Man sentenced to 35 years for Greeley Police attack outside shel

A man was sentenced to more than three decades in prison for attacking police officers outside a Greeley shelter three years ago.

On Jan. 10, 2023, officers with the Greeley Police Department responded to a cold weather center in the city due to reports that a man was assaulting staff and other individuals, according to the 19th Judicial District Attorney's Office. The man, Joshua Minteer, was reportedly also threatening to kill responding police officers.

After arriving at the shelter, police chased Minteer on foot. He then "attacked one of the officers with a metal file, striking him in the chest," the DA's office said. This did not result in serious injuries due to the officer's ballistic vest, according to the agency.

Minteer "continued to fight officers and kicked another officer in the face," the DA's office said. He was later arrested.

In September of this year, Minteer, now 33, was convicted of several charges stemming from the 2023 attacks. He was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder of a peace officer, second-degree assault of a peace officer, third-degree assault, harassment and resisting arrest.

Minteer was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

“These two officers were simply doing their job that night,” Deputy District Attorney Mikaela Fatzinger said in a release. “This defendant’s violent actions could have easily resulted in the death of a police officer. We are thankful for the courage and professionalism of these officers and for the jury’s decision to hold this defendant accountable.”