One suspect is in custody and police are searching for two more allegedly involved in a bias-motivated assault in Boulder.
Olubiyi Ogundipe, a University of Colorado at Boulder student from Nigeria, was walking with a friend also from Nigeria just after 2 a.m. Saturday near Broadway and Pleasant streets.
Three people walking behind them uttered a racial epithet, called the two men monkeys and told them to go back to their country, according to a police report.
Ogundipe, 19, turned around and confronted the trio, but they began punching him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
A campus police officer who was driving by witnessed the assault and stopped to help, at which point the attackers ran.
Joseph Owen Coy, 22, of Lafayette was arrested after a short foot chase. Coy is the suspect believed to have punched Ogundipe, police said.
He was booked into jail on charges of bias-motivated crime, a felony, and obstructing a police officer.
Ogundipe was taken to the hospital and treated for some lacerations, but he did not sustain serious injuries.
Boulder police are looking for two other males about 18 to 20 years old. It is unclear what their role was in the attack.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police Sgt. Tom Trujillo at 303-441-3338. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous can contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or 800-444-3776.
Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at . Tips that can lead to an arrest may be eligible for a reward.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
