A former Clear Creek County sheriff’s sergeant is not going to serve any jail time for his position within the killing of 22-year-old Christian Glass, a Boulder man who was shot by police after he referred to as 911 for assist whereas caught on the facet of the highway and experiencing a psychological well