A Fort Lewis College student was briefly detained by police last month after reportedly using an empty fast food cup to hit the hand and phone of a man celebrating the acceptance of a Turning Point USA chapter on campus.
The incident occurred Nov. 7 just after a student government meeting where the Turning Point chapter was accepted as an official student group, according to a police report detailing the altercation.
Student Nova, whose legal name is Megan Mollett, struck La Plata County resident Dave Peters with an empty Taco Bell cup after the meeting adjourned, according to the report. Mollett’s pronouns are they/them, the report said.
Peters, 66, is the former chair of the La Plata County Republican Central Committee.
According to the report, Peters began recording a “booing and yelling” Mollett with his phone, holding it “approximately a foot away from the student's face.” Mollet reportedly then hit Peters’ hand and phone with the empty cup.
Peters was uninjured and his phone was not damaged, according to a supplemental narrative added to the report Nov. 14 by the same officer.
Mollett was temporarily detained by the officer before being let off with a warning. The incident was filed as “harassment,” and no charges were filed.
Mollett declined to comment Tuesday.
In the report, an officer said he informed Mollett they could be charged with assault or harassment for striking Peters. The officer said he allowed Mollett to rejoin their group of friends, but that Mollett needed to calm down.
“I told Mollett I understood tensions were high due to a politically motivated meeting that was happening, but they needed to take a breath and calm down,” the officer wrote.
A 7-second video was recorded following the apparent scuffle showing Mollett speaking with the officer. Mollett is shown holding their hands up, then walking off screen with the officer.
Peters reportedly told an officer over the phone on Nov. 14 that he did not wish to press charges but wanted the college to pursue disciplinary measures. If the college does not pursue disciplinary measures, Peters may consider legal action, the report said.
Peters told an officer during the same call that Mollett allegedly yelled expletives at Peters and “gave him the finger” before taking several steps toward Peters and “(swinging) at him, hitting his left hand.”
Peters did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
FLC spokesperson Nardy Bickel issued a written statement when asked for comment.
“Fort Lewis College does not comment on student conduct, as that information is protected under federal privacy law (FERPA),” the statement read. “However, I can say that the college takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and follows established disciplinary procedures.”
As the altercation between Mollett and Peters was unfolding, former FLC professor David Kozak was being filmed directing strong language – and the middle finger – at Turning Point supporters in the Student Union lobby.
In the video, Kozak appears to call Turning Point USA supporters “Nazis” and “fascists.”
“I’m not known for being subtle,” Kozak said in a Nov. 23 opinion piece sent to the Herald. “Now is not the time to be subtle. I own my viral tirade.”
Kozak wrote that his “profanity-laced tirade” was directed at a group of “MAGA nonstudent adults, one of whom was in an altercation with a student (either not captured on the clip or edited out).”
Tensions have been high on campus surrounding the group since Turning Point chapter President Jonah Flynn first attempted to gain official student organization status during an Oct. 29 Associated Students of Fort Lewis College meeting.
The chapter was initially denied in a 5-2 vote Oct. 29. More than 30 students spoke in opposition to the group joining campus during that initial meeting.
Following pushback from Flynn and other conservative students and community members, the student government voted unanimously Nov. 7 to reverse the decision.
epond@durangoherald.com
