A Democratic activist and supporter of a bail-bonds initiative has filed a complaint with the Larimer County sheriff alleging Colorado’s attorney general assaulted him, but John Suthers and a witness say the incident didn’t happen.
Safe Streets Colorado outreach director Robert Trucker says Suthers, a Republican running for re-election, “poked, slapped and shoved him” on the chest, arms and shoulder at a League of Women Voters event Tuesday night.
Trucker released a garbled audio recording of a portion of his encounter with Suthers on Thursday, but no altercation or arguing can be heard between the two men.
Suthers, who says he was holding a bag of popcorn in one hand while talking with Trucker and another voter about why he opposes Proposition 102, denied any physical contact was made.
“I never touched the man,” Suthers said. “I was munching on popcorn the whole time. There was no high voices or anything like that.”
The attorney general said he merely closed the view screen of Trucker’s video camera with his finger when Trucker pushed the camera toward him.
Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said investigators found no evidence on Trucker’s videotape of an assault.
The sheriff said deputies still have to “cross their T’s and dot their I’s” and interview Suthers before they render a decision.
Alderden said he attended Tuesday’s event and did not see anything amiss. He said several deputies were near Trucker.
The complaint was filed Wednesday.
Trucker said he didn’t report the incident right away because he was afraid and in shock.
Sharon Winfree, who attended the event, said she was standing next to Suthers eating popcorn when Trucker was discussing Proposition 102.
“I certainly did not observe anything of that nature,” Winfree said when asked whether she had seen an assault. “I observed them just having a conversation. I didn’t see anything that would lead me to think it was even a heated conversation.”
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
