EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — A case involving racial tensions between a Black family and their predominantly white neighbors has escalated to multiple restraining orders and now felony arrests.
On Monday, Courtney and Nicole Mallery were arrested on felony warrants and were each booked by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. The Mallerys were each expected to face two felony charges of stalking, according to online court records.
The exact details outlining the allegations against the Mallerys had not been released as of this publication.
For the past two years, the Mallerys have claimed people have targeted their farm, called Freedom Acres Ranch, through acts of vandalism and animal mutilation of their livestock.
In a statement sent to 9NEWS in December, the Mallerys outlined allegations against an El Paso County deputy, claiming he was instigating attacks.
“Unfortunately, there are still corrupt police and racist people out there who are trying to block minority farmers from using their agricultural land because of their race. In Colorado Springs, the Mallery’s are the most recent victims of this blatant racism and vitriol,” the statement from the Mallerys said.
According to online civil court records, Courtney Mallery has filed six restraining order applications against people in El Paso County in which he references vandalism on his property and attacks on his animals.
Records show a woman also applied for a restraining order against Mallery in December, claiming he was stalking and harassing her.
The arrests Monday prompted the NAACP to get involved.
“I would really hope that the El Paso County Sheriff's department and several others in rural areas understand that we're taking this very seriously,” said Portia Prescott, president of the Rocky Mountain NAACP.
“It needs to be taken a lot more seriously than they have taken it in the past,” Prescott said.
An online post that outlined the Mallerys' allegations of racism and claims of attacks on their farm prompted the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to issue a news release in which the agency denied allegations of racism.
“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office vehemently denies these allegations,” the release says.
The agency claims it responded to 170 calls and 19 complaints involving the Mallerys over the past two years.
“Each of these complaints were individually and thoroughly investigated,” the release says.
If you have any information about this story or would like to send a news tip, you can contact jeremy@9news.com.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
