Boulder man walks home with police after September assault

Marius Suffian ended his shift Tuesday afternoon at a Boulder supermarket and left the store to head home. However, instead of being driven by a family member or friend, as he has done for the past month since being assaulted, a crowd of police officers greeted him outside to walk the half-mile mile home.

On Sept. 23, Suffian was heading home from work when a suspect jumped out with a stick, approximately 1/4 inches in diameter, and began hitting Suffian in the face near his eyes, according to an arrest affidavit.

During the assault, Suffian was hit multiple times before the stick broke due to the force of the blows, witnesses told police. Suffian was then hit approximately 15 more times with the remainder of the stick while he was on the ground, according to the affidavit.

When police arrived on scene near the intersection of Carbon Place and Junction Place, they saw Suffian sitting on the ground with blood on his face. Police then identified Derek Jordan, 43, as the suspect, who at the time of officers’ arrival was restrained by a bystander. Police arrested Jordan, and he has since been charged with first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, according to the affidavit.

Suffian was then taken to the hospital with what police later determined to be a serious bodily injury, according to the affidavit. At the time of the assault, Suffian was determined to be an at-risk person under the law.

On Oct. 10, Jordan was released from Boulder County Jail on a cash option bond of $5,000. With news of his release, Suffian said he’s been scared of being assaulted again.

“Stay away from this guy,” Suffian said. “I think he’s extremely violent.”

At Jordan’s initial bond hearing, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office requested that the judge in the case set a secured bond at $75,000. The judge assigned a $50,000 secured bond with a $5,000 cash option.

Boulder County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Shannon Carbone said several conditions were imposed as part of the bond, including a requirement that the defendant report to Pre-trial Services within 24 hours; make no contact with the victim; possess no weapons; and continue mental health treatment and medication.

Carbone added that if Jordan fails to appear for court, a warrant will be issued and the bond would be subject to forfeiture.

“Our office will continue to fight for the victim and seek justice in this case,” Carbone wrote in an email. “The response by the police and the prosecution team has gone exactly as it should and the case itself is on the right track. We are committed to securing the right outcome.”

On Tuesday, Suffian was also greeted by Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett, State Rep. Judy Amabile, and his friend, Boulder police Sgt. Steve Faber.

“I’m glad to see a smile on his face today,” Faber said on Tuesday. “If he’s happy, I’m happy. This is a sliver of the police department, but the whole department is behind him and supports him and what a great family he has.”

Faber reminded Suffian throughout his walk home thatanytime he needed someone to walk with him to or from work, all he needed to do was call.

Suffian said he felt “extremely happy” to have the escort and support from police.