written report for this incident. Someone was living in this wooden box along Goose Creek Path under 30th St. On the early morning of 7/11, it caught fire and was completely destroyed. This also damaged the wall and ceiling of the tunnel.
Pics show before/after
7/21/22
1150 7th St, Flatirons Elementary School
8:46 AM
Officers respond to Flatirons Elementary School regarding a man all in dark clothing carrying a gas can, who had poured something out of it, and who also lit a piece of paper on fire. The RP reports the man is walking back and forth in front of the school, and hides when others are near him. She expresses concern he may try to light the school on fire.
An officer spots the man at 9th and University and attempts to contact him. The man sees him and quickly walks away. The officer follows him and preps his taser; however the man hears this and runs away faster. Finally an officer tackles him. He resists as he is being handcuffed.
Officers read the man his rights. He provides semi-coherent statements about what happened. He eventually admits pouring gas on the sheet of paper and lighting it on fire, then throwing it into the street. He also admits smoking meth in the past couple of days and says he did not sleep at all the previous night.
AMR arrives and takes the man to BCH, where he is medically cleared in the ER. He begins yelling and resisting as officers are escorting him out. A nearby ambulance crew helps subdue him.
A school employee tells officers they have the man on video getting a gas can from where they keep the snowblowers.
7/23/22
Pearl Pkwy/55th St
5:29 AM
Officers respond to an area directly along Boulder Creek Path regarding a camp and a tree on fire. They find the tree and surrounding foliage engulfed in flames, along with an ebike with trailer which was being used as a shelter. Officers believe they know the ebike’s owner, but he is not present. They move another tent nearby so it won’t catch fire and to preserve evidence.
As officers are investigating, another man approaches them. He says the tent they moved was his and confirms the other man’s identity. He says someone had come to his tent earlier that morning asking for the other man and “sounded mad.” He says he went back to sleep and awoke to the crackling sound and orange glow of the fire. He provides a possible suspect name, then leaves. The fire was put out. The possible suspect tip does not lead anywhere.
Per the report:
“It is unclear at the time of this report if the fire was malicious or due to negligence as [missing camper] is known to start fires with his electric bikes by improper battery storage… Fire advised those on scene that the battery on the bike could possibly explode at any moment. Due to safety reasons nothing was retrieved on scene as evidence.”
Electric bike remnants
8/9/22
Goose Creek Path near 30th St
5:36 PM
Police and FD respond to a fire on the outside of a building. The flames reach toward the top of the one story building. Bushes are completely scorched, two windows are broken from the flames, and two nearby cars are damaged (partially melted). FD puts out the fire.
Afterwards, a witness who was inside the building describes a disheveled woman mumbling nonsensically to herself by the bushes where the fire started. She was last seen headed towards 30th St.
While investigating the scene, officers find a broken glass meth pipe and a scrap of foil with partially melted black residue (“consistent with burning drugs”) at the base of the tree where the fire started.
Burnt bushes and broken windows
8/22/22
300 block of Boulder Creek Path
5:43 AM
An officer responds regarding a man with a campfire on the north side of Boulder Creek at Eben G Fine Park. The officer discovers the man has an FTA warrant (BCSO littering and obstruction) which the jail will accept. The man is arrested.
The man was contacted 8/1/22 at 12:38 PM for sleeping amid trash and used needles in the 900 block of Arapahoe, near the main library. He had already been advised by a ranger that he needed to clean it up. He was uncooperative and claimed that an officer present had assaulted him. He refused to identify himself, even after being told he would be arrested if he did not. He was arrested, taken to jail, identified, and released.
8/27/22
55th and Boulder Creek
12:41 AM
A Boulder County deputy sees large amounts of smoke coming from underneath the 55th St. bridge. Boulder police and fire respond. They find an encampment engulfed in flames. Approximately 7 propane tanks are on fire, several of which have exploded. FD puts out the fire.
Officers investigate the scene. In addition to the propane tanks, they find a generator and red gas can, and a small propane stove. FD believes someone attempted to fill the generator (which is missing its cap) with the gas can, causing the fire.
Per the report:
“Most of the encampment was burned and damaged. Multiple tools and bicycle parts were strewn around the area. In every area of the encampment were used and unused needles, which appeared to be used for illegal narcotics use.
Multiple items of clothing were found, both male and female. A few items of note were discovered and collected from the scene. 7 laptops, 1 Apple iPad, a black case that appeared to belong to [redacted] and a silver bicycle frame were collected. (Placed into Property and Evidence as Found Property).
…It should be noted in this report that a few of the laptops had ‘Property of BVSD’ on them.
8/27/22
A business near 30th and Pearl
6:00 AM
An employee arrives at work to find a fire in the back alleyway. There are two piles of burning cardboard, scorch marks on the dumpster and building, and one of the dumpster’s wheels has melted. He puts the fire out by pouring water on it. Boulder Fire responds as a precaution.
BPD officers arrive on scene. They are directed toward a man sleeping about 25 yards from where the fire had been.
Officers contact the man. He has a backpack, a bike, and a ¾ full 32 oz. bottle of charcoal lighter fluid.
Per the report:
“[Suspect] was semi-compliant when I asked him questions regarding the fire. He stated that he did not start the fire, and that he didn’t see anyone in the area who started the fire. There was a bike and a bottle of lighter fluid within an arms reach of him. I asked him if the bottle of lighter fluid was his and he said no. I asked if the bike belonged to him and he said no. At this time, further investigation is needed.”
