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Idaho Springs police officer facing assault charges for using stun gun on man in 70s

Officer Nicholas Hanning

Prosecutors charged an Idaho Springs police officer with third-degree assault after officials say he used a stun gun on a man in his 70s who was carrying a sword-like weapon, according to a release from the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. 

Officer Nicholas Hanning, 35, surrendered to authorities Wednesday and was advised of the charge in Clear Creek County District Court. He was released from jail after posting $2,000 bail Wednesday, officials said.

Prosecutors say Hanning and another Idaho Springs officer responded to a report of an alleged assault in the 3200 block of Riverside Drive, just before 11 p.m., according to the release. 

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Upon their arrival, they located a woman who made the initial call reporting an alleged assault by a man who lived in a nearby apartment, authorities said. 

Officers tried to make contact with the man and when he answered the door, he was holding a “sword-like” weapon with what looked like “teeth along both edges,” according to the release. 

Authorities say Hanning used the electrical stun device on the man after he refused to follow commands from police.

The man in his 70s was injured in the incident and taken to St. Anthony Clinic in Idaho Springs. 

Idaho Springs police Chief Nathan Buseck reviewed the incident and on June 3 contacted the District Attorney’s Office to request a criminal investigation, according to the release. 

District Attorney Heidi McCollum contacted the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to assist in the investigation, which resulted in an arrest warrant.

The department handed down unspecified discipline the other officer involved, authorities said. He was still employed by the department. 

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Prosecutors don’t expect to file additional charges, according to the release. 

Body camera footage of the incident has been provided to the District Attorney’s Office, but had not been released to the public Thursday afternoon.

“We would like to extend our thoughts to the person directly involved in this incident, along with family members that were impacted,” Buseck said in a statement to The Denver Gazette.

“The Idaho Springs Police Department is a proud organization that holds itself accountable and holds all employees accountable for their actions. Our agency took decisive action to address this incident which included a thorough internal investigation along with immediately requesting an outside agency perform a criminal investigation. This isolated incident is not reflective of the great work being done by the men and women of our agency who continue to work diligently alongside our citizens to prevent crime and protect our community.”

Hanning has been employed with the department since 2017 and is scheduled to appear in court on July 13. The Denver Gazette has reached out to his attorney for comment.

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