Arvada Police Department, Colorado

10/20/2026

Thank you, Officer Tafoya, for the great work!

10/14/2026

NEWS RELEASE: 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 12800 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.

10/12/2026

Asking the Arvada community to be on the lookout for this suspect.

NEWS RELEASE: Officer Involved Shooting

On October 11, 2026, at approximately 9:33 p.m., Thornton Police officers responded to the 12800 block of Ulster Street to investigate a report of an unwanted person.

While officers were on scene speaking with the reporting party, the suspect fired multiple rounds at officers, striking one Thornton Police officer. The injured officer was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. A second Thornton Police officer returned fire during the incident. At this time, investigators have not determined whether the suspect was struck by the officer's gunfire. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large.

The suspect has been identified as Luis Arebalo (DOB: March 3, 1989). Arebalo is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and dark-colored pants.

Arebalo is considered armed and dangerous. Members of the public are urged not to approach or attempt to contact him. Anyone who sees Arebalo or has information regarding his immediate whereabouts should call
911.

Thornton Police investigators are actively working to locate Arebalo and continue to pursue investigative leads. Anyone with information that may assist in this investigation is encouraged to contact the Thornton
Police Tip Line at (720) 977-5069.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available and as the investigation allows.

10/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for National Coffee with a Cop!

We're grateful for the opportunity to connect with members of our community outside of the traditional police setting. Whether you stopped by to meet an officer, ask a question, share a story, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee, we appreciated every conversation.

Building strong relationships with our community is an important part of what we do. Events like this give us the opportunity to listen, learn, and connect with those we proudly serve.

Thank you, Arvada, for your continued support and for taking the time to spend part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you next time.

Arvada Police Department

10/05/2026

COFFEE WITH A COP — TWO LOCATIONS!

Coffee, conversation, and your Arvada Police officers — what better way to start a Wednesday?

Join us Wednesday, Oct. 7, for Coffee with a Cop. There is no agenda and no speeches, just an opportunity to grab a cup of coffee, meet some of our officers, ask questions, and have a conversation.

We’ll be at two Arvada locations:
• McDonald’s — 6590 Wadsworth Blvd. | 9–10:30 a.m.
• Target — 7899 Wadsworth Blvd. | 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Stop by one or both! We’d love to see you. No appointment necessary.

10/02/2026

Arvada Police are seeking the community’s help in a second missing-person case today.

Please see the attached Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Endangered Missing Alert for additional information.

If you have any information that may help locate this individual, please follow the contact instructions provided in the alert.

Thank you for your continued assistance in bringing missing community members home safely.

CBI Endangered Missing Alert Activation:

14-year-old, hispanic, female, Meriyeins "Anthonella" Martin-Acuna, brown eyes and brown hair, 5'01"/94lbs, was last seen on October 1, 2026, at 4:50pm, on foot, near the 6400 block of Field St in Arvada. She was last seen wearing as black zip hoodie, black pants, and pink slippers. Law enforcement is concerned for her safety. If seen, please call 9-1-1 or the Arvada Police Department at 303-980-7300

10/02/2026

UPDATE: Officers have located Lani safely in the area, and he is headed home. Thanks for all your help in locating our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

MISSING CHILD – PLEASE SHARE- Lani Schaad

Arvada Police are searching for a 9-year-old child reportedly missing near 64th Avenue and Utica Street in the Adams County portion of Arvada. The child was last seen at approximately 8:18 a.m.

The child is described as a Black male with black hair, brown eyes, approximately 4 feet tall and 41 pounds, with short hair that is longer on top. The child is described as having “mild autism.”

He was last seen wearing a red Spider-Man shirt, black Spider-Man basketball shorts, and black shoes.

Officers are actively searching the area. If you see this child or have information that may help locate him, please call Arvada Police at 303-980-7300 or 911.

Please share with us to help him get home safely.
Adams County Sheriff's Office, Colorado
Westminster PD

09/28/2026

FIRE SAFETY DAY 2026
What a great day with our friends at Arvada Fire!

Fire Safety Day 2026 brought families, first responders, and community partners together for hands-on learning, safety education, and plenty of fun. From meeting police officers and firefighters to checking out emergency vehicles, trying interactive safety activities, and getting an up-close look at a medical helicopter, there was something for everyone.

Events like this are about more than seeing the equipment—they give our community a chance to meet the people behind the badge, learn important safety skills, and see how public safety partners work together every day.

A huge THANK YOU to Arvada Fire, all of the participating agencies and organizations, and especially the families who came out and spent the day with us. We loved seeing so many future first responders in the crowd!

Fire Safety Day 2026 was great. See you next year!

09/27/2026

09/26/2026

HAPPENING TODAY!!
Stop by and see all the information on keeping you and your families safe. Meet emergency responders and see some of the equipment used on a daily basis.