Stephen Roch, Louisville Resident, Arrested For Threatening Firefighters At Marshall Fire
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) -- A 24-year-old Louisville man was arrested by police officers Friday morning after he allegedly confronted a firefighter with a firearm at the Marshall Fire scene. Steven Roch was taken into custody after driving away from the area, according to a press release from the Louisville Police Department.
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A CBS4 crew found police vehicles surrounding Roch's car in the 9100 block of Dillon Road.
Roch was pulled over there after driving away from the confrontation that occurred near St. Andrews Lane and Dillon Road at 9:45 a.m., LPD's press release stated.
More details of the confrontation were described in an arrest affidavit obtained by CBS4 on Monday. The initial confrontation began when an assistant chief with the Denver Fire Department approached a vehicle on St. Andrews Lane that was parked inside the evacuation area. The assistant chief told the man inside the vehicle that he had to leave the area, but was told in reply, "If you want me out, you'll need to take me out, and I have an AR15."
The man in the vehicle then made an obscene gesture at the firefighter.
The police were notified and the man drove away as officers began to arrive, according to the affidavit.
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Responding officers were told Roch was driving a silver Toyota RAV4 and in possession of an AR-15 during interagency radio traffic that led to Roch's location and arrest.
After he was taken into custody, Roch's Toyota was searched. An AR-15 rifle was found out of its case on the back seat, plus two cases of .556 and .223 ammunition for an AR-15, according to the affidavit. A 9mm handgun was also found along with loose ammunition.
Roch was booked into the Boulder County Jail. He has been arrested on five charges: Menacing with a Weapon, a felony, plus Obstructing Government
Operations, Obstructing a Peace Officer/Firefighter, Eluding, and Third Degree Criminal Trespass.
Roch is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
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Online public records show that Roch and other members of his family reside in the 700 block of St. Andrews Lane in Louisville. The arrest affidavit suggests the family's home was lost in the fire.
During a press conference Sunday afternoon, Louisville Police Chief Dave Hayes briefly addressed the incident.
"I think he was angry and upset like a lot of people are, but that's not the way to handle it," he said.
Roch was advised of the charges in court Monday afternoon. A judge set bond at $30,000. Roch is scheduled to appear in court again Wednesday.
