Boulder investigates possible hate crime

Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Boulder police are investigating an assault that may have been triggered because the victim stated she was gay.

Police spokeswoman Julie Brooks said the assault took place just before 3 a.m. in the vicinity of 13th Street and Canyon Boulevard.

She said a 21-year-old woman met two men on the Pearl Street Mall and they made sexual comments to her after she offered them a place to stay for the night. The woman rejected them, saying she was gay, and one of the men punched her and began kicking her.

She said the second man told the man to stop, but did not physically intervene.

When they left, she called police but was unable to give her location and the dispatcher used the Global Positioning System on her cell phone to locate her.

She was taken to Boulder Community Hospital with facial injuries.

She told police both the suspects were white males between 18 and 21 years old, approximately 5-foot-7 and skinny.

She said one had blond hair down to his chin in a "Beatles-style" cut and was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. The other had short, dark hair and was wearing a dress shirt with a sequined tie. He also was wearing Mardi Gras beads around his neck.

Both men were wearing baggy jeans and the victim believes they stated they were from California.

Anyone with information is asked to call Boulder police at 303-441-3330. To remain anonymous, contact Boulder County Crime Stoppers at 303-440-STOP. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers Web site at www.crimeshurt.com.

Anyone with a tip that leads to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.