Man’s call for help ends in him getting shot by a Clear Creek deputy, body cam video sheds light on shooting
SILVER PLUME, Colo. (KRDO) -- Newly released body camera video raises questions about police tactics during a deadly encounter with a 22-year-old man stuck on a road and multiple law enforcement agents.
According to 9News, Christian Glass called 911 on June 10 after crashing his SUV into a bush on a road in Silver Plume. He told the dispatcher that skin-walkers, witches in Navajo culture, were trying to ambush him and other cars on the highway were "out to get him."
Glass told the operator he was scared, terrified, and saw people outside of his car.
9News reports the dispatcher warned responding deputies that Glass showed signs of paranoia. He also told the dispatcher if he got out of the car, he might be in danger.
Two Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office deputies were the first on the scene and, according to 9News, immediately asked Glass to step out of the car. He told the deputies he was terrified and scared but was willing to throw knives out the window.
Earlier, Glass had told the dispatcher he had two knives, a hammer, a rubber mallet, and rocks in his car.
The deputy declines his offer but continues ordering Glass out of the car. Instead, Glass tells officers he needs a push to get his car free and would follow them to a station if they wanted to talk.
Within the next six minutes, 9News reports a deputy threatened to break Glass's window. When he sees a knife, which Glass has already said he had, the deputy pulls out a handgun and holds Glass at gunpoint.
In the video, Glass throws the knife into the passenger seat and the deputy puts his gun away.
At the beginning of the call, responding officers and deputies go back and forth. One questioned if Glass was "on something." Another says in the first 10 minutes of the video that he doesn’t know if it’s “a psych issue or what.”
In the next 60 minutes, 9News reports more officers arrived and attempted a calmer approach to get Glass out of his car.
Glass shows an Idaho Springs officer a heart-shaped rock he said he purchased in Moab.
The marshal of the Georgetown Police Department calmly talks to Glass, offering him food, soda, and cigarettes. He also offers to contact Glass's family.
Still, Glass refuses to get out of the vehicle.
According to 9News, dashcam footage from Colorado State Patrol contains audio of a responding trooper and his sergeant questioning Clear Creek's reasons for making contact with Glass.
“Can you ask Clear Creek what their plan is? If there is no crime, and he’s not suicidal, homicidal, or a great danger, then there’s no reason to contact him. Is there a medical issue we’re not aware of?” the sergeant asked.
9News reports the trooper responded "no," and repeated to one of the responders on scene that his sergeant, "said there is no point in contacting him if he is not a harm to himself or anyone else."
Less than a minute after the trooper questioned Clear Creek's response, officers and deputies can be heard knocking and asking Glass to get out of the car.
Near the end of the video, 9News reports police, seemingly frustrated that the call is taking so long, decide to break Glass's passenger window.
This decision was made after a few minutes of discussing the "best method." An off-site member of the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office approved the move over the radio.
In the video, 9News reports Clear Creek Deputy Andrew Buen, who initially responded to the call and held Glass at gunpoint, and broke his window. That's when Glass picks up one of the knives.
Buen then fires non-lethal bean bag rounds at Glass, telling him to drop the knife.
He then deployed a Taser on Glass. While this was happening, the marshal of the Georgetown PD appears to reach inside the vehicle behind Glass.
When he does this, Glass turns and moves an arm in his direction.
That's when Buen fired five shots, killing Glass.
After he's shot, 9News said Glass appears to slash at himself with the knife before becoming motionless.
An autopsy has yet to be released by the Clear Creek County Coroner's Office, saying it couldn't be released pending an open investigation into the shooting. The Fifth Judicial District Attorney's Office also said it wouldn't comment on an open investigation.
During an on-camera investigation immediately after the shooting, Buen claimed he heard Glass threaten to kill officers after being tased. Buen said he fired the shots out of fear for the Georgetown Police marshal.
In a statement to 9News, Glass's family attorney said:
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 scene acted unconscionably and inhumanely
The Glass family further calls on the Fifth Judicial District, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, and the United States Attorney General’s Office to prosecute these officers to the fullest extent of the law. Justice so demands.
Rathod Mohamedbhai law firm
According to 9News, Glass's family is set to have a press conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Below is raw body camera footage obtained by 9News.
WARNING: The video contains graphic content including gunshots, violence, and graphic language.