The man is not charged.
Melted wheel
9/29/22
38th and Arapahoe
10:16 PM
Police and fire respond to a fire under the bridge over Boulder Creek just east of 38th St. Fire personnel instruct the man to put out the fire, which he does by repeatedly pouring water from the creek. The man tells police he was the only one staying under the bridge and that the fire was “larger than expected.”
Officers learn the man has several warrants:
~ FTA damage property (BCSO)
~ FTA larceny x3 (also BCSO)
~ FTA Public Order – Camping/ Lodging Without Consent (BPD)
The man is out of jail on bonds totalling $8,100. He is arrested.
Boulder Creek Path is on the right
10/2/22
Broadway and Pennsylvania
1:08 AM
Boulder Fire is responding to a medical call on the hill. While they’re away from their fire truck, a man gets in and drives it to Broadway, about 1.5 blocks away. Firefighters chase after him, push the emergency brake, and pull the man out of the truck. They surround him while police are en route.
When questioned, the man says firefighters told him to move the truck (which is not true). Officers learn the man has a felony parole violation out of the DOC fugitive extradition unit for the original charge of robbery with no bond. He is arrested. The truck is valued around $750,000.
Per the report:
“It should be noted that the behavior of […] has continued to escalate. He has not been formally charged for every call we have received about him, but he has increasingly become a higher risk to public safety. […] also told me that he guaranteed he would be out of jail by tomorrow while I was transporting him.”
This incident was covered in multiple news outlets.
10/4/22
Broadway/Rosewood underpass
4:54 PM
Officers respond to a non-structure fire in the Broadway/Rosewood underpass, at the request of FD which is concerned the situation with the people living there could escalate. They find 4-5 blankets on the concrete wall which had been laid out to dry; these had caught fire before a couple of underpass residents put them out with water.
FD advises it appears the blankets were lit on fire one at a time. Officers attempt to determine what caused the fire; however they are unable and do not identify any suspects.
10/22/22
5110 Valmont Rd., Valmont City Park
4:18 PM
Officers respond to a pile of smoldering trash next to “a large shed-like camping structure.” FD extinguishes the fire. They are not able to determine a cause.
A man approaches officers investigating. He admits sleeping at the encampment but denies lighting anything on fire.
Officers learn the man has a FTA warrant out of BCSO for felony criminal mischief. Officers arrest him. When they search him, they find a baggie with .5g of meth.
10/22/22
47th and Pearl
2:18 AM
An officer responds to a fire in a drainage tunnel. He finds a camp that is “fully engulfed in flames.” He identifies two men nearby who deny any involvement. He has them step away from the scene so that Boulder Fire can extinguish the fire.
FD says they do not know how the fire was started. Officers do not locate any other suspects.
Per the report:
“Most of the encampment was burned and damaged. Multiple tools and bicycle parts were strewn around the area. There was burn damage to the cement bridge.”
11/4/22
Broadway/Canyon
8:53 AM
Summons:
“R/O (responding officer) dispatched to Central Park Bandshell reference […] having built and lit a campfire on the stage. Upon arrival, the fire was out, however R/O observed a large area of black ashes. […] stated he had lit the fire to “save a life” as a friend of his was homeless and very cold. […] also stated he just came back from fighting the war in Ukraine and is special forces. He is not. #HOT”
HOT = Homeless Outreach Team – BPD officers that deal specifically with the homeless
11/7/2
2600 block of Mapleton Ave, along Goose Creek Path
7:07 AM
An officer responds regarding a fire at a campsite along Goose Creek Path. He finds a fire in a short circular shaped container with burnt debris. He warns the man at the camp about burning in a public place.
The following day, 11/8/22, the officer is again dispatched to the site regarding an unattended fire. He finds the same container with smoke emanating from it. Officers draft a citation for the man, but they are unable to serve it because he refuses to come out of his tent.
Later in the day, another officer finds the man outside his tent and gives him the citation.
The man was contacted for having a fire going at the same location on 10/24/22. In that case, he was arrested on two FTA warrants (theft and trespassing of dwelling).
11/9/22
5305 Sterling Circle, Valmont City Park
10:00 AM
Officers contact a man camping inside a structure at Valmont City Park. They arrest him on two warrants, one felony and one misdemeanor.
While cleaning up the man’s site, they find a wood burning stove (which “appeared to have been used extensively”) inside the structure. They also find “drug needles, drug pipes, burned foil, and marijuana.” Officers are able to save some of the man’s belongings, but not all of them due to contamination. The structure is removed.
This is the same man contacted for having a fire at the same location on 10/22/22 at 4:18 PM (see above). In that instance, he said the fire wasn’t his, so he wasn’t charged for it. However he was arrested on a warrant for felony criminal mischief and was found with meth.
11/11/22
47th and Pearl
10:00 PM
An officer responds to 47th and Pearl on the report of an odor of smoke. He sees a culvert under the roadway that is “sealed off with plywood and wooden pallets on both ends” and sees “visible flames inside the culvert surrounded by a large amount of debris.” More officers arrive.
As officers begin to enter the culvert to extinguish the flames, they are approached by a man who tells them to leave. He refuses to put the fire out, saying it’s cold and it’s not a crime to have a fire. Officers explain multiple times that it’s not safe.
The man walks out of the culvert and continues to refuse to put the fire out. Officers inform the man he’s being placed under arrest. The man resists but they are able to handcuff him.
