A Colorado college student was detained earlier this month after striking an elderly man during a campus meeting on the approval of a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter.
According to a Fort Lewis College campus police report, Megan Elizabeth Hope Mollett was caught on camera and detained by a police officer after hitting local resident Dave Peters with an empty Taco Bell cup. The incident occurred during a celebration of the TPUSA chapter’s approval on November 7.
The altercation followed an emergency meeting of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College (ASFLC), which voted to approve the chapter. The decision came after the body had previously rejected senior Jonah Flynn’s proposal to register the group, a move that had stirred controversy on campus.
The police report categorized the incident as “harassment,” and Mollett was released with a warning.
The report notes that around 70 people attended the meeting, many with differing political views. It describes an “elderly male” in a red jacket approaching a student who was “booing and yelling.”
“The male pulled out his phone and began recording the student with his phone approximately a foot away from the student’s face,” the report states. “The male was identified as Dave Peters and the student, later identified as Megan Mollett—who goes by Nova and uses they/them pronouns—began to strike Peters’ phone and hand with an empty Taco Bell cup after he approached.”
Peters, 66, a former chair of the La Plata County GOP and retired Chevron executive, told Fox News Digital that he does not wish to press charges but wants the university to take disciplinary action against Mollett.
Megan Elizabeth Hope Mollett was caught on camera hitting local resident Dave Peters.
“After they adjourned the meeting and people started walking out, about 20 of us started clapping, and then a fair number of students began booing,” Peters said.
“Right after that, there was this 55- or 60-year-old man—later identified as a former Fort Lewis College professor—who came up to me and kept saying, ‘You’re a Nazi, you are a fascist,’ repeating it over and over,” Peters added.
Peters was referring to David Kozak, a retired Fort Lewis anthropology professor who was upset over the approval of the TPUSA chapter.
At the same time Mollett was being detained by police, Kozak was caught on camera yelling in reaction to the chapter’s approval. The ASFLC’s decision to reverse its earlier rejection apparently angered him, prompting Kozak to flip off the person filming and label TPUSA supporters as “Nazis.”
Peters is the former chair of the La Plata County GOP and a retired executive at Chevron Corporation.
Neither Mollett nor Kozak responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
The police officer who filed the report said he spoke with Mollett, who uses they/them pronouns, and others opposing TPUSA to calm down.
“I told Mollett I understood tensions were high due to a politically motivated meeting, but they needed to take a breath and calm down. I informed Mollett they could be charged with harassment or assault for striking Peters. After speaking with Mollett, I told them they could return to their group of friends, but needed to remain calm,” the officer said.
Mollett and Kozak’s reactions came after a turbulent few weeks for the TPUSA chapter at the liberal arts college.
Senior Jonah Flynn’s attempt to start the chapter sparked controversy, leading to a petition urging the student government to reject TPUSA. Shortly after the initial denial, a counter-petition supporting the chapter emerged, and the group was ultimately approved.
In response to Mollett’s actions, a Fort Lewis College spokesperson provided a statement to Fox News Digital.
The police officer who filed the report said he spoke with Mollett, who uses they/them pronouns, and others opposing TPUSA, urging them to remain calm.
“All Fort Lewis College students are expected to uphold the standards outlined in our Student Code of Conduct. The college affirms the importance of free speech while maintaining expectations for civility and safety,” a spokesperson said.
When asked if Mollett would face disciplinary action, the university declined to provide details.
“We don’t comment on student conduct, as that information is protected under federal privacy law (FERPA). However, I can say that the college takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and follows established disciplinary procedures,” the spokesperson added.
Peters, meanwhile, told Fox News Digital that he supported TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk’s approach.
“I believed in what Charlie Kirk was doing, and I believe his approach to engaging with people holding different views was not overly combative—it was just the right way to go. I believe in free speech,” Peters said.
