On February 12, 2023 at approximately 4:45 p.m., Fort Collins Police received a call regarding a male who entered a homeowners backyard and made suicidal statements to that resident. While officers were en route to the call, the male who entered the backyard, Michael Cusick (dob: 05/10/1972), went to the 7-Eleven located at 430 Remington Street and broke one of the front windows to the store. Cusick entered the store and began to destroy it. Cusick threatened the store clerk with a large rock. Two good Samaritans were able to get the store clerk out and to safety.

Cusick then barricaded himself in the business and continued to cause damage inside. Cusick ended up lighting an item that was inside the store on fire. At this time, officers broke the store window that was close to the fire and Poudre Fire Authority Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire from the outside.

Due to the subject being barricaded, several members of the Fort Collins Police SWAT Team responded to assist. Officers ended up making entry into the store and Cusick approached officers with a glass beer bottle. Less-lethal munitions were used and eventually effective on Cusick. Cusick was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Cusick was booked into the Larimer County Detention Center on the following charges: Felony Arson, Felony Criminal Mischief, Felony Menacing, Resisting Arrest, and Obstruction.

“I’m grateful for the way our officers handled this situation and the way they resolved it. I’m also thankful for the collaborative efforts of our partners at Poudre Fire Authority to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent greater damage to the business,” said Lieutenant Mike Trombley who oversees the Fort Collins Police Early Week Nights Watch.

All charges are simply an accusation by law enforcement, and all parties must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.