2026013295 - Man arrested for unlawful carrying of a weapon on school property

On Oct. 6 around 4:40 p.m., officers responded to Thornton High School for a report of a person walking on school grounds near the gym doors while holding a large knife.

Officers contacted the man and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to the Adams County Jail for unlawful carrying of a weapon on school property.

2026013488 - Parked vehicle struck by gunfire

Just before 2:50 p.m. on Oct. 10, officers responded to the Motel 6 in the unit block of West 83rd Avenue for a report of shots fired.

Witnesses reported that a vehicle drove through the parking lot and a passenger fired shots at a parked vehicle. Officers arrived and confirmed the vehicle was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.

The parked vehicle sustained an apparent gunshot strike to the driver’s side door. Officers gathered witness information and developed a description of the suspect vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.

2026013364 - Man arrested after driving truck into vehicle

On Oct. 7 around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a residence after a report that a man had intentionally driven his truck into another vehicle in a driveway. The victim reported that the man appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

When officers arrived, the suspect ran into the residence. Officers established a perimeter and searched the home, eventually locating him hiding in the attic. He was taken into custody and transported to the Adams County Jail. The 34-year-old man was also found to have violated a restraining order and had an outstanding DUI warrant.

Suspect in Thornton officer shooting arrested

Luis Arebalo, the suspect in the Oct. 11 shooting of a Thornton Police officer, is in custody.

On Oct. 13 at about 5:30 p.m., Thornton Police received multiple calls from community members reporting they had seen Arebalo walking near Riverdale Road and 120th Avenue. Officers responded, and Arebalo was taken into custody without incident. He did not have any apparent injuries at the time of his arrest.

Formal charges will be determined by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 11, at about 9:30 p.m., Thornton Police officers responded to the 12700 block of Ulster Street. During the incident, Arebalo fired multiple rounds at officers, striking one officer. A second officer returned fire. Arebalo fled the scene.

In the hours after the shooting, SWAT, K9 teams and patrol officers searched the area within the perimeter, supported by drones, a Denver Police Department helicopter and a Colorado State Patrol airplane.

Over the next two days, investigators searched Arebalo’s vehicle and the surrounding area, followed up on tips and worked with federal partners and neighboring jurisdictions to locate him. Arebalo’s name and photo were released to the public, and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $4,000 for information leading to him.

The injured officer has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

We are grateful to the residents who recognized Arebalo and called 911. Those calls led directly to a safe arrest. Thank you also to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers and everyone in the community who shared his information over the past two days.

We are proud of the officers who responded that night and remained diligent under extremely dangerous circumstances. We are also proud of the investigators who worked around the clock to bring this to a safe end. Our dispatchers also played a critical role, managing a high volume of emergency calls, coordinating resources and keeping officers informed throughout.

Thornton Police Department is especially grateful to the agencies that assisted with K9 and area searches, perimeter support, air and drone support, SWAT and crisis negotiation, and handling calls for service in Thornton during the incident:

• Adams County Sheriff’s Office
• Arvada Police Department
• Brighton Police Department
• Broomfield Police Department
• Colorado State Patrol
• Commerce City Police Department
• Denver Police Department
• Federal Heights Police Department
• Northglenn Police Department
• RTD Transit Police
• Westminster Police Department

This arrest is the result of our community and law enforcement working together, and we are grateful to everyone who played a part. Read the initial news release and watch our news conference to learn more about this incident.

*** Arrest totals may not equal the sum of individual categories. Some arrests include multiple charges, and not all arrest types are listed. ***

*** Crime data is continuously collected and updated, so these numbers may differ from day to day for a number of reasons. ***

Have crime concerns or questions about crime in your area? Contact our Community Liaison Officers! They’re always happy to meet and discuss what matters most to your neighborhood. They can be reached at clo@thorntonco.gov.

Case Report 25-2779: Thornton Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in a homicide that occurred on Feb. 26, 2025. Around 11:15 p.m., Kendra and Chad Anderson were found deceased inside their home in the 16300 block of Columbine Street with gunshot wounds. A fire had been intentionally set in an attempt to conceal the crime. This case remains unsolved and continues to be actively investigated. Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is now offering up to $12,000 for information that helps solve this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 720-913-7867 or submit an anonymous tip using the button below.

Your tips help keep our community safe. If you recognize a suspect or have information about an ongoing investigation, call the Thornton Police tip line at 720-977-5069 or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers.

What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?



October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Dating relationships should be built on respect, trust and healthy boundaries. But for teens, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize when a relationship is becoming unhealthy or abusive, especially when controlling behaviors are mistaken for love or concern.

Healthy relationships allow both people to maintain friendships, make their own decisions and set boundaries without fear of retaliation. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in a relationship.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing dating abuse, consider talking with a trusted adult or reaching out for support. You don't have to be certain a relationship is abusive to ask for help.

Learn more about healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships through Love Is Respect and view additional resources.

