DENVER (AP) — A former Colorado sheriff’s deputy was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide on Thursday in connection with the shooting death of a distressed 22-year-old man who had called 911 for help after his car became stuck in a remote mountain community. The incident, which took place in June 2022, resulted in the death of Christian Glass and led to significant changes in law enforcement training related to responding to individuals in mental health crises as part of a $19 million settlement with Glass’s family.
The jury opted not to convict former Clear Creek County Deputy Andrew Buen of the more serious charge of second-degree murder. Buen, who stood with his head bowed as the verdict was read, was taken into custody and will remain jailed until his sentencing on April 14. Murder convictions against law enforcement officers are rare, with officers typically facing lesser charges or being acquitted for actions taken while on duty.
Despite the outcome, Glass’s mother expressed hope that the verdict would prevent similar tragedies in the future, stating, “Our son was murdered, and we pray that today’s verdict prevents another family from suffering as we have.”
The prosecution contended that Buen needlessly escalated the situation with Glass, who was exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis and was armed with a knife. The defense argued that Buen acted in self-defense to protect another officer. The trial marked Buen’s second legal proceedings, as a previous jury had convicted him of misdemeanor reckless endangerment but was deadlocked on murder and misconduct charges. Prosecutors decided to retry Buen for the second-degree murder charge with the support of Glass’s family.
While the district attorney noted that there were some disagreements with the verdict, she maintained that it held Buen accountable for Glass’s death and provided closure to the community. Another officer involved in the incident had previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
Following the shooting, Glass had reported being followed and exhibited signs of paranoia and hallucinations during the encounter with law enforcement. Body camera footage showed Glass refusing to exit his vehicle, prompting the fatal confrontation.
The officers attempted to apprehend Glass, firing bean bag rounds and using a Taser in an effort to get him out of his car. Despite these efforts, Glass remained inside the vehicle. Unexpectedly, he grabbed a knife that he had initially offered to surrender at the beginning of the interaction and threw it out of a broken rear window towards one of the officers. Responding to this action, Buen discharged his weapon five times, ultimately leading to Glass being shot. In his final moments, Glass could be heard pleading, “Lord hear me, Lord hear me.”
Sally Glass, the mother of the deceased, shared that her son was battling depression and had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. She emphasized that he was experiencing a mental health crisis during the encounter with law enforcement.
The resolution came in the form of a $19 million settlement in 2023, marking the largest payout in the state’s history regarding a police-involved fatality. Clear Creek County, the location of the shooting, agreed to implement a crisis response team and ensure that all deputies undergo training and certification in crisis intervention.
The state, which had three officers present at the time of the fatal incident, committed to developing a virtual reality training program for the Colorado State Patrol centered on de-escalation techniques in high-pressure situations involving officers from various agencies. The program’s primary focus is on empowering officers to intervene when they believe a colleague is overstepping or needs to disengage from a situation.
Data compiled by Stinson and fellow researchers revealed that since 2005, there have been 205 instances of nonfederal law enforcement officers being arrested for murder or manslaughter stemming from on-duty shootings. Out of these cases, 68 individuals were convicted of a crime. Notably, nine of them received sentences for murder, with the average term being 18 years and ranging from 81 months to life imprisonment. Numerous cases are still awaiting resolution.
Stinson noted that securing convictions on serious charges remains a challenge due to jurors’ hesitance to question officers’ split-second decisions in potentially volatile encounters. Despite advancements such as increased use of police body cameras and heightened public scrutiny, the pattern of limited convictions persists within law enforcement. Stinson expressed, “A decade ago, I would have anticipated more convictions, yet we observe that law enforcement practices endure. The landscape of policing evolves slowly.”
(Brown reported from Billings, Montana).
