Police in Boulder, Colo, are reportedly investigating after several officers were injured after responding to a massive party near the University of Colorado campus on Saturday night.
According to photos and videos taken at the scene, hundreds of people gathered in a neighborhood just west of campus.
The university said in a statement that it tweeted just after 10pm that it was aware of the rally and warned that people in the area could be subject to arrests and school sanctions.
A SWAT team was eventually called to the area, according to authorities who estimated up to 1,000 people at the scene, according to 9News in Denver.
Glass is absolutely everywhere in the street. Cars run over empty vodka bottles and shatter them. Most people are gone now that Boulder police have arrived # 9News pic.twitter.com/Xy4PNzVV3N
– Marc Sallinger (@MarcSallinger) 7 March 2021
Looks like there’s a maskless party on the Hill in Boulder. Horrible, horrible look when we are so close to the end of the pandemic. @CUBoulderPolice @boulderpolice can something be done? pic.twitter.com/UIyD6Gsbhr
– Ben Berman (@benfromsf) 7 March 2021
The school said it had received reports of an officer being injured while police tried to break up the massive gathering.
“We are aware of a large party at University Hill on Saturday night and allegations of violence against police officers responding to the scene,” the university said in a statement.
“We condemn this action. It is unacceptable and irresponsible, especially in light of the amount of training, communication and enforcement that the campus and city have dedicated to ensuring that COVID-19s comply with public health orders.” “CU Boulder will not tolerate any of our students violently damaging property.”
Police said three members of the SWAT team were hit with bricks and an emergency response vehicle was damaged during the chaos. Authorities are investigating officers’ footage of the body as they investigate the violent actions by members of the crowd, local media reported.