On 8/27/19, a Nederland officer followed up on an assault that had occurred a few days prior. Two men who are housemates had a conflict in which one man claims the other kicked a hole in his bedroom door, entered and attacked him while in bed without provocation. The alleged victim then hit the alleged attacker in the face with a lamp, causing him a trip to Boulder County Hospital for stitches. The alleged aggressor had a probation order stating he could not consume alcohol, which he admitted that he was during this incident. Nederland Police attempted to arrest him and were told that he would not be immediately released from the hospital. He was eventually arrested for the probation violation and the assault issue is pending further investigation due to conflicting stories from the involved parties. A no contact order has been implemented.

On 9/1/19, Nederland police were dispatched to an illegal campfire on Highway 119. The officers made contact with the campers and one of the campers had a municipal warrant for failure to appear out of Boulder County. The party was transported to Boulder County Jail without incident. 

On 9/1/19, an intoxicated male party at a local restaurant was contacted by police after he refused multiple offers for a sober ride home. The Nederland officers arrived and attempted to convince the man to either wait for his mother to pick him up or to walk to a nearby friend’s home to stay the night. The officers also offered to drive the man home. He became belligerent and began cursing at the officer as well as his friend who had attempted to walk him home. The officers decided to take the intoxicated man into custody at which point he ran. The officers caught up with him and detained him. The man’s mother picked him up at the Ned PD and he was issued a summons for disorderly conduct, resisting police officers and regulations concerning malt, vinous and spiritous liquors, as he was underage.

On 9/3/19, a man came into the Nederland Police Department stating that his dog had been stolen. The officer on duty was able to find the man’s dog and return it. The dog was at the campsite where the man had been staying, with other campers. The officer noticed that the man was unable to hold himself upright while sitting and was clearly in distress. The officer spoke to the man about his situation and learned that he was bi-polar and had run out of medication, at which point he started using meth. The man stated that he had been searching for food and a place to sleep, so the officer transported him to ARC and completed his paperwork for admittance. 

On 9/11/19, Nederland Police were dispatched to an illegal campfire. Nederland Fire assisted and safely put the fire out. The campers accepted their ticket without incident and apologized for being unaware of the fire ban. The fire ban was lifted later that day. 

On 9/15/19, a man came into the Nederland Police Department to report that his previous roommate had stolen a folder of important paperwork out of his bedroom dresser. The man reported that the accused had returned to his residence, despite a protection order preventing such action, and had left the folder on the porch. The folder was however missing several important documents. The officer went to the residence of the accused to discuss the matter, at which point he observed the missing paperwork on a tabletop. The man denied stealing the paperwork as well as visiting the other man’s home. The officer returned the paperwork and the victim declined to press charges. 

On 9/17/19, dispatch received a call from a man stating that he had heard someone talking about jumping over the dam. Upon arrival, the reporting party told officers that he had been hearing voices and that they were telling him he was going to be beaten by police. The officer assured him that he would not be harmed and asked the man if he always heard these voices. The man said that he had been using drugs and that the voices were easier to control when he was sober. The man asked for help and said he wanted to detox. The officer transported him to ARC. 

On 9/18/19, an officer discovered a vehicle with four occupants who were waiting to start work. The vehicle had an expired temporary tag. The party in the driver’s seat was determined to have two active warrants and was transported to Boulder County Jail without incident. The vehicle was released to another person present.

On 9/17/19, officers responded to a residence in which a fight involving a knife was reported. Upon arrival, the officers discovered that the suspect had left the area. They made contact with him, secured his knife and asked him about the incident. A witness stated that the argument had been over a $5 debt and had escalated. The alleged victim reported that the alleged suspect had punched him in the temple and requested medical. This party had an extraditable warrant for failure to appear. The victim stated that he had thrown rocks at the suspect, none of which hit him. Both parties were eventually arrested and transported to Boulder County Jail in separate vehicles. 

(Originally published in the November 7, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)