GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — A school resource officer (SRO) with the Glenwood Springs Police Department was arrested in connection to charges including felony sexual assault on Thursday.
The city said in a statement released Friday that it was informed by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office that Officer Sean Tatro, 33, was arrested on suspicion of the following charges:
- Felony sexual assault
- Felony menacing
- Felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor (18 to 21)
- Felony use of a stun gun in the commission of a crime
- Felony second-degree assault
- Misdemeanor harassment
- Misdemeanor third-degree assault
- Misdemeanor reckless endangerment
The city said the alleged crimes took place while Tatro was off duty, and that no minors under 18 were involved.
He has been placed on administrative leave and is no longer on active duty.
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim reported multiple instances of domestic violence between January and April of 2024.
During one incident reported in March 2024, the victim told investigators that she had been arguing with Tatro, who had been drinking, and that he used a stun gun on her left leg, the affidavit says.
A Silt Police Department officer also reported seeing Tatro, whom he recognized, driving his car recklessly around a woman attempting to walk away in the parking lot of Anytime Fitness at 800 Airport Road in Rifle in April 2023, the affidavit says.
The officer said he was given more information by another officer and determined Tatro was trying to intimidate the woman, which included driving around the parking lot several times while cutting between vehicles and through handicap signposts "so fast [the officer] was surprised Sean did not hit anything," the affidavit reads.
The woman told investigators that Tatro's behavior during that incident scared her and that she thought he was going to hit her, the affidavit says.
The victim told investigators she had smoked a significant amount of marijuana with Tatro, and that he said she better not report him because he has a way of passing drug tests, the affidavit says. The victim said he also told her, "no one would believe her if she reported any abuse or marijuana use that occurred because Sean was a cop."
Tatro denied the incident at Anytime Fitness took place and denied smoking marijuana, the affidavit says. He also denied using a stun gun on the victim, but said he accidentally "drove-stunned himself" a couple of times while testing the stun gun.
"I am deeply disappointed in these allegations, and yet, all defendants are provided due process and presumed innocent until proven guilty," a statement from Glenwood Springs Police Chief Joseph Deras said in part. "However, if the charges are proven to be true, the administrative consequences from the City and the Police Department will be swift and deliberate."
Roaring Forks Schools confirmed in a statement Tatro was an SRO for Glenwood Springs schools, and that the district had not received any complaints or concerns about him:
"We became aware that Glenwood Springs Police Officer Sean Tatro was recently taken into custody by Garfield County Sheriff. Officer Tatro was serving as the School Resource Officer at Glenwood Springs schools. We know this news may cause some concern or questions. We wanted to assure you that we have no evidence that any students were unsafe or in danger at any time while Officer Tatro was operating in the role of SRO."
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