Arrest Made In Boulder Bar Brawl That Left Man Disfigured
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) – An arrest has been made in connection with a bar brawl in Boulder that permanently changed a man's face.
One victim was hit with a glass and will likely have permanent scaring. A second man suffered a broken jaw.
CBS4's Karen Morfitt spoke with both the victim and the suspect in the case, who tell two very different stories.
The victim says he's just thankful Boulder police went to the lengths they did to find the man who hit him. But the suspect who turned himself in to police on Thursday says it was a case of self-defense.
RELATED: Boulder Police Searching For Suspects In Violent Bar Attack
The incident happened more than a month ago at Conor O'Neill's in downtown Boulder. According to court documents, victims told police the fight started after one of the men was bumped on the dance floor and accidentally spilled his drink on the suspect, who police have identified as Derek Rigsby, 26.
A witness told police he saw Rigsby pick up a glass and hit the victim across the face.
"The suspect then hit the victim in the face with a highball glass and left very deep lacerations and cuts on the victim's face," Kim Kobel with Boulder police said in a statement.
According to Rigsby's arrest affidavit, he told police he moved to Indiana almost immediately after the fight and wasn't aware they were looking for him.
Rigsby, who bonded out of jail, said it was self-defense and that he was jumped after asking two men to leave a woman he was with at the bar alone. He also said he suffered severe injuries and received nearly 90 stitches in his hand.
Rigsby is facing a second-degree assault charge. He was with another male named "Jordan" that night who is believed to have broken the jaw of the other victim. Police have not been able to find Jordan and are asking for information from the public on his whereabouts.
Additional Information From The Boulder Police Department
Anyone with information about this case or who may be able to identify Rigsby's friend "Jordan" is asked to contact Detective Chuck Heidel at 303-441-3339. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.