BFD puts out the fire. The man is booked and released with a summons for:
~ fires on public property
~ obstruction
~ resisting arrest
~ camping or lodging on property without consent
This picture was taken 11/17 (6 days later). The site was already reoccupied. Note the soot residue. Also note this is the same underpass as the 10/22 fire, 21 days prior.
1/25/23
5305 Sterling Dr, Valmont City Park
4:30 AM
Officers on patrol see a campfire in an area they know people are camping from previous contacts. They contact a man and a woman. The man puts out the fire. The woman has no warrants and is released from the scene. Officers learn the man has a FTA out of BCSO (theft). Dispatch advises the jail will accept the warrant. When officers search him, they find a concealed knife with a 5″ blade. They learn the man is not allowed to possess weapons due to a prior felony conviction.
2/2/23
Whittier Square Apartments
4:09 PM
An officer responds to Whittier Square Apts, which was badly damaged by a fire, whose cause was never determined, regarding two men trespassing. He locates one of the suspects, who is dressed all in black, squeezing through a gap in the fence. The man, seeing the officer, drops his bag and takes off running. The officer chases and catches him.
Officers recover the bag, which is full of copper taken from inside the building. When they search the man, they find:
~ 0.24g meth
~ 7 fentanyl pills (0.93g)
~ 2 credit cards and 2 ID’s belonging to other people
~ approximately $200 worth of copper piping
The man is arrested. An officer learns one of the ID’s was taken from a vehicle near 28th and Pearl on Christmas Eve. He is able to return it to its owner.
2/3/23
An apartment complex near Foothills and Table Mesa
9:51 PM
Officers respond regarding a man who has attempted to throw two lit Molotov cocktails through a leasing office window. They recover the bottles, which are beer bottles with white cloth sticking out and an unknown substance inside. Both bottles failed to break the window due to its plexiglass quality. A witness who was walking his dog reports seeing this, along with fire on the ground and the man running away.
The officers review footage of the incident, and they speak with another witness who recognizes the suspect from the video.
The following day, officers make contact with the suspect at his residence. He is cooperative as he’s being arrested.
Officers learn the man’s previous residence was condemned due to a fire that was “very suspicious.” They learn there have been other incidents involving him, including throwing rocks at the same leasing office window.
2/8/23
33rd and Prairie Ave
3:30 AM
Officers respond to a camp on fire at 33rd and Prairie next to a natural gas pipeline. (This was observed by people driving on Foothills Pkwy.) BFD puts out the fire around 4:16 AM. Damages to the handles and control devices for the pipeline are estimated at $3,000.
Per the report:
“While looking at the fire scene, I did not observe anything that indicated to me that this was an intentionally set fire. There were numerous potential ignition sources in plain view in the fire debris. The camp was surrounded closely by Juniper bushes on three sides. Juniper bushes are known to be very flammable. I noted that the fire appeared to spread outward from the camp rather than into the camp from the outside of the bushes.”
Later that day, officers contact two men picking up items from the scene, who tell them they did not think anyone was staying at the camp and that it was just used to stash items.
A nearby dumpster was loaded with charred material
2/12/23
Goose Creek Path and 30th St
No report but this blue plastic shopping cart was lit on fire and completely melted.
2/17/23
A storage facility on Arapahoe
1:40 AM
Officers respond to a large fire at a storage facility, along with a total of 9 fire units and two ambulances. They are able to contain the blaze to one building, with “approximately 20-25 units on fire.” The fire is extinguished; however FD has to force entry into some units, and by 6:42 AM they are still trying to get the smoldering under control.
In the end, the total number of victims with affected units is 59. One officer writes: “I noted that there were numerous motorcycles, scooters, a couple of cars, lots of tools, household property, family mementos that had been destroyed or damaged by heat, smoke and water.”
Officers are able to determine the unit where the fire started. They identify a renter, and they quickly identify a relative as the suspect. They begin investigating, including speaking with witnesses and other family members.
Family members say the man struggled with both mental illness, and also drug addiction, including meth. They note he had trouble remaining housed and they were worried about him. The storage unit was acquired for him, so he would have a place to store his belongings. They express concern he would overdose again if not contacted and detained.
One witness describes having a polite but odd conversation with him at a nearby gas station, after which the man came back and unexpectedly threw a filled bucket at his windshield, causing it to crack, then abruptly left. (This witness says he had his children in the car at the time. He also indicates he is not interested in pressing charges if the man is identified.)
On 2/28/23, an officer speaks with the suspect by phone; the conversation lasts over two hours and is detailed in the report. The man exhibits signs of severe mental illness and paranoia. He admits having candles going in the storage unit but says he blew them out. He also admits smoking meth and cigarettes. He denies setting the fire and says it was other people. He says he did see the fire in progress but did not think it would spread. He acknowledges he did not call 911.
The man is ultimately arrested. The damage to the facility is estimated at $1M. The damage to property in the affected units is estimated at $500K.
This fire was covered here:
https://5280fire.com/2023-incidents/boulder-arapahoe-ave-storage-building-fire/
2/20/23
College Ave/Broadway
1:00 AM
Officers respond regarding a fire on the bridge at College Ave. They find trees on fire on the east side of Broadway just north of College. Due to heavy winds, the fire is extinguished before FD arrives.
A nearby camera captures video of a suspect. It provides a physical description, but it is not clear enough to get a picture of his face. Officers locate a possible suspect nearby but determine it’s not him.
