Colorado officers charged in the Christian Glass killing
Denver, CO – The family of Christian Glass, the 22-year-old shot by police on June 11, 2022, is finally getting the justice they deserve. Last week, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on the results of the internal affairs review of the deadly incident in the Silver Plume area. Two former Clear Creek County sheriff’s deputies have been charged in the shooting death of Christian Glass, a troubled young man whose only fault was that he called 911 for help after his car got stuck. Deputy Andrew Buen is facing multiple charges including second-degree murder, while Deputy Kyle Gould was charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment.
The use of force was not within normal police procedures
The internal affairs report confirms what the Glass family and their lawyers have been saying all along. There was no need for the police to use violence against Mr.Glass who posed no threat to anyone.
An Internal Affairs investigation conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s office found the deadly use of force by Deputy Andrew Buen was not within Custer County Sheriff’s Office policy and procedure.
“The 72-page report painstakingly details Mr. Glass’s tragic loss of life, the excessive force against Mr. Glass, mistakes, and outright failures,” part of a statement from the Custer County Sheriff’s Office reads.
The police officers proactively initiated violence
According to the Glass family lawyers, from beginning to end, the officers escalated and proactively initiated force. “Christian had greeted the officers by making a heart sign with his hands. Christian, fully contained in his vehicle and presenting no threat, was eventually surrounded by seven officers with guns drawn (…) There was no need to threaten him with force; to draw guns; to break his car window; to fire beanbag rounds from a close distance; to tase him; to shoot him dead. From beginning to end, the officers on the scene acted unconscionably and inhumanely. The Glass family agrees with Colorado State Patrol’s on-scene assessment that Christian had committed no crime, posed no threat to himself or others, and there was no reason for continued contact. These officers took a gentle, peaceful soul and extinguished it,” the attorneys’ statement reads.
What constitutes excessive force in Colorado?
Experienced Denver police misconduct lawyers warn there’s a fine line between justified and unjustified use of force. Law enforcement agents in Colorado are allowed to use force to subdue a suspect resisting arrest. However, their use of force must be proportionate to the threat they or members of the public are faced with. If the officers have reason to fear for their lives or the safety of others they are authorized to use lethal weapons, but only after exhausting other means and after giving the suspect a warning.
If you or a loved one were injured following a brutal encounter with Colorado police, reach out to seasoned police brutality lawyers right away. Your lawyers will interview the witnesses and request body cam footage from the police officers involved. In the Christian Glass case, the footage clearly proved there was no need to force the man out of his vehicle, much less to do that after pointing their guns to his head.
If you were a victim of any type of abuse at the hands of Colorado police, you should contact an experienced civil rights lawyer at the Bryan&Terrill law firm in Denver to help you file a lawsuit.
Contact info:
333 W. Hampden Ave., #420B
Englewood, CO 80110
(720) 923-2333
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