Man arrested in Fort Collins for carrying replica gun across charter school campus

DENVER (KDVR) — Fort Collins police arrested a man Monday afternoon after he was spotted crossing a charter school campus with what appeared to be a gun.

Police officers responded at about 3:45 p.m. to Liberty Common Charter School, located at 2130 W. Horsetooth Road, which is at the corner of South Taft Hill Road. The man reportedly walked from the school grounds west on Horsetooth Road while a parent and school employee followed him.

The man never entered a school building and was not near any children, Fort Collins Police Services reported. The school was conducting after-hours activities, and staff kept children inside the building as the incident unfolded.

Fort Collins police officers, school resource officers and Larimer County Sheriff's deputies responded to the call and safely arrested Brian Sudduth, 33, and found he had a BB gun that was modeled after a realistic firearm. Sudduth was transported to the Larimer County Jail and booked on investigation of:

• Interference with staff/faculty/students of an educational institution with threat of bodily injury or with a deadly weapon
• Possession of methamphetamine
• Violation of a protection order
• Disorderly conduct
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lieutenant Mike Avrech, who oversees the Fort Collins police school resource officer unit, said that actions taken by school staff helped ensure the safety of all involved.