2/22/23
Eastman Ave, Martin Park
11:02 AM
Officers respond regarding someone who has burned books from the little free library to keep warm in the park shelter overnight. They find burnt books in two locations and a hatchet against the wall. They take pictures of the scene. They take the hatchet for the safety of several kids playing on the playground nearby.
This case is documented as a 2nd and 4th degree arson. No suspects are identified.
2/27/23
Foothills and Arapahoe
5:48 AM
An officer is driving south on Foothills Pkwy approaching Arapahoe Ave. He sees a man with a fire built of sticks and grass on the west side of Foothills. (The flames are 3-3½’ high.) He calls for FD to respond and pulls over.
The officer activates his body camera and approaches the man, who sees him and uses his feet to stomp the fire down. The man has “an injury to the underside of his chin that was through to the inside of his mouth.” He is transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Later, officers arrive at the hospital to take the man to jail on 3 FTC warrants: assault and violation of a protection order x2.
Among the man’s possessions placed in safe keeping for him are a paintball gun, 2 empty paintball gun magazines, a metal bar, and other items. He also has 0.06g meth which is kept for destruction.
3/16/23
1777 Broadway, Boulder Municipal Building
5:59 AM
Officers respond to a tent on fire at the SW corner of the Municipal Building. They hear loud bangs, the sound of propane tanks which exploded.
Officers evacuate the area and make way for FD to respond. They contact a woman who is the owner of the tent on fire. She says she has no idea what started the fire. Officers give the woman’s name to the Homeless Outreach Team to follow up with her.
A witness provides a first name/description of a female suspect, however she is not located.
Pics taken after the site was cleaned up. This is where City Council meets.
3/17/23
Broadway and Arapahoe, next to Boulder High School
4:48 PM
Officers respond regarding a fire. They find a “burnt down tent structure” beside the Boulder High School athletic field. A witness says he heard that a woman started it. He provides a suspect first name/description similar to the suspect from the previous day (3/16), but says he did not see her do it.
Items on scene include a propane tank and a butane tank. Officers also recover a large Bowie knife in a sheath, which they recover for public safety reasons. FD says they don’t know what started the fire.
3/21/23
Broadway and Arapahoe, next to Boulder High School
4:50 PM
Officers respond to a tent on fire near Broadway and Arapahoe. The RP has also reported a propane tank explosion. When they arrive, FD is putting out the fire. The owner of the tent is not present.
One witness tells police that in the past few days, the tent’s owner had had belongings stolen, and this may have been “another retaliation for [victim] standing up for himself.”
Per the report:
“Sgt. […] informed me that we needed to wait for a phone call from the fire department regarding propane tanks that had been inside the tent during the fire. The propane tanks could not be dropped off at a location and due to the heat needed to be taken to a special storage facility for safekeeping. I contacted a hazardous material group that works with the Boulder Fire Department and sent an individual over to collect the tanks.”
This was the exact same location as the fire on 3/17, four days earlier
3/26/23
Near Foothills and Walnut
4:05 AM
Officers respond to a camp on fire. The fire department puts out the fire. Officers note there’s one large propane tank and several smaller ones. As no one is around, there are no suspects and the case is closed.
Propane tank
Burnt tree, and a deer feeding from a box of discarded donuts
This was precisely the same location as this fire from February 2022:
In that case, an amateur videographer captured FD’s response.
Here’s a screenshot from the video:
3/29/23
2700 block of Moorhead
6:49 AM
Summons:
“R/O responded to 2700 blk of Moorhead on a fire assist. Fire unit 2502 was on scene and firefighter […] said they had to extinguish an open flame. I saw a can smoldering near a tent. […] said charcoal was inside, he was cooking food, there was not a flame, and it was in a metal can. Metal can was on concrete about 10 ft from tent.”
The man was arrested on 4/5/22 after smashing the door at Meadows branch library while intoxicated (this was captured on video), then refusing to identify himself to responding officers. He had to be identified at the jail.
3/31/23
1325 Pearl
8:03 PM
Summons:
“[…] had a small fire in a tin on the bricks of the Pearl Street Mall. R/O asked […] to put out fire with water and he put a piece of cardboard over it. […] would not use water to put out the fire.”
3/31/23
11:16 PM
Near Broadway and Baseline
Officers respond to a pedestrian underpass under Broadway regarding a non structure fire. They find a tent with a 2-3′ hole in the screen from the fire. They contact a male, a female, and a dog inside the tent.
Per the report:
“[Male] advised that they were inside of the tent and he was using his propane Kobalt heater and was attempting to light the pilot light for the heater. The propane was on and filled the inside of the tent with fumes.
When [M] lit the pilot light, the fumes ignited and caused a small flash fire inside of the tent. The front screen of the tent caught fire and [M], [Female], and their dog were able to rip the back of the tent open and escape. [M] was able to use wet blankets to extinguish the fire prior to fire and police arriving.
[M], [F], and the dog were visibly shaken up by this incident and I educated them on the dangers and laws on having fires in public.
[M] suffered very minor injuries to his hand, involving two very small blisters and his dog bit his hand because she was so scared.”
4/4/23
Goose Creek Path and Junction Place
3:07 PM
Unattended fire someone had going under this bridge
4/8/23
13th and Pearl
7:49 AM
Summons:
“[…] was observed by RO smoking an unknown substance in front of the public bathroom. […] was also blocking the ingress and egress for the bathroom. […] had a live fire burning on the ground in front of him. #HOT”
4/9/23
A residence in south Boulder
2:00 AM
An officer responds regarding a structure fire. He is flagged down by the RP and led to a shed which is partially on fire, and also has burning debris in front of it. Officers knock on the front and back doors to evacuate the home. The RP advises the resident passed away and the building should be vacant. The fire is extinguished before threatening the home.
