Colorado Springs Cops' Low-Key 4/20 Enforcement: Three Busts, Zero DUIDs

As we've reported, the Denver Police Department cited or jailed 243 people during 4/20 weekend — a number significantly higher than the one racked up the previous year. In addition, DPD officers conducted undercover raids at two pot clubs. Things were much, much quieter in Colorado Springs, where a grand total of...

By Michael Roberts

April 27, 2015

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As we've reported, the Denver Police Department cited or jailed 243 people during 4/20 weekend — a number significantly higher than the one racked up the previous year.

In addition, DPD officers conducted undercover raids at two pot clubs.

Things were much, much quieter in Colorado Springs, where a grand total of three arrests took place and no one was cited for driving under the influence of drugs.

Of course, the scope of 4/20 celebrations in Colorado's two largest metropolitan areas was vastly different. In Denver, Civic Center Park attracted thousands of people for events that included a concert by hip-hop star Rick Ross, and many recreational shops and businesses held special themed gatherings.

In contrast, Colorado Springs, where medical marijuana is legal but recreational sales aren't, featured a comparative handful of 4/20 functions — a block party sponsored by Speak Easy Vape Lounge, for example, and an all-day smokeout at Studio 64 and Club 710.

Yet there's no evidence the CSPD went out of its way to round up revelers in big numbers. The department reveals that between April 18 and April 21, three people were arrested on marijuana-related charges — two for possession, one for paraphernalia.

That's the same number of arrests as took place over the same period in 2014. And in neither year did the CSPD make any driving-under-the-influence-of-drugs arrests.

As for the CSPD's police blotter, the only references to marijuana involve cannabis users or businesses as victims, not as offenders.

Just shy of midnight on April 20, the cops received a call to the 4600 block of Rusina Road, the first item notes. There, they found a "reporting party" who said four suspects entered his home and stole his marijuana and wallet, with one of them wielding a knife. Paul Myles, 24, was subsequently arrested in regard to the crime.

A few hours later, at 4:11 a.m. on April 21, CSPD officers were dispatched to a cannabis club called the Lazy Lion, located on the 2500 block of East Bijou Street, after a burglar alarm sounded. They soon discovered that someone had forced entry into the business and had taken numerous items. No arrests in that case thus far.

Talk about a tale of two cities....
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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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