Three police injured, SWAT vehicle damaged and local cars FLIPPED as Colorado university party turns violent (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Three SWAT team officers were injured as violent revellers bombarded first responders with bricks and rocks, setting off fireworks and flipping a car during a wild Colorado university street party which attracted up to 800 people.
The violence occurred in the University Hill neighborhood of Boulder, Colorado on Saturday night, as hundreds of partygoers shot off fireworks and flouted social-distancing rules and mask-wearing advice.
A little before #Boulder police arrived pic.twitter.com/t1Yd7Xkclq
— Mitchell Byars (@mitchellbyars) March 7, 2021
Police began receiving a slew of complaints about 7pm local time and by 8:30pm the SWAT team had arrived to begin clearing the crowds.
Video of when #Boulder police first showed up pic.twitter.com/DRp3z2ubXQ
— Mitchell Byars (@mitchellbyars) March 7, 2021
Officers declared the party an unlawful gathering and threatened to use tear gas if revellers refused to disperse.
Images of the damage to vehicles, not just the car that got flipped, during last nights University Hill riot in #Boulder (pics via @photojmatthew) pic.twitter.com/8Mutp5fhN7
— Mitchell Byars (@mitchellbyars) March 7, 2021
Images of damage to #Boulder SWAT vehicle and fire engine pic.twitter.com/OgxxqbVSct
— Mitchell Byars (@mitchellbyars) March 8, 2021
Multiple vehicles, including the SWAT team’s armored personnel carrier, were damaged as things turned ugly. Irate revellers also flipped a civilian car.
“The public health stakes of this type of a gathering are high and potentially dire,” the police said in a press release.
Authorities at the University of Colorado Boulder condemned the party and the violence and threatened to expel any student found to have attacked first responders.
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty vowed to bring violent troublemakers to justice for their “outrageous actions.”
“There is no excuse for this conduct, especially while the people of this community endure the pandemic,” he added.
Glass and trash line 10th Street near College Ave in Boulder after a day of partying turned into a night of violence. pic.twitter.com/wQOrvvTu87
— Scott DePuy (@ScottDePuy) March 7, 2021
Lots of students, plus some adults, cleaning up this morning after last night's Hill riot. pic.twitter.com/aBn6UFHnQC
— Amy Bounds (@boundsa) March 7, 2021
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