FD observes the fire appears to have started inside the shed and burned its way out. The shed itself contains assorted items being stored.
Officers speak with witnesses, who say the home had been vacant since last fall, but family members had been coming by to tend to it. Officers speak with the resident’s son, who says he doesn’t believe anything was in the shed which could have caught fire. FD is unable to establish a cause and cannot conclude either way on arson.
At 11:15 PM, officers hear from another neighbor, who tells them about a man who lived directly next door, who had been very problematic and was being evicted. The neighbor believes this man started the fire. Officers arrange for extra patrols in the area.
On 4/20, officers learn the man had made numerous threats in writing just days before the fire. The neighbors had such serious concerns that, on 4/3, they spent a night in a hotel. There is also a complex history outlined, of eviction proceedings and other criminal issues. On 4/13, a judge had granted a temporary protection order. On 4/16, a bottle of lighter fluid was found near the scene. They also got an email from the man mentioning “campfires in the backyard.”
Officers investigate the scene again. Ultimately, they find a soil sample contaminated with an ignitable petroleum distillate which may have been lighter fluid. They advise the neighbors that it doesn’t prove who started the fire.
4/23/23
1777 Broadway, Boulder Municipal Building
11:40 PM
Officers respond to Central Park regarding an individual running through the park screaming. They do not see or hear anyone but decide to search the area. They find a man and woman with a fire going under the foot bridge just west of the municipal building. They identify the woman, who comes back clear. (On 4/16/23, she was discovered to have been providing someone else’s identity to officers “for some time,” resulting in her arrest.)
The man lies about his name and DOB, even after being advised that it’s a crime. Officers are finally able to identify him by his tattoos. They learn he has a felony DOC warrant for parole violation. They arrest him. Upon booking, he advises he has no contraband; however officers find a clear plastic pipe with marijuana residue in his pocket.
4/24/23
Goose Creek Path at Boulder Junction
3:08 PM
Officers respond to a camp along Goose Creek Path which has a fire going. They see a man with a fire with flames about one foot high. The man is not able to put it out himself, so the officer does so with a fire extinguisher.
The officer learns the man has 4 warrants:
~ Felony affidavit warrant out of BCSO (failure to register as a sex offender)
~ Felony nationwide extradition FTA warrant out of Denver Sheriff’s Office
~ 2 other misdemeanor warrants out of BCSO
The man is arrested. He asks that items unable to be transported to the jail be left at the camp.
5/2/23
Pearl and Canyon
3:09 PM
Officers respond to Peoples Crossing (formerly Settlers Park) regarding a wildland fire approximately 10×25 yards and growing. They see a large fire on a hillside around a bench, spreading quickly. They advise a large crowd of onlookers to move to safety. One of the onlookers says he was working nearby and saw an unknown man with no shoes or shirt, covering his chest while walking through a parking garage away from the fire. The fire is extinguished.
A park ranger says she heard the call for the fire and responded. She saw a gray ash pit in the middle of the fire. She also locates a pack of matches with one match missing.
Officers locate a pair of running shoes and collect them as evidence. They also note broken bottles, empty cans, and fragments of clothing scattered around.
On 5/3 (the following day), during the morning’s briefing, officers discuss a possible suspect, a person matching the description of the suspect seen earlier. (“They” pronouns are used to describe the suspect.) Officers locate them by the bandshell with soot/possible first degree burns on their hands and socks but no shoes. They appear to be under the influence of meth; they deny burning their hands and say they don’t remember where they were yesterday afternoon. They say they had never been as far west as the park, although the police had recently contacted them in the area. Officers leave the suspect their contact info in case they remember anything. Analysis of the matchbook does not yield anything.
5/22/23
A construction site near Folsom and Arapahoe
”A person(s) trashed the inside of a jobsite Porta Potty and started a fire on the floor. The unit can be cleaned but the floor and some other plastic components will have to be replaced.”
No suspects are identified. The damage is estimated at $350.
6/16/23
A commercial space downtown
11:21 PM
Officers respond to a fire in an enclosed loading area. They see a man pacing back and forth who says “I was just trying to stay warm.” When ordered to come out, he says “I don’t give a fuck about my life, bitch.” He then enters the building through a hole and disappears.
FD puts out the fire. The officers set up a perimeter and clear the building twice, but they do not locate the man. They note “the smoke damage was so extensive throughout the entire building, it was barely visible beyond 10 feet in front of us.”
The damage to the burnt door is estimated at $1,600. The smoke damage to the building is roughly estimated to be upwards of $20,000.
7/9/23
A church downtown
6:03 PM
An officer responds to a dumpster on fire outside of a church. He interviews 5 juveniles. Two of them say they saw 2 other juveniles, one of whom threw a mortar (a firework) into the dumpster.
The fire department puts out the fire. No suspects are identified.
7/5/23
Boulder Creek Path and Broadway
11:45 AM
Officers on foot patrol along the creek path see three people standing around a large open flame coming from a can. They contact the man closest to it. He declines to provide his name; he keeps saying “I’d rather not” before finally identifying himself.
Officers learn the man has two warrants out of BCSO, for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. They arrest him. When informed he’s being arrested, he turns around, walks toward the creek, and throws “something blue” into it. Officers get the man into handcuffs and take him to jail. They find 4.95g psilocybin mushrooms in one of his two backpacks.
