What To Do If a Labor Day Weekend Bar Fight Leads to a Criminal Charge
Labor Day weekend in Colorado is supposed to be about firing up the grill, knocking back a few cold ones, and enjoying the last real weekend of summer. But environments packed with alcohol, high energy, and crowded bars can turn sideways in a split second. A wrong look, a spilled drink, or an escalating argument, and suddenly you’re in a brawl. Now the weekend is over, the dust has settled, and you’re staring down a serious criminal charge.
When the flashing lights show up, the police don’t care who started it or who was defending themselves. They see a chaotic scene, make snap judgments, and cuff whoever is left standing. If you were arrested or cited after a holiday weekend bar fight, you are facing a hostile legal machine that wants to lock you up and label you a violent criminal. You cannot afford to take this lying down.
1. Shut Your Mouth and Demand a Lawyer
The biggest mistake people make right after a bar fight is trying to explain their way out of a pair of handcuffs. You might think telling the cops "he hit me first" or "I was just protecting my buddy" will make them see reason. It won’t. The police are not your friends, and they are not looking for the truth—they are looking for admissions of guilt to seal their case. Everything you say will be twisted and used against you in a Colorado courtroom. Exercise your constitutional right to remain silent immediately. Tell them you want a lawyer, and don’t say another word.
2. Document Every Mark, Cut, and Bruise
Bar fights are fast and violent. In the heat of the moment, you were likely defending yourself or trying to neutralize a threat. If you suffered any injuries—even minor ones like scraped knuckles, a bruised rib, or a split lip—photograph them immediately. Take clear pictures in good lighting before they heal. These physical marks are crucial evidence that can support a defense of self-defense or defense of others. If there were witnesses who saw the other party instigate the fight, try to get their contact information before the bar cleans up and everyone vanishes.
3. Do Not Contact the Other Party
Your instincts might tell you to reach out to the other guy to smooth things over, apologize, or ask him to drop the charges. Absolutely do not do this. Any text message, social media DM, or phone call can be handed straight to the prosecutor and flagged as witness intimidation, harassment, or a flat-out confession. Stay completely away from the other individuals involved, stay away from the establishment where the altercation happened, and let your legal defense team handle all communication.
4. Hire an Aggressive Legal Shield
A conviction for third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, or menacing can derail your entire life, costing you your job, your freedom, and your clean record. The prosecution will try to portray you as a reckless aggressor, but we know there are two sides to every brawl. You need a battle-tested advocate who knows how to tear apart the state’s evidence, challenge unreliable witness testimonies, and fight aggressively for your rights.
Do not leave your future to chance or rely on a public defender who treats you like a file number. Law Offices of M. Colin Bresee will fight to protect your freedom and secure the best possible outcome.
Contact us today at (970) 614-0913 to get a protective, relentless legal champion in your corner.
