On 7/8/19, Nederland Police responded to a voicemail from the owner of a commercial building on the report of catalytic converter having been cut off and stolen from his commercial box truck, which was parked on his property. He confirmed the entirety of the components stolen with a repair shop who estimated the replacement parts to be approximately $900. The theft is believed to have occurred on the night of June 27. 

On 7/11/19, Nederland Police were dispatched to assist a Boulder County deputy with a traffic stop involving a driver with a warrant who had been observed passing three vehicles at once in a very reckless manner. It was soon discovered that the driver was driving under restraint and also had a warrant out for his arrest due to failure to appear. The male party was taken into custody and transported to Boulder County Jail.

On 7/15/19, Nederland Police received a walk-in report from a party regarding suspected criminal mischief. The female party reported that she and her boyfriend rent a room in town where the landlord had recently had a disagreement with her boyfriend over vehicle damage to his car. This confrontation resulted in a temporary restraining order being placed on the boyfriend by the landlord. 

While they were away on a camping trip to defuse the situation, the landlord entered their rented room and removed a security camera they had left operating while they were gone, which was set up to connect with the reporting party’s cell phone. The reporting party submitted photos of the damage to the security camera, video footage of the incident and stated that the camera had not been returned to her. The landlord later reported criminal mischief to Boulder County, claiming the tenants had replaced electrical sockets in the room in violation of the lease and therefore had three days to vacate the premises. The reporting party was advised to inquire with the Sheriff’s Office to request a civil standby so her boyfriend could return to the house and assist in moving the heavy items. 

On 7/16/19, Nederland Police were dispatched to a local restaurant on a report of harassment. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the manager of the establishment who reported a male party had been harassing another male party, and that it was not the first time such interactions had occurred between the two. One party reported that the other party assaulted his girlfriend eight months ago. The accuser was told to leave the establishment and not return.

On 7/21/19, Nederland Police were dispatched to assist a Gilpin County sheriff in a traffic stop of a motorcycle being chased north bound on Highway 119. Minutes later, the officers observed an orange motorcycle entering town and passing vehicles in a no passing zone, in bumper to bumper traffic, with many pedestrians crossing the highway in multiple crosswalk zones. A Boulder County Sheriff had also been dispatched to assist and stopped the motorcycle as it turned onto the eastbound lane of West First Street, where it crashed after the deputy pushed him over due to concerns for pedestrians. The officer proceeded to take the party into custody with the assistance of Nederland officers. Upon investigation, it was discovered the operator of the motorcycle had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest. The male party was asked several times if he had any injuries, to which he consistently replied no. He was transported to Boulder County Jail, and his motorcycle was transported to the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office.

On 7/22/19, Nederland Police were dispatched to a local residence on a report of a landlord who had removed the personal property of his tenant without permission or provocation. The reporting male party stated he had left some of his dishes in the sink of the common space kitchen on the property where he rented a space. It was soon discovered that the reporting male party was living in a space that is deemed illegal for habitation by the Town of Nederland, and that this space was not the space he had originally contracted to live in when he signed a month to month lease with the landlord, nor was the original facilities use agreement being followed. The landlord had removed his dishes from an otherwise clean kitchen, claiming they had been there for days and not all were the tenant’s dishes, but some were his own. The reporting party showed the officer video of his interaction with his landlord to that effect. The officer contacted the landlord and, due to his history of repeat pattern behavior, the officer warned him not to remove any more of his tenants’ belongings without a formal notice of eviction, to which the landlord agreed.  He was issued a summons for Criminal Tampering. The reporting party informed the officer that he would be moving in 30 days due to the recently issued notice to vacate, and due to his landlord’s breach of agreement, which interfered with his business. 

On 7/23/19, Nederland Police were dispatched to a disturbance at a local restaurant where a male party was behaving in a belligerent and aggressive manner as well as drinking hard liquor he had carried in with him, which is not sold or permitted in the establishment, as well as refusing to leave. The manager reported that he was causing a disturbance after multiple requests from two employees. When the officer spoke to the male party in question, he immediately began yelling his responses to the officer, stating he just wanted to finish his meal. When asked to lower his voice, the male party got even louder and more belligerent, stating he was not going to speak to the officer. Eventually, he had to be restrained to ensure the safety of patrons and employees in the establishment. Patrons began moving to another location in the establishment. The male party continued to resist leaving as the Nederland officer, with assistance from a Boulder County deputy, transported him to the patrol car. He was subsequently transported to jail by the Boulder County deputy, due to lack of a cage in the Nederland PD patrol car. Several patrons left written statements testifying to the belligerent and persistent behavior of the male party prior to arrival of Nederland Police. 

On 7/24/19, Nederland Police responded to a report from a resident for vehicle damage at his residence. The male party reportedly came home from work and found his vehicle to have a broken rear passenger window, stating that since he had been in a hurry when he came home for lunch, he had not noticed it at that time. He also reported that he had had someone on his property trimming weeds earlier in the week and theorized maybe a rock had been picked up and thrown by the weed whacker. He stated that nothing was missing from the vehicle. 

On 7/26/19, Nederland Police responded to Boulder County Dispatch announcing a report of the violation of a protection order in the area. Upon investigation, it was found that despite reported multiple indicators by the female reporting party, there was no concrete evidence that the male party in question had violated the protection order. Since the female reporting party has not continued to cooperate with the investigation, the case has been closed. 

On 7/20/19, Nederland Police took a report from a female party stating her vehicle had been struck in the parking lot of a local establishment. Her vehicle was parked on the west side of the lot, and the female party believes the damage occurred between 4:30 and 5 p.m. on that day. The damage had not been observed until it had been driven to a different location. The female party sent pictures of the damage to the right side of the rear hatch of her vehicle. No witnesses to the accident have come forward, and there is no information on another vehicle or driver at this time. 

On 7/30/19, Nederland Police were dispatched on a call for a welfare check at the local residence of a male party who has been known to answer the door with a 9mm pistol. Due to the premises hazard on the address for a two-officer response, the officer contacted the reporting party and found that the male party in question had not been seen for a couple weeks and that his drapes had been pulled with a light left on for a while. He also stated that a person had come by the residence and neighborhood polling opinions on VRBOs and had gotten no answer to the door. The visitor had witnessed many flies in the window adjacent to the door. The Nederland officer advised dispatch and requested cover, to which two Boulder County sheriffs responded to assist.

Upon arrival, the officers observed several flies in the windows. The inspection of the exterior of the property and home indicated no signs of foul play or forced entry. Upon a glance through a window, an officer observed a body lying on the floor with blackened skin and digits appearing to be dehydrated to the point of mummification. Based on the totality of the circumstances, the officer contacted on-call DA Christian Gardner Wood for permission to enter the premises without a warrant, which was granted. He removed the door with tools and upon entry was hit with a strong odor he believed to be caused by a dead body. The officers proceeded to locate the body of who they believed to be the homeowner, the male party in question, and upon further investigation of the scene found no signs of foul play or suicide. The Coroner’s Office was called requesting assistance, and the case is closed pending an autopsy investigation.

(Originally published in the September 5, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)