7/7/23
A residence on University Hill
12:55 AM
An officer responds to a residence regarding a fire alarm going off and a lot of smoke. A resident advises her apartment window was shattered, which woke her and another resident up, and they found someone had thrown a firework through the window, starting a small fire on their bean bag couch. Both residents had evacuated but did not see any suspects. FD uses fans to clear the smoke out of the apartment. The damage is estimated at $300.
7/25/23
CU campus, outside Benson Earth Science, near Folsom and Colorado
A man lights a towel on fire on the sidewalk “because he wanted to have a bonfire.” A CU police officer issues him a summons and a number three exclusion prohibiting him from being on campus. The man asks her if he can be reimbursed for his CU Rec Center membership since he can’t go there anymore. She advises he will need to work that out with them.
The following day, a towel on fire is reported outside the CU Rec Center. Due to the similarities with the incident the previous day, the same officer is requested to respond. She finds the towel on fire on the sidewalk. FD extinguishes the flames.
The officer reviews security footage showing the man leaving the Rec Center with a white towel; other footage shows him re-entering, although it’s not clear how he got back in. She locates him inside on the basketball court with a towel and a cigarette lighter. The man is arrested. He mentions being told the night before that he was not allowed to have a bonfire at the Starbucks in Louisville and was told to go back to Boulder.
En route to the jail, the man falls asleep in the back of the patrol car. He mentions his mental health issues and medications (although the specifics are redacted from the report), and also being evicted by his brother in Louisville.
The man was arrested 8/25/23 for menacing a shopkeeper on University Hill with a knife two days prior. He was identified from security footage, and he was found to have a protection order prohibiting him from possessing any weapons.
8/1/23
1001 Arapahoe, Boulder Public Library
7:27 PM
Officers and the fire department respond regarding a man sleeping right next to a campfire under a bridge. FD puts out the fire. Officers learn the man has 2 warrants, FTA’s out of BCSO (motor vehicle trespass and fraud/impersonation). Officers searching him find 3 bottles of prescription pills belonging to other people.
The man was contacted 5/30/23 for having a fire in an open field at North Boulder Park at 11:27 PM. (The officer was driving by and saw this.) The man said he built the fire because he was cold, and he wasn’t at the shelter because it was over capacity. He refused to provide his name, saying it wasn’t a big deal to have a fire, then provided a false name and DOB. (He provided a DOB which was in 1929, but he wasn’t 94 years old as implied – he was only 32.) He repeatedly reached for his pockets after being told not to. After he resisted being handcuffed, officers found a knife. He was found to have a felony FTA warrant out of BCSO (identity theft).
8/24/23
Near 20th and Canyon
1:00 PM
An officer responds regarding an arson at a business. He meets with an employee who shows him security video of a man approaching a trash can and lighting it on fire with a lighter. When the suspect passed the security camera, he covered his face.
The flames in the trash can start to grow up the side of the building. Within a few minutes, another unknown man comes up with a fire extinguisher and puts the fire out. The employee wishes to press charges, however no suspects are identified.
10/9/23
A fast food restaurant in central Boulder
5:47 AM
Officers respond to a man with a bonfire in a parking lot near a fast food restaurant. They arrive and see a “well-established” fire fueled by trash and a man adding more trash to it. He advises he thought he would collect trash and burn it to keep warm at the same time. Officers explain what he’s doing is very dangerous and not permitted in public areas.
The fire department extinguishes the fire. The man, who is barefoot, can’t find his shoes and becomes verbally antagonistic toward officers.
Officers fill out a summons and give it to the man. He tells them he’s not going to sign it. He crumples it up and smashes it into a water bottle. He walks away saying he’s going to burn it later.
11/4/23
Airport Rd, just east of the jail
10:29 AM
Officers respond to a wildfire off Airport Rd near the jail. They find FD on scene putting out the fire.
Officers contact a woman in an AMR ambulance. She says she was sleeping in her tent when she heard an unknown man yelling that he knew she was plotting to kill him. He approached her tent and threw an unknown object at her, hitting her forehead and causing a bruise. He then rode away on a BMX bike. At first she was frozen in shock, then she exited her tent and saw flames surrounding it. She tried to remove her belongings; unfortunately her tent was completely destroyed. She also checked on other tents in the area before running to a bystander to call for help.
Officers investigate the scene. They recover a butane lighter by the tent door; it does not work but may have been damaged by the fire. They also find a large bag of marijuana debris and waste.
The woman declines transport to BCH. FD concludes the fire was likely started around a nearby footpath.
11/20/23
47th and Diagonal Hwy
12:45 AM
Officers respond regarding an apparent encampment which is abandoned and on fire (about 20’x20’). They find multiple bicycles and milk crates left behind. They conclude it was a campfire which got out of control. No suspects are identified.
11/22/23
28th and Taft
2:00 PM
An officer responds regarding a report of smoke behind a building. He finds an encampment, along with a female resident who says she put the fire out. He finds a tent with a smoldering log inside and lots of soot. He lifts up a blanket and finds a man underneath it; the man has soot all over his face and hands and he says he fell asleep. The officer issues the man a summons for having an open fire.
The officer runs a routine clearance on the man and confirms he has a warrant for carrying a concealed weapon. The man is arrested. He is medically cleared by FD before being taken to jail.
