On Thursday, November 20, 2014, at approximately 9:21 p.m., deputies with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Arapahoe County Treatment Center (ACTC), a community corrections facility located at 3265 West Girard Avenue, on a report of a physical disturbance involving several people. Upon arrival, the first deputy on scene encountered a combative subject being restrained by staff and other residents of the facility. The subject, later identified as:

John Rotzin
Age: 33

had a bloody face and was making incoherent statements. Mr. Rotzin refused to follow the deputy’s commands, continued to be physically aggressive towards him and others in the facility, and resisted efforts to be detained. Once he was restrained by deputies, Mr. Rotzin continued to struggle and make incoherent statements as he was being treated by paramedics for injuries sustained during the initial altercation. While being treated, Mr. Rotzin went into cardiac arrest and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

Preliminary investigation revealed that prior to 911 being called, Mr. Rotzin came out of his room into a common area where numerous other ACTC inmates and their families were visiting. As he walked across the room, Mr. Rotzin began randomly punching female visitors in the face. After a struggle with other inmates and facility staff, Mr. Rotzin was eventually restrained and carried to the entryway of the facility to await the arrival of deputies.

The cause of death is unknown at this time and the investigation continues.