On 12/4/19, Nederland Police took a report of identity theft. Investigation of the incident revealed no confirmed suspects. The case was closed pending additional information.

On 12/4/19, a Nederland Police Officer was dispatched to 30 E First Street the Mountain People’s Co-Op, for a shoplifter. The suspect was later located and was issued a warning to pay for the item and not return to the establishment. 

On 12/5/19, the Nederland Police Department took a report on juvenile harassment between two teenage parties. Upon investigation, harassment was confirmed and the suspect was instructed to make no further contact with the victim or approach his known locations. Recommended case status is open pending meeting with the suspect and his mother.

On 12/5/19, a Nederland Police Officer was dispatched to investigate a missing person’s report. The reporting party stated her son had disappeared in agitation. The missing party was later located.

On 12/7/19, a Nederland Police Officer was dispatched to a Town residence on the report of criminal mischief. Investigation confirmed damage done to the residence and priors committed by the suspect. Over the course of the next several days, the situation between the parties came to an amicable solution through relocation.

12/18/19, a Nederland Police Officer was flagged down by several people notifying of a disturbance at a local establishment. Upon arrival, the officer witnessed and subdued an active fight between two patrons. Statements were taken from employees, patrons and visibly intoxicated participants. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to Alcohol Recovery. Recommended case status is cleared with a summons. 

On 12/10/19, Nederland Police took a report of bank account fraud from a resident who took a phone call from a party alleging to be an employee of a local credit union. The suspect was able to convincingly convey legitimacy and obtain access to the victim’s bank account and remove a large sum of money. It was discovered that the same scam had been occurring in other states. Case is inactivated, suspects are unknown and most likely not in Colorado.

On 12/11/19, a Nederland Police Officer was at a local establishment when he was approached by a male party who wanted to turn in a small bag of marijuana found in Chipeta Park by the swing set. The item was taken into custody and placed in the evidence locker at the police department. 

On 12/14/19, a Nederland Police Officer was dispatched to the area of Navajo Trail, Town of Nederland, for a dog believed to be dying from exposure. The officer investigated the situation, transported the clearly suffering elder dog to the Boulder County Humane Society Veterinary Clinic who was able to examine the dog immediately. The chip revealed the owner contact information. Upon making contact with the owner, the officer was told that the dog was very old with hip problems preventing her from being mobile or getting up onto her feet on her own without assistance. The owner also reporting working too much to pay attention to when her dog was getting out (repeat offense). The officer discussed with the suspect the possibility that her dog had fallen on the ice and couldn’t get up and reminded her of the danger of this happening in poor weather and her dog freezing to death. The owner replied that freezing to death wouldn’t “Be a bad way to go.” The owner was issued a summons into Nederland Municipal Court and was cited her for Animal(s) Running at Large and Tags Required. Recommended case status is cleared with a summons. 

On 12/17/19, a Nederland Police Officer received a report of a vehicle stuck in the snow, near the mile marker 25 on the Peak to Peak Hwy. The report said the driver is trying to drive out of the snow bank, gunning the engine to the point of smoke rolling up and potentially it’s on fire. Upon arrival, the officer witnessed and confirmed that status. While further investigation and interaction with the driver revealed no ongoing medical issues (confirmed through AMR and NVFD) the officer convinced the elderly driver to be transported to the hospital due to visible mental instability as well as extensive vehicle damage due to another sustained accident from previously in the day that rendered the vehicle unsafe to drive. 

On 12/26/19, a Nederland Police Officer was dispatched to a noise complaint coming from Sundance Circle. There have been several other complaints, last was a 11/8/19, and 11/22/19. The officer reports personally investigated the one on the 22nd with a second officer using a decibel reader and referencing Town code as well as direction from the Town Prosecutor in his continued attempt to accurately take sound recordings. Attempts to contact the reporting party failed, and attempts to contact the band practicing were met with compliance as well as interest in mediation and agreement to attempt to install sound proofing materials. It is yet undetermined whether or not the situation was in violation of the open ending Town Ordinance. 

On 12/30/19, a suspect came to Nederland Police Department to turn himself in to Nederland Police for warrants For Failure to Appear. The suspect had failed to show up for court for the charges of Auto theft and Criminal Mischief with a bond $1,500 for each. The officer transported the suspect to Boulder County jail for booking. The property he arrived with are being stored in his property at the jail. 

On 12/30/19, a Boulder County Deputy forwarded information from a male party who reported being in possession of drugs given to him from a male suspect, and that he wanted to turn them in. The drugs were taken into possession at the Nederland Police Department according to appropriate procedure. 

(Originally published in the March 26, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)