Colorado Springs man pulls knife and gun on trash service workers after conflict escalates
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Court documents obtained by KRDO reveal what led up to a Colorado Springs man reportedly pulling a knife and threatening trash service workers with a gun.
Tuesday, the Colorado Springs Police Department arrested Richard Boccardi, 52. He's facing charges of felony menacing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender. According to CSPD, he pulled a knife and a Taurus .357 handgun on two trash truck operators in Old Colorado City.
Richard Boccardi, 52-year-old Richard Boccardi is facing charges of felony menacing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender, after he pulled a knife and a Taurus .357 handgun on two trash truck operators in Old Colorado City.
He was arrested after one of the frantic trash truck operators called 911.
According to court documents, the conflict started between the two trash truck operators and the owner of the property Tuesday morning.
The operators told police they were arguing with the property owner, who is an elderly woman, about large concrete chunks being placed in the property's dumpster, which is prohibited by GFL Environmental, the property's trash service provider.
One of the operators told police that as they were talking with the woman, two men involved themselves in the verbal disagreement and escalated it.
The operators said Boccardi told them to leave then pulled out a six to eight-inch knife and started walking toward them. As he advanced toward them, he put away the knife and pulled out a silver revolver, pointing at the two operators.
One of the scared operators called 911 from where he was hiding at 10:04. a.m. CSPD officers were dispatched at 10:10 a.m. and made contact with Boccardi outside of his apartment.
Boccardi's first court hearing, a hearing on advisement, happens on Oct. 27.
KRDO reached out to the property owner of the apartment building on the 1600 block of W. Colorado Ave. She said she is unwilling to comment.
KRDO also reached out to GFL Environmental, the waste management company used by the property, and is waiting on a response.
