Mitchell Byars
Daily Camera
LOUISVILLE, Colo. — A Louisville man who lost his home in the Marshall Fire reportedly threatened a firefighter after trying to go back to the burn area and was found with loaded weapons after trying to flee the scene.
Stephen Tyger Francis Roch, 24, was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony menacing, obstructing a peace officer, obstructing government operations, eluding and third-degree criminal trespassing.
According to an affidavit, a firefighter working the Marshall Fire encountered Roch in the area of St. Andrews Lane and Dillon Road at 9:45 a.m. Friday. The firefighter told Roch the area was still under mandatory evacuation orders and asked him to leave.
Roch reportedly told the firefighter he would need to “take him out” and told the firefighter he had an AR-15 rifle.
When police arrived on scene after the firefighter called in the threat, Roch got into a vehicle and fled the area, at one point driving through the burnt remains of a house.
Officers were eventually able to get Roch to stop, and he was taken into custody. Police found a loaded AR-15 rifle inside the vehicle with the safety off and a loaded 9 mm handgun. Extra ammunition for both weapons, including 2,000 rounds for the rifle, were also found inside the vehicle.
According to the affidavit, Roch declined to speak to police. Firefighters did say they believed Roch lost his home in the fire and was upset.
He is being held at the Boulder County Jail pending a bond hearing. His booking photo was not immediately available.
Anyone that has information on the incident is asked to contact the Louisville Police Department at 303-441-4444.
Roch has a prior misdemeanor conviction in Boulder for obstructing a peace officer.
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