Man arrested after threatening a police officer with knives

Courtesy: Pueblo Police Department

(PUEBLO, Colo.) – On May 8, 2024, at approximately 7:03 p.m., the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) responded to a report of a man in Bessemer Park in Pueblo who was harassing people in the park and yelling and screaming.

According to Pueblo Police, several adults and small children were in the park with the man when a PPD peace officer arrived and learned that the man had also approached a park ranger with a knife and demanded money.

The officer ordered the man to stop. He then turned about 20 feet away from the officer, presented her with two knives (one in each hand) and stared at her. Due to the large crowd in the area, the officer decided to avoid a confrontation.

The man was later identified as 42-year-old James Gilbert and was taken into custody by several other officers. Gilbert was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on charges of attempted aggravated robbery and criminal threatening.