11/27/23
A business near Foothills and Baseline
“During the early hours of the morning someone deliberately opened the main wire panel behind the restaurant / coffee shop and pulled the ground and neutral wire. They also removed the screws that hold the wires in place. When this happened it caused the electrical panel to overheat and start melting the breakers and some equipment. Since the live wire was still attached all of the fail safes for the equipment never kicked in, this caused the equipment to overheat and break.”
No suspects are identified, however the charges would have been 2nd degree arson and criminal mischief, both felonies. The damage is estimated between $20,000 and $100,000.
11/27/23
Near Broadway and Violet
“Over the thanksgiving break I found 2 homeless guys inside our building. I kicked them out. Come Monday morning we found our air compressor missing and one of our walls was caught on fire.”
Air compressor valued at $1,500
Damage $500 (wall)
12/5/23
Near 15th and Canyon
8:15 AM
Officers respond to a construction site regarding 4 (of 8 total) porta potties which “almost completely burned to the ground.” The fire, which occurred around 3:00 AM, also burned a nearby tree and trash can. Footage shows the porta potties burning but no suspects. Officers note there was a smaller fire on the north side of the building last week, from which the employees found leftover residue.
The total damage is estimated at $4,600 – $1,000 per toilet, $300 for the trash can, and $300 for the tree.
12/14/23
Near Broadway and Baseline
7:07 AM
An officer responds regarding a man screaming at customers outside a coffee shop. He contacts the man, who is calm and cordial and says a coffee shop employee started it. He does notice the man is covered in soot and smells like a fire, though not a wood fire. He releases the man with a warning.
As the officer gets back into his car, he learns of a reported fire in the underpass under Broadway nearby. He responds and sees a large amount of smoke, then a large amount of leaves and garbage on fire with an inverted shopping cart on top. He uses a fire extinguisher to put it out. FD arrives and soaks the items with water. They tell the officer that the man he had released “had started several fires in the area recently along the bike paths.”
On 2/5/24, another officer following up determines there isn’t sufficient evidence to charge the man with anything in this case.
12/14/23
1777 6th St, Boulder Creek Path behind the Justice Center
8:49 PM
Officers respond regarding a fire along Boulder Creek Path behind the Justice center. En route, they learn the fire has been put out. They locate a burn area (which is about 14’x4’), and immediately smell gasoline. They recover a gallon water jug with no cap, and which appears to be empty but smells of gasoline.
The reporting party tells officers she had seen flames about 1’ high. She saw the possible suspect and told him to wait for police, but instead he took off on his bike. The RP then put out the fire by kicking snow on it.
Officers review security video which shows a man pouring gasoline on the sidewalk, then lighting it on fire. The damage is estimated at $200.
12/16/23
28th and Taft
7:29 AM
Officers respond regarding smoke coming from a camp. They find a large camp inside of a fenced in area with a No Trespassing sign posted. They find a large tent with smoke coming out, and a man inside. He tells them he was trying to melt snow in order to clean himself. FD arrives and puts out the fire, which was contained in a bucket.
Officers learn the man has three CICJIS Boulder County FTA warrants (trespassing, theft $1000-2000, and carrying a concealed weapon). They arrest him. The suspect is given a summons for 2nd degree trespass.
Officers contact the owner of the property. They find him upset, saying he has been dealing with people camping on his land for a long time.
12/31/23
Broadway and Canyon
4:50 PM
Officers respond regarding a non-structure fire. They do not locate a fire, however they do find two abandoned propane tanks at a nearby bus stop. They collect the tanks for disposal.
1/9/24
Eastman Ave., Martin Park
8:27 AM
Officers respond to Martin Park regarding a burnt porta potty. They find it “completely burned to the ground.” FD responds as well, but then clear as the fire is already out. The passerby who had reported this thought the fire occurred overnight, as it was okay the day before.
Officers contact a man camping in a green sleeping bag about 50 yards away. They find him with an unlit stove placed just next to him. He says he did not know the porta potty had burned, denies causing any fire, and has no suspect information.
Per the report, it is unknown what caused the fire, as it was too melted to obtain any cause. Parks and Rec is notified and the porta potty is removed.
1/23/24
Near 13th and College
1:30 AM
Officers respond regarding a structure fire at an apartment complex on University Hill. They assist with evacuating the building while the sprinklers are going off. FD puts out the fire and advises police it was an arson.
Officers enter the basement utility room where the fire started. They find a makeshift living space which appears to have been occupied for a while. They find a door leaning up against a wall; the fire had been burning under it. They find that a hose had been tied around the handle of a door, apparently to prevent opening it, and the other door had been blocked off with paint cans. They find 3 damaged space heaters and other evidence. They note the doors providing entry into the building’s basement were locked, but were easily pulled open with force.
Officers speak with a witness nearby who provides a suspect description and says he saw him setting something on fire in the garage one day. Another witness nearby provides a similar suspect description and says he also saw him setting cardboard on fire in the garage. He also describes other recent issues involving him. (This second witness was living under the Broadway/College underpass for a long time before being removed.) Other witnesses provide testimony as well.
Officers locate video of the suspect’s recent activities, including coming and going. He is also seen removing a fire extinguisher from the wall and hitting an apartment’s door with it, although he does not make entry and the occupants do not hear this. Officers collect other evidence, including fingerprints.
On 1/29/24, officers locate the suspect on the 29th Street Mall. When told he’s being detained, he takes off running. He’s found attempting to hide under a vehicle in a nearby parking garage and arrested.
The man faces charges including trespassing, obstruction x2, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and arson x2.
