Latest news with #JoshuaSwartwout
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
After chain attack in Boulder, Colorado, victim's mother shares concerns about safety, police communication
As Colorado's 20th Judicial District Attorney's Office reviews newly connected victims to a series of chain attacks in Boulder, there could be more charges in the case. On Monday, the Boulder Police Department shared that two additional victims were connected to the initial attacks, bringing the total number of victims to 10. One victim's mother is sharing her concerns about how information on the attacks was shared with the public. CBS Colorado's Sarah Horbacewicz interviews Kristina Sasser. CBS Around 4 a.m. on June 26, Kristina Sasser learned that her adult son was taken to the hospital from downtown Boulder. "He said this guy just came out of the corner of his vision and started beating him across the face with a chain," Sasser said, "He immediately couldn't see out of his left eye." She heard from him a few hours later with bruises and scarring on his face. "The past few days have just been nonstop with emergency room visits, talking to doctors, and seeing specialists. You know, we haven't really had a chance to breathe yet," Sasser said. Sasser soon found out Ashton wasn't the only victim. The suspect, later identified as Joshua Swartwout, allegedly went on a spree with the chain, attacking and threatening people over the course of two days before he was arrested. Boulder police put out an alert and arrested him the next day. Shortly after, Sasser reached out to police to share her son's story. Ashton Sasser Kristina Sasser Sasser shared her email communications with a detective with CBS Colorado. In those emails, a detective responded, saying they'd been working to reach Ashton Sasser, also adding, "I'll be back in the office on Tuesday and can talk to you over the phone. I have many things that I need to do in your son's case." The next day, Boulder police put out an update, not yet including Ashton Sasser's story. "After the police made their statement that nobody was injured, I thought it was important to come forward with my public statement and what happened to my son accurately," Kristina Sasser said. So, she posted on social media, and hundreds reacted to her post, including Boulder police. Sharing a public statement on Monday that included Ashton Sasser. "I'm in shock, pretty upset, pretty scared, really disappointed with how law enforcement handled the situation," Sasser said. Boulder police declined to interview but say they're limited to what they can release to the public during an active investigation. Kristina Sasser says she met with police on Tuesday. "I think we should protect the heart of our city," Sasser said. Joshua Swartwout Boulder County Boulder police say they've been working on this case ever since the incident occurred and emphasized that investigations take time. Swartwout, who remains in custody, refused to show up to court on Tuesday and is now expected to appear on Wednesday. Swartwout faces several charges, including felony menacing, second-degree assault, criminal mischief, five counts of criminal attempt second-degree assault, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, obstructing a peace officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of failure to appear.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Colorado court documents detail victims' stories of alleged chain attacks in Boulder
The suspect arrested in the alleged chain attacks in Boulder has been identified as Joshua Swartwout. An arrest affidavit details interviews with victims in a series of alleged attacks and threats between June 26 and June 27 in Colorado. Joshua Swartwout Boulder County Investigators with the Boulder Police Department have updated the number of victims from eight to 10. The first alleged assault happened about 4 a.m. on June 26 near Broadway and Arapahoe in Boulder. The second victim walked into the Boulder Police Department about 7:30 a.m. the same day to report that his bicycle was struck by a man with a chain. According to investigators, between 11 a.m. June 26 and the time of Swartwout's arrest at 4:24 p.m. on June 27, eight people, seven women and one man, were identified as victims. In some of the cases, investigators believe Swartwout struck victims with the chain and in others, the chain was swung in a threatening manner, and in others, the chain struck property but did not hit a person. According to the arrest affidavit, the victims described the chain used in the alleged attacks as a "thick chain-link chain" and in many of the cases, threatening or confusing statements were made to the victims. Boulder police arrested a man wanted in connection with a series of attacks with a chain on June 26 and June 27. Boulder Police Dept. In one instance, the victim heard the suspect say, "I'm not worshipping you" and in another case, one victim told detectives that the suspect was saying "grotesque things" and accused the victim of rape and other vulgar things. Another victim told investigators that she was attacked while waiting to pay for her items inside a Safeway store. Another told investigators that the suspect was riding a bicycle when she was struck by a chain on the Boulder Creek path. One victim's story, as recounted in the arrest affidavit, details her being attacked while inside her vehicle, with the "big metal chain" coming through her window before she could roll it up after she saw the suspect approaching her in the parking lot of a credit union on Baseline Road in Boulder. She told investigators that she heard him say "something to the effect of 'yeah, you better roll those up. I'm coming after you.'" Swartwout has been charged with felony menacing, second-degree assault, criminal mischief, five counts of criminal attempt second-degree assault, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, obstructing a peace officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of failure to appear. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Boulder Police Department at 303-441-1974. This incident is being investigated under Boulder Police report number 25-05785. Swartwout has been scheduled to appear in Boulder County Court on Tuesday afternoon.
