UPDATE: Deadly shooting of Springs man by Trinidad police officer ruled justified

Third Judicial District Attorney Frank Ruybalid says a Trinidad police officer was justified in using deadly force against a Colorado Springs man.

Todd Jamal Dye, 20, died in the April 24, 2015 shooting. He was shot by police officer Ron Arlint.

In a letter that was sent to the Trinidad Police Department, Ruybalid said in part “Based on my conclusions of the facts in this incident, and a review of the applicable law, my office will not commence a prosecution against Ofc. Arlint based on his use of deadly force in the incident which resulted in Mr. Dye’s death. I consider this investigation to be completed, and my decision in this regard to be final, not subject to reconsideration or further review.”

The officer who shot Dye was wearing a body camera, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said in its report that the video was a crucial part of the investigation. “From viewing the video obtained from Ofc. Arlint’s body cam, it is obvious suspect Todd Jamal Dye refused to comply with Ofc. Arlint’s lawful orders and chose to confront Ofc. Arlint with a deadly weapon, pointing a loaded semi-automatic pistol at Ofc. Arlint forcing Ofc. Arlint to engage Todd Jamal Dye with deadly force,” the report said.

The shooting happened at the Almar Trailer Park in the 1500 block of E. Main Street.

Police say that at 9:18 a.m. on the day of the shooting, they received a report of an intruder in a vacant trailer at the park.

The Police Department says the responding officer was searching the trailer and found Dye in one of the rooms inside.

Police say the officer told Dye to get on the ground, which he did. They say that as the officer began to use his radio to update the communications center, Dye jumped up and ran.

Police say the officer told Dye to stop. They say Dye then turned around and pointed a gun at the officer. This is when police say the officer shot Dye. They say the officer then called an ambulance.

Dye was taken to Mt. San Rafael Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Ruybalid said the investigation would have gone on a lot longer had it not been for the body camera. He said the body camera was significant because it showed why Arlint used deadly force.

“If there was one single piece of evidence that probably carried more weight than everything else it would be the body camera video because that’s the only thing that shows me what the officer saw when he made the decision to use deadly force,” said Ruybalind.

While Ruybalind said the video was significant, he waited until results from the autopsy were in to confirm that Arlint did not use excessive force. The autopsy found Arlint fired two shots into Dye.

The CBI said Dye was wanted for contempt of court and absconding from a community corrections facility at the time of the shooting.

Dye had pleaded guilty to a burglary that took place last September. He was caught on surveillance video stealing cameras worth thousands of dollars from the home of two photographers. They said they were shocked to learn about the shooting.

“Just a couple weeks ago, he was sentenced and put in Comcor. The judge gave him three years to get his life back in order, get an education, job, hold a job, that kind of thing,” Joe Randall said. “And then the next thing we heard was that he was the one shot in Trinidad by the police.”

Joe and Kimmie Randall attended Dye’s sentencing. They said he told the judge he would turn his life around.

“I was hopeful,” Kimmie Randall said. “You never want somebody that young to end up in the system and to make the wrong choices. You want them to better themselves and become a good adult.”

Their thoughts are now with his family and the officer involved.

The officer who shot Dye was placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting. He has since returned to work.