Lefthand Canyon Drive has reopened at Lee Hill Road and James Canyon Drive after being closed much of the day to allow Boulder County sheriff’s deputies to search for a suicidal person who may be armed, according to officials.

Boulder County Sgt. Vinnie Montez said that, with dark approaching, the search was called off for the night without the missing man being found. He said the sheriff’s department would re-evaluate in the morning, but that searchers did uncover indications of where the man may have gone.

The man — who officials say is in his early 20s — was reported missing Sunday night to Boulder police, and deputies found his car in a shooting area in Lefthand Canyon this morning around 10:30 a.m., according to Cmdr. Rick Brough with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials are telling people in the Lefthand area to use caution and report anything unusual to the police.



Brough said there was evidence in the car that the person was suicidal and armed. Scanner traffic indicated that investigators found a suicide note and an empty shotgun and ammunition box bought Sunday at a Sports Authority store in Superior.

Police believe the vehicle had been there overnight, but a witness reported seeing a person running from the area of the car, which prompted the search. A SWAT team and K-9 units searched the area, according to Brough. A negotiator also was put on standby.

Brough said witnesses reported a naked man running in Buckingham Park near where the suspect went missing, but officials now believe that man was swimming in the creek and is not the person they’re looking for, according to Brough.