Hundreds gathered at Boulder, University of Colorado in Colorado on Saturday night, asking police to disperse the big party, Boulder police said Saturday. According to authorities, there were an estimated 500 to 800 people at the height of the incident.
CBS Denver reports that SWAT team members assisted police, who used a siren and gas to break up the event. Maris Herold, chief of police in Boulder, told reporters two trawangas were used. Herold added that to her knowledge no rubber bullets were used.
However, the crowd became violent, and some officers were injured when bricks and stones were thrown at them, Boulder police told CBS Denver. A fire truck was damaged and a car was overturned.
By 9 p.m., everyone was apart and left the broken glass and debris on the street. Some residents cleaned up the mess.
No arrests were made from 5pm to 9pm, and Herold told a news conference she believed it would “not be considered best practice to send officers” into the crowd. Instead, the police department relies on images of body image that will be released after an investigation.
An unknown man told CBS Denver the party and the ensuing clash with police are likely to take place. “If we were all caged for months, there would be an explosion, and that was the explosion,” the man said.
The University of Colorado Boulder has issued a statement condemning the party. “Any student found responsible for acts of violence against law enforcement or first responders will be removed from CU Boulder and not re-admitted,” the University tweeted.
“When health officials and police referred public health violations to our student conduct office, CU Boulder responded quickly and instituted discipline when violations were identified,” the University continued. “Disciplinary action includes interim campus exclusions and 45 suspensions so far this academic year. We will continue to take these steps to make clear that protecting our community and our campus is of the utmost importance and that we commit such violations. will not tolerate. “
The 12th District Attorneys’ Office issued a statement to CBS Denver calling the party “disgraceful.”
“The District Attorney’s Office will work closely with the Boulder Police Department to determine the identities of the individuals who damaged private property and assaulted first responders because they should be held fully responsible for their outrageous actions,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said noticed.
Police will review the footage of the body of the scene. The Boulder Police Department encourage someone who has information or social media recordings of the party to come forward.