By Vince Phillips
In Salida, one man’s pursuit of independence has ended in unimaginable tragedy. Paul Brandt, born in 1969 and burdened with mental and physical challenges from an early age, spent much of his life institutionalized in Cripple Creek before finding solace and support in 2013 within the Starpoint family in Salida. You might have spotted him around town—a painfully thin figure, his belt jingling with a giant batch of carabiners and keys, pedaling a bicycle with an unusually high seat, lingering at local businesses in hopes of a friendly chat. Social interactions didn’t always come easy for Paul, but his dream of living on his own finally materialized when he secured his own apartment. That dream, however, has unraveled into a nightmare from which he may never recover.
The turning point came on December 14, 2025, in a heated altercation at the Park Apartments. According to Salida Police Department Incident Report #25-0905, two officers responded to reports of a fight. Paul, an at-risk adult with learning disabilities, had confronted his neighbor, 23-year-old Conar Mathews. The two had a strained relationship spanning more than six months. On that day, Conar was sitting outside his apartment, drinking beer and playing with his unleashed pitbull by throwing a frisbee. Paul, trained to be a rule follower at Starpoint(his supportive living program), chastised Conar for drinking at 10:30 in the morning and not leashing his dog.
Paul Brandt was Gifted a Coin by the Salida Police Department, just weeks before his Injuries
Tensions escalated quickly. Conar admitted to officers that he called Paul a “retard,” a slur that provoked Paul to raise his fists and swing at Conar’s head with his right hand. Conar ducked, grabbed Paul by the legs in what he described as a defensive move, and caused Paul to fall backward onto his buttocks—a maneuver akin to a wrestling double knee takedown. Paul’s frail frame took the impact. A heroic neighbor witnessed the incident and separated the two before it worsened. Both Paul and Conar’s relayed the same narrative of the events, as did the peacemaking neighbor. Officers noted a scrape on Paul’s left elbow but no other visible injuries. Paul told Officers he wasn’t hurt. Conar initially tried to press charges against Paul but was talked out of it by a Salida Police Officer. Both parties ultimately declined to pursue charges, agreeing to stay away from each other.
This incident didn’t arise in a vacuum. Over the summer of 2025, Paul had called 911 dozens of times to report loud music, parties, and other suspicious activity at the address Conar shared with Mountain Mail Reporter Guinnevere Stropes. These repeated complaints fueled the ongoing friction between the neighbors.
Paul Brandt flanked by Salida Police Officers, shortly after the 12/14/25 Incident with Conar Mathews, who looks on from the right-hand side of the frame.
The true extent of the damage emerged days later. On December 20, 2025, Paul was taken to the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center’s emergency room, complaining of hip pain. X-rays of his hip and pelvis showed no injuries. But by December 23, a more sensitive CT scan revealed multiple fractures to his pelvis and a lacerated spleen. Hospital staff contacted police, suspecting the injuries stemmed from the December 14 altercation. Salida Police Officers interviewed Paul, who believed the fight had caused his injuries. The on-duty nurse noted that if the fractures were present on December 20, they should have appeared on the X-rays, leaving uncertainty about whether they were absent then or misread. Despite this, the ER doctor later stated that the pelvis and other injuries were consistent with the incident with Mathews. Such injuries can have a delayed onset. A Starpoint nurse highlighted that after the altercation, Paul never rode his bike or left his apartment again. He was discovered nearly a week later by a neighbor, crouched on his bed, in great pain and unable to move.
The police investigation concluded without charges, as they couldn’t definitively link the injuries to the fight.
Paul’s story, however, extends far beyond the police report. Weighing just 110 pounds and frail from years of challenges, he faced off against Conar, a 5’10”, robust 180-pound man who acknowledged to officers he was a convicted felon who had spent 4 years in jail. Under the law, Paul was seen as the aggressor for throwing the first punch, allowing Conar to claim self-defense. No arrests were made, but Conar and his roommate were soon evicted. Conar’s moment of rage has left irrevocable damage: Paul has endured complications from his injuries, leading to multiple hospitalizations. He was relocated to a Starpoint facility in Canon City, where he struggles to regain mobility. His beloved apartment in Salida has been cleared and re-rented, thus eliminating any chance of returning to the routine that brought him joy: cycling through Salida and chatting with familiar faces.
Who won in all this? No one. Everyone loses in this tale of misplaced confrontation and inadequate protection. Paul has lost his independence, his mobility, and his sense of community. He is now isolated, alone, and wheelchair-bound in Canon City. The police strictly followed the law, which places the majority blame on whoever swings first. They realize this seems unfair to the general public, but their hands are tied. The broader Salida community loses a gentle soul who, despite his struggles, added a unique thread to the town’s fabric. Conar will have to live with his actions, which irreparably harmed one of the most vulnerable among us.
Conar and his roommate were evicted from their apartment, while Paul was evicted from his life. Somehow, this does not seem like fair trade.
Justice feels elusive here, but I suggest an unorthodox way to show Paul Salida cares. Paul cherished his collection of carabiners, and a commemorative coin gifted him by the Salida Police before this incident. Please bring your old carabiners and funky commemorative coins, especially related to first responders, to a collection jar at Dragonfly Gifts, 221 F Street in Salida. Or leave a note or card wishing Paul well. Reach out to show Paul he’s not forgotten. Kindness matters.
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