Haunted Hallways with TPD

Date: Wednesday, October 21

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Location: District 1 (9551 Civic Center Drive) and District 2 (13150 Quebec Street)

Haunted Hallways is back! Join us for a frightfully fun, family-friendly evening filled with candy, costumes, and plenty of Halloween surprises. Bring your superheroes, princesses, witches, pirates, monsters, and ghouls for a night of trick-or-treating with Thornton Police.

Feeling brave? District 1 will feature a Haunted House for those looking for a little extra spooky fun!

Both locations will be decked out for Halloween with candy, festive trick-or-treat stops, and officers ready to celebrate with you.

• Free admission
• Lots of candy
• Costumes encouraged
• All ages welcome

Grab your costume, bring your trick-or-treat bag, and come haunt the hallways with us! 

Know Before You Ride

Know the rules before you ride this summer! Thornton municipal code was recently updated. Here are the key rules for e-bikes, scooters, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles in Thornton:



• E-bikes with operable pedals are permitted on sidewalks and bike/pedestrian paths and trails at speeds up to 20 mph
• The following are prohibited on bike/pedestrian paths, trails, and sidewalks (except authorized personnel): 
• Non-pedal electric bicycles and similar motorized devices (including electric motorcycles), except e-balance bikes for children 6 years of age or younger 
• Gas-powered vehicles (including motorcycles, dirt bikes and similar recreational vehicles) 
• Speeds over 20 mph
• No riding wheeled vehicles of any kind in prohibited areas (playgrounds, game courts, sports courts, pavilions, park lawns, fields, etc.)
• Careless, reckless, or unlawful operation of any wheeled device is subject to enforcement and citation of up to $2,650
• Parents and guardians may be held responsible for violations and associated penalties involving minors operating devices unlawfully
• HOW TO REPORT: If unsafe riding is happening right now, call the Thornton Police Non-Emergency line at 720-977-5150. For ongoing or recurring issues, use the "Report a Traffic Concern" form at thorntonpd.org.

Sign up for ThorntonReady Emergency Alerts

The City of Thornton has launched ThorntonReady Emergency Alerts, a new notification system that provides targeted community alerts to help keep residents informed during urgent situations.

The new system replaces the previous CodeRED platform and delivers timely updates about severe weather, community emergencies, law enforcement activity and other important public safety notifications.

Signing up is free and quick. Once registered, you can choose to receive alerts by text message, phone call, or email, and the system can communicate in more than 120 languages.

Residents can also create a secure and voluntary Safety Profile for their household that provides dispatchers and first responders with critical information such as medical conditions, medications, and access and functional needs.

Officer Williams

What’s your go-to snack or coffee order during a long day?

I’m actually more of a tea person than a coffee drinker! A mango or hibiscus tea is what I start my day off with everyday.

What is something you learned during motor school that you’re excited to put into practice?  

Resilience in its purest form! When you’re maneuvering a 900-pound motorcycle, you're going to drop it. In life, the key isn't avoiding the fall, or even being afraid of falling. It's getting back up every single time with even more determination than before to keep pushing forward.

How has serving others outside of work influenced the way you approach your job? 

It’s a constant reminder that everybody is carrying something we can't see. Remembering that everyone has a unique story helps me pause, lead with patience, and avoid being quick to judge.

Can you tell us about a time as a patrol officer you felt you made a difference?  

​Taking the time to stop and just hang out with the kids in the community. I think taking those few extra minutes goes a long way and creates a positive ripple effect in how the community views and trusts law enforcement.

If you weren't a police officer, what would you be doing?

I would own and run my own bakery/cafe. 

Officer Williams recently completed motor school, becoming one of the few women at Thornton PD to do so and continuing to expand her skills as an officer. Outside of work, she participates in mission trips through her church, including a recent trip to Cambodia where she supported mentors who work with survivors of child sex trafficking. Her commitment to learning, serving others and helping people through difficult experiences reflects her dedication both on and off duty.

Interested in joining the TPD team and serving our community?

Check out current job openings here!

Sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse are just a few additional serious crimes that we typically do not share specific details about to protect the privacy of victims. These crimes are often underreported. Please know that the Thornton Police Department is committed to supporting victims and working diligently to investigate and solve these cases.

If you or someone you know is a victim, help is available. You can report incidents directly to law enforcement or access resources for support.

Thornton Victim Services Unit: Call 720-977-5172 or visit thorntonpd.org/victimservices

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 800-799-7233 or visit www.thehotline.org/  

Love is Respect (for youth): Visit https://www.loveisrespect.org/  

Violence Free Colorado: Call 1-800-799-7233 or visit https://violencefreecolorado.org/  

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault: Call 303-839-9999 or visit https://www.ccasa.org/for-survivors/

Ralston House (for child and teen survivors of abuse): Visit https://www.ralstonhouse.org/

Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: Call 844-264-5437 

National Center on Elder Abuse: Visit https://ncea.acl.gov/

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: Visit https://www.missingkids.org/