Man arrested for allegedly threatening drag show performance in Steamboat Springs

Police arrested a Steamboat Springs resident Wednesday night after he allegedly threatened violence at a drag show at Schmiggity’s Live Music and Dance Bar.

John Clark, 28, faces charges including incitement to destroy life or property, harassment, bias-motivated crimes and menacing.

Just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, Steamboat Springs police officers were called to Schmiggity’s after a bouncer “called and reported that a man was threatening to ‘hit the venue’ because of the drag show taking place there,” an affidavit states.

The arrest warrant states that officers learned that patrons of Clark’s Sunpies Bistro allegedly heard Clark “threatening to ‘shoot up’ the drag show at Schmiggity’s.”

Officers then went to Sunpies to speak with a bouncer at the bar, who, according to the affidavit, also “reported that a male party threatened to shoot at Schmiggity’s because a drag show was taking place there.”

“The (Sunpies) bouncer stated that several people in the bar heard these threats and were concerned,” the warrant states. Police were also provided with a photo of the guest who allegedly made the threats.

Officers then returned to Schmiggity’s to determine if the person suspected of making the threats was inside. Staff told police he was not, but they were “concerned that the man may show up” when there were reportedly 80 people inside, the warrant states.

Police parked two marked cars in front of Schmiggity’s before a person reported to an officer that they believed Clark’s roommate was still at Sunpies. According to the arrest affidavit, an officer went back to the nearby bar and made contact with the person who allegedly was the roommate.

When officers asked if Clark had access to weapons, the man replied that he had “a hunting rifle at home” before “continuing” to say that he found Clark’s comments about the drag show “not OK.”

“(The roommate) stated that he tried to get (Clark) to stop talking about it, but (he) wouldn’t,” the affidavit states.

The roommate then returned to Clark’s apartment with the officers and was able to convince him to speak to the police.

According to arrest documents, Clark admitted to “making a comment about going to Schmiggity’s and causing a scene (and) stated that he may have made comments about going to Schmiggity’s and causing violence.”

The performance at Schmiggity’s, billed as “Fresh Drag Show, Kings, Queens & in Betweens,” began at 9 p.m. Tuesday night. According to arrest documents, police arrested Clark at his apartment shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Clark is scheduled to appear in Routt County District Court for a bail hearing on Tuesday.