A student walked up to Englewood school resource officers around 8:24 a.m. on September 24 and reported suspected child abuse, setting off a two-day search that ended with a foot chase through Thornton and a felony arrest. Derek Jason Cobb, 33, now faces charges including sexual assault of a child and distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, after detectives say they found stolen guns and suspected narcotics inside his home.
How the Investigation Began
According to KDVR, the student's report to school resource officers that morning prompted Englewood detectives to go straight to Cobb's residence, though they were unable to reach him there. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the home, but Cobb was not located during the search, the station reported. The victim, identified only as a juvenile, reportedly knew the suspect, according to Noticias El Paso.
Inside the home, detectives seized multiple firearms, some of which had been reported stolen, along with suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia, the outlet reported, citing the same account. Cobb is barred from owning a gun because of a prior felony conviction, per the station's report. An arrest warrant for Cobb was issued out of Arapahoe County District Court as detectives worked to track him down.
Manhunt Ends With Foot Chase in Thornton
Investigators located Cobb's vehicle in Thornton on September 25 and kept surveillance on it overnight, according to the same KDVR account. The U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force — of which the Englewood Police Department is a member — was assigned to help locate and arrest him.
Around 3 a.m. on September 26, Thornton police officers moved in to arrest Cobb, successfully taking him into custody after a short foot chase, the station reported. He was booked into the Adams County Jail following the arrest. In a Facebook post, ThorntonPD wrote, “Proud to have helped our partners at Englewood PD and the U.S,” crediting the multi-agency effort that brought Cobb into custody.
Charges and Case Status
On September 30, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office formally charged Cobb with two counts of sexual assault of a child involving a pattern of abuse, child abuse causing serious bodily injury, and distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, according to Noticias El Paso. His bond was set at $150,000, per the same KDVR report.
Noticias El Paso noted that the charges remain allegations and that Cobb is presumed innocent unless he is found guilty in a court of law. The outlet also reported that both the victim and the officers investigating the case received psychological support given the seriousness of the allegations.
Statewide Data and Child-Protection Services
A 2014 Colorado Office of the State Auditor report said counties statewide received about 70,400 child abuse or neglect referrals in Fiscal Year 2013 and screened in about 28,700, or 41 percent, for investigation. Those figures cover referrals and screening decisions from that fiscal year; they are statewide context, not information about Cobb's case. As general context, Children’s Hospital Colorado says its Child Protection Team offers multidisciplinary consultation, assessment, treatment and referral services for children and adolescents who may have experienced abuse or neglect. The hospital page does not indicate whether the team was involved in Cobb’s case.
Englewood school resource officers were credited with creating an environment where students feel safe sharing concerns and seeking help, a factor that directly led to the student's initial report. Investigators have not disclosed further details about the minor, the school involved, or the specific conduct underlying the allegations.
