Colorado Springs police confirmed that former School District 49 board member Ivy Liu was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony menacing with a weapon, second-degree criminal tampering and false imprisonment. 

Her first appearance hearing in district court is scheduled for Oct. 12. 

Liu, who vacated her seat on the board before the end of her term in November, was embroiled in conflict on the board leading up to her departure that ended with her being disqualified for reelection.

The series of events that led to Liu’s departure from the board began in February when the board voted 3-2, with member Jamilynn D’Avola siding with Liu against redistricting, to redraw the boundaries for its five director districts, a statutory obligation to ensure each director district has similar size population. That resulted in Liu’s residence no longer falling within the district she represented and thus made her ineligible to run for reelection.

Court rules against former District 49 board member seeking election

If Liu moved into another director district before November, she would lose out on the final months of her term but be eligible for election to a new one. She chose to vacate her seat and run for election.

Liu launched a campaign for a new director district, using a new address. The district questioned the legitimacy of the move and said she was disqualified for not receiving enough supporting signatures on her candidate petition.

Former School District 49 board member petitions district to certify her on November ballot

Liu then filed a petition in 4th Judicial District Court to halt the ballot certification process and deem her eligible for election after election official Lanette DePaul did not certify her candidacy because she lacked the minimum required number of supporting signatures. Liu’s residency status also was a point of contention, with district officials suggesting she did not live in the area that she sought to serve.

The court ruled for the district’s designated election official who disqualified Liu.

Before the reelection matter, some called for Liu’s resignation after she quoted Adolf Hitler in a social media post, which she said was an effort to urge people not to let history repeat itself.

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