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Edgewater man arrested after allegedly punching officer who was trying to give him 'puffer' warning

Posted at 2:31 PM, Jan 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-30 16:32:14-05

EDGEWATER, Colo. – A man to whom an Edgewater police officer was going to issue a warning for leaving his vehicle running while it was unattended Thursday morning instead ended up in jail after he allegedly punched the officer in the face.

Tarquain Lee, 39, was arrested Thursday morning. According to Edgewater police spokesman Cpl. Bob Brink, officers were out for “puffer” enforcement and had already issued five warnings before they came upon a running vehicle in the 2600 block of Kendal Street.

A sergeant with the department went to tell Lee about the warning, Brink said, when he ran inside his home and called 911. Brink said the dispatcher told Lee to meet with the sergeant but when he came outside, he said he did not need to speak with the sergeant, Brink said.

Brink said the “situation escalated” and that Lee punched the sergeant in the face.

“The driver was subsequently provided lodging at the Jefferson County Jail on what should have been a Puffer Warning,” Brink said in a news release. “The Sergeant had no intention of issuing a summons and the usual reaction he had received from the five previous drivers was a thank you for the warning.”