Maskless CU Boulder Party Turns Into Mob, Gets SWAT Team Called In

Hundreds of maskless college students gathered in a neighborhood near the University of Colorado at Boulder on Saturday evening (March 6).

The Washington Post reported that 500 to 800 maskless party-goers cheered in the street as they set off fireworks into the sky and eventually flipped over a car.

After the party raged on for hours, police officers showed up at the scene with a SWAT vehicle at 8:30 P.M.

"If you fail to leave, you will be subject to arrest and the use of tear gas," they warned through a loudspeaker.

While many students left, about 100 ran towards authorities, shouting expletives and throwing bottles and rocks, according to police.

Police reported minor injuries to several officers as well as damage to community and public safety vehicles, according to the Post.

On Sunday, March 7, authorities said they were looking over images from Saturday's event and would be starting a website to collect tips from the public.

Serious consequences await those who were involved in the incident, said police.

"I hear people refer to it as a party," said Boulder County District Attorney Micheal Dougherty during a news conference. "I don't regard people flipping over a car as a party. I don't regard people throwing bottles and rocks at firefighters and police officers as a party. Those are criminal acts and will be treated as such."

Chief Maris Herold said it was too dangerous to enter the crowd and make arrests.

"But believe me, we have excellent body-worn camera video, the community is sending us video," said Herold. "There will be arrests."

Photo: Getty Images