Denver Claims 'Investigation' Into Judge's Meltdown

DENVER (CBS4) - The City of Denver says it will not release any records related to a courtroom and hotel meltdown of a Denver County Court judge reported last week by CBS4.

In refusing to release any records or information, a Denver administrator cited an unspecified "investigation."

Multiple sources told CBS4 Denver County Court Judge Kerry Hada had to be subdued by sheriffs deputies and removed from a Denver courtroom Sept. 11 after he began acting erratically and inappropriately and refused to leave the courtroom after being asked to leave by Chief Judge John Marcucci. Multiple sources said Hada was wearing military garb Sept. 11.

CBS4 requested records related to the courtroom incident along with a subsequent incident the following Monday night.

In that second case, the Denver Police SWAT team was summoned to a Hyatt hotel in the Denver Tech Center for what was characterized as a "welfare check" on a hotel guest. There are numerous indications the guest was Judge Hada.

Some guests had to be evacuated from their rooms as negotiators attempted to get Hada to leave. A hotel administrator told CBS4 an employee had concerns about a hotel guest, prompting the police call and the arrival of the SWAT team.

Denver police say they eventually took the hotel guest into custody. One police source familiar with the incident told CBS4 Hada was talking nonsensically and seemed to be delusional.

But Denver authorities won't release any records. Mary Dulacki, the records coordinator for Denver's Department of Safety told CBS4 the following:

There is a current investigation into the incidents and the interest in maintaining the integrity of that investigation outweighs any public purpose to be served by providing information or records related to the incidents at this time.

Asked who was investigating and the nature of the investigation, Dulacki referred questions to Denver County Court. However Denver's Chief Judge John Marcucci told CBS4 on Sept. 11 that he could not provide any information or make any comment on the Hada situation.

Denver County Court administrator Terrie Langham has not returned multiple calls or emails from CBS4 regarding the Hada situation.

Hada's clerk said Hada is on extended leave.

A friend of the judge's told CBS4 Hada is dealing with a "health issue" and was seeking medical treatment.

Hada presides over a Denver criminal courtroom and has been a judge since 2008. He was an Army Ranger and is widely respected in the Asian-American community.

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.