Sororities At CU Boulder On Alert Following 5 Drugging Cases

By Stan Bush

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - When school is in session, every weekend at the University of Colorado Boulder's neighborhood called "The Hill" could see a massive party.

"Every couple of the houses has something going on," said Rachael Jacobs, a sophomore. "It's fun. You just have to be careful."

Jacobs lives in a sorority house in the area lined with student homes and towering fraternity houses. Students are warning each other to watch out in the wake of five reported incidents where students were allegedly drugged at parties.

"I'm positive it happens everywhere else," said Jacobs. "It does put a bad name to the Greek system because it's a system, but you would hear about it more from other places if other homes had a system for themselves too."

Boulder Police gave them a chilling warning.

"He was like 'don't do cocaine.' Not just because cocaine is a bad drug, but because it can be laced with something like Fentanyl which could be deadly," said Jacobs.

She says sororities have been warning their members to go places in groups and to be sure they only take unopened drinks.

"It's really scary living on The Hill, and it's sad it happens all the time."

Symptoms of being drugged include memory loss, breathing or motion difficulties and acting disproportionately intoxicated relative to the amount of alcohol consumed, police stated.

Anyone who may have additional information on this case should call Detective Sergeant Barry Hartkopp at 303-441-3473. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Tips may also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at 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.

Stan Bush is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. His stories can be seen on CBS4 News at 10. Read his bio and follow him on Twitter @StanBushTV.