GOLDEN, Colorado — A Golden man has been taken into custody for an attack last week on two men experiencing homelessness, according to the Golden Police Department.
Roger Allan Coderre, 51, will face at least two counts of felony assault for allegedly attacking and beating two men in the early hours of June 12, police said. The attack occurred at the intersection of 14th and Jackson streets near the Colorado School of Mines campus in Golden.
The victims told officers that a man came up to them, then started to beat them with a blunt object while yelling comments like, "get out of my city/town."
Several surveillance videos from the area of the attack helped police to identify an older model black Nissan Pathfinder that was spotted near the crime scene. A patrol officer later noticed a vehicle with that description driving in Golden and pulled the driver over for a minor traffic violation, police said.
That driver, later identified as Coderre, refused to answer follow up questions from the officer and instead left the area, according to police. On Monday morning, an anonymous call that police described as suspicious in nature, came into the Golden Police tip line.
Upon further investigation, police were able to trace the call to a middle school nearby. Detective later contacted Coderre at the middle school where police said he was working as a construction contractor. A short time later, police were able to confirm Coderre as the anonymous caller, and enough probable cause was established to place him under arrest, police said.
Coderre's alleged motive for the attack remains unclear. An investigation is underway, and he may face additional charges in the future, police said.
“A dedicated and vigilant team of Golden Police personnel worked together to track down the information that led to the arrest,” police wrote in a news release.
Police previously said they believed the incident was a targeted attack against the homeless population. They also said there may be other victims who have not reported the attacks to police.
Coderre is expected to be booked into the Jefferson County Detention Facility on Monday evening.
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