Las Animas County deputy remembered

People from all over Colorado gathered Thursday for a memorial service for Las Animas County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Russell, who died in a car accident in Trinidad earlier this month.

A procession wound its way from Comi Funeral Home to Trinidad High School’sDonnelly Gym, which is located near the corner of West Street and Stonewall Avenue in Trinidad.

Members of law enforcement from across the state traveled to Trinidad for the 10 a.m. service to pay their respects to Deputy Russell.

Charleen Gonzales, who is one of Russell’s friends, said she will remember Russell as a fun-loving person.

“I mean great guy. (He) always had you laughing and joking and just a really awesome guy,” she said.

Las Animas County Sheriff James Casias said is was proper to have Russell’s service at a school since he loved the students.

“You know his stature with kids, they just looked up on him. He just looked so cuddly. He was like a big teddy bear,” he said.

The 44-year-old deputy died earlier this month in a crash on Stonewall Avenue near Prospect Street in Trinidad. Deputy Russell wasdriving his Sheriff’s Office vehicle when he veered and crashed into the front of an empty vehicle, before his vehicle rolled onto its side.

Russell was on-duty, but was not responding to a call at the time.

Flags flew at half-staff in the state in honor of the deputy.