University Of Colorado Party Turns Into Riot; 12 Officers Injured

It began as a simple end-of-the-semester party.

But soon, more than 1,500 people - mostly students from the University of Colorado - were overturning Dumpsters, setting bonfires and pelting law enforcement officers with rocks, bricks and bottles.

Police called the five-hour standoff in the University Hill section of Boulder late Friday and early Saturday the worst riot in the city in 25 years.

“The students were there to engage us and they would not leave,” said Boulder Police Chief Tom Koby. “They were determined to hurt us - and they did.”

The riot ended with 11 people arrested on various charges of assault and rioting. Twelve officers were injured - two of them hurt seriously enough to go on temporary disability leave. One of the officers was hit by a brick thrown hard enough that it smashed her riot helmet.

Dozens of students were treated for minor injuries. More than 60 vehicles - including a dozen police cars - were damaged by rocks and bricks. And countless damage was done to city streets, street signs, parking meters and local businesses.

It began around 11:30 p.m. Friday, when a party spilled into the street at 14th and College streets. Before long, hundreds of people had gathered and a group built a bonfire in the middle of the street - following a long history of CU students burning furniture at the end of the year.

When officers from the Boulder Police Department Hill team arrived at the scene, the crowd charged their Suburban truck, smashing the windows and caving in the side of the truck, Koby said.