1/25/24
A business near Folsom and Arapahoe
8:53 AM
Officers respond regarding someone who has “torched a recycling bin.” They find a large industrial garbage bin, still smoldering, with smoke coming out of it. FD responds and douses the bin with water. Officers note numerous glass bottles in the bin.
Officers speak with the RP, who was a maintenance worker. He says he believes the fire was set intentionally, as there are two separate wooden doors to the complex that are both damaged from attempted entry via prying. He says a tenant reported the dumpster fire to him around 6 AM. No suspects are identified.
1/30/24
1001 Arapahoe, Boulder Public Library
7:57 PM
Officers respond to 1001 Arapahoe regarding a campfire. They arrive and find FD has extinguished it, which was below the foot bridge east of the library. Firefighters say the fire was about 5×6’ with 3-4’ high flames. They advise “If the wind had blown just right then it would have ignited the dry brush in the surround areas.”
Officers speak with a witness, who says he didn’t see who started the fire, but he saw a woman “very high on drugs” dancing around the flames from about 50’ away. He says he told the woman he was concerned about how big the flames were and that it was dangerous. He is not suspected.
2/1/24
19th and Sumac, Crestview Park
5:40 pm
A resident calls 911 regarding a fire at a park near a playground. He reports flames 3-5’ tall in an area about 20’ long. He suspects a flammable liquid was used. He says he saw two young males leaving the scene.
FD responds and puts out the fire. They recover what appears to be a broken Molotov cocktail that was thrown onto the path. They call the police.
Officers arrive and collect evidence. They note a similar incident on 1/30/24 (two days prior), which involved a similar incendiary device, in the same area, the same time frame, and similar suspects described.
Officers are able to identify a juvenile who may know who was involved. They arrange to meet with him and a family member. He insists he wasn’t involved and doesn’t know anything. Officers attempt to impress on him the seriousness of wildfire risk, specifically referencing the Marshall fire and other local incidents. The report describes this interview as cordial and non-confrontational.
2/6/24
13th and Canyon
9:15 AM
Summons:
“[…] was sitting outside with two propane tanks. Upon approaching […], I told him he could not have propane tanks on the public sidewalk. He argued with myself and cover officers. He then took the ticket from me and we removed the propane tanks. #HOT”
[…]’s remarks: “You can’t take my tanks, they’re mine”
The man was contacted on 1/2/24 for building a fire at 1777 Broadway, after being spotted by an officer driving by. He said he was starting a fire to keep warm.
He was arrested 10/5/23 after assaulting a woman on Boulder Creek Path under the Broadway bridge. He accused her of stealing his sign, then wrapped a rope around her neck and tried to strangle her. When contacted, he said he was “very stoned,” was being “set up,” and was “sick of going back to jail.”
He was contacted 9/5/23 for digging holes with a pickaxe in Central Park. He was arrested on 4 total warrants and had items including a container of meth and a meth pipe.
He was contacted 8/18/23 for killing a squirrel with a hammer in Central Park, then hanging it from a tree with a string. He was found with items including a meth pipe, a 6” kitchen knife, and a fanny pack full of MJ pipes. He was arrested, booked, and released.
2/13/24
Near 3rd and Pearl
4:03 PM
Officers respond regarding a fire beside a building. They find the burn area, along with scorch marks on the side of the building. A firefighter tells them that it appeared to be set intentionally. A witness tells them she and others ran outside and mostly extinguished the fire with fire extinguishers. She says there was a lot of smoke inside, requiring fans to air the place out.
Officers learn there is a suspect, who is with his father when they contact him. He eventually admits he and his friend were playing in the courtyard area, found a lighter, and began playing with it. He says he lit a small stick on fire, then a bush, and then an entire row of plants caught fire. He appears clearly distraught at what’s happened.
Officers review security camera footage which shows the suspect starting the fire, then trying to stamp it out. He then ran away and came back with a bottle of water, unsuccessfully trying to extinguish the flames. His friend’s account of what happened is similar. Officers write the suspect a Boulder County Juvenile Court Referral for first degree arson. The damage is estimated at $500.
3/2/24
1001 Arapahoe, Boulder Public Library
11:34 PM
An officer responds regarding a small campfire under the pedestrian bridge south of 11th St. He contacts a man whom he had contacted earlier in the day for the same violation. The man is found putting out the fire with a water bottle which he filled from the creek. He repeatedly says it’s not his fire and he did not start it. FD arrives and finishes putting out the fire.
The officer learns the man has a warrant and arrests him. A search reveals a small plastic bag with 0.16g meth, a folding pocket knife, and a meth pipe. The man is found to have protection orders prohibiting possession of both drugs and weapons.
3/23/24
A business near 28th and Arapahoe
5:50 AM
Officers respond regarding a man trying to set paper on fire in a garbage bin on the sidewalk. They find him next to trash strewn around and actively trying to light garbage on fire. He repeatedly says he was cold and needed to light things on fire. While talking with police, he continues trying to light objects within reach on fire. He is argumentative when asked for his name, then says “I told you my name, are you dumb bitch?”
The man is handcuffed and walked to a patrol car; en route he tells an officer he wants to burn the officer’s face. He kicks the door of the patrol car; he bites and chews on the seat belt before misaligning himself within it. For safety reasons, the officer calls AMR to transport the man to jail in soft restraints.
None of the booking staff at the jail knows who the man is. They identify him with a fingerprint scanner. He’s charged with 2nd degree arson and 2nd degree criminal tampering.
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