Suspect in Boulder hostage situation taken into custody

Mitchell Byars, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
·2 min read

Nov. 29—The man accused of barricading himself in a residence following a possible hostage situation was taken into custody overnight.

John Lee Fleming, 56, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of second-degree assault, two counts of felony menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer

According to a release, at 9:15 p.m. Monday Boulder police officers were notified by Lafayette police that Fleming was holding a man and a woman against their will at a residence in the 3300 block of Broadway. Officers were told Fleming, who did know the two other people, was armed.

Boulder police arrived at the home and tried to get the two victims, who were in the back of the house. At that time, police said Fleming "engaged officers in an altercation" in the doorway at the front of the house and refused repeated commands from officers.

Police said one officer discharged their firearm, but did not hit anyone. The two victims were able to escape through a window, and Fleming then barricaded himself inside the residence.

Officers received information that Fleming had explosives in the house, leading to some evacuations while SWAT and the Boulder County Bomb Squad responded to the scene.

At 12:37 a.m. Tuesday, Fleming surrendered to police after negotiations by telephone. The bomb squad checked the residence and found no working explosive devices.

Detectives executed a search warrant at the home and recovered replica firearms and swords. Police also took three dogs to the Boulder Humane Society. The dogs were not injured.

Boulder police tweeted that all roads in the area were reopened at 6:32 a.m. Tuesday.

The Boulder County Critical Incident Response Team, which investigates use of force by officers, will investigate the shooting and present findings to the Boulder County District Attorney's Office.

Per Boulder police policy, the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave. The officer's name has not been released.

Fleming's booking photo has not yet been released. Online court records show Fleming does have prior convictions for assault and theft.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call Boulder police Detective Scott Byars at 303-441-1970 and reference case No. 22-11797.