Police in Boulder, Colorado, are reportedly investigating multiple officers were injured in response to a large party near the University of Colorado campus on Saturday night.
Hundreds of people gathered in a neighborhood just west of campus, according to photos and video taken on the spot.
The university said in a statement tweeted just after 10pm that it was aware of the rally and warned that people in the area could be arrested and sanctioned at school.
According to 9News in Denver, a SWAT team was eventually called to the area, with authorities estimated to have as many as 1,000 people on the scene.
Glass is absolutely everywhere on the street. Cars drive over empty vodka bottles and smash them. Most people have now left after Boulder Police appeared # 9News pic.twitter.com/Xy4PNzVV3N
– Marc Sallinger (@MarcSallinger) March 7, 2021
Looks like there is a maskless party on the hill in Boulder. Awful, awful look when we’re this close to the end of the pandemic. @Politie_Rdam @Royal house can something be done about it? pic.twitter.com/UIyD6Gsbhr
– Ben Berman (@benfromsf) March 7, 2021
The school said it has received reports of an officer being injured while police tried to interrupt the mass rally.
“We are aware of a major party on University Hill on Saturday night and allegations of violence against police officers responding on the ground,” the university said in a statement.
“We condemn this behavior. It is unacceptable and irresponsible, especially in light of the amount of training, communication and enforcement that the campus and city have deployed to ensure compliance with COVID-19 public health regulations,” he added. “CU Boulder will not tolerate any of our students who engage in violent acts or property damage.”
Police said three members of the SWAT team were hit with stones and a rescue vehicle was damaged in the chaos. Authorities are reviewing camera footage of officers’ bodies as they investigate the violent actions of members of the crowd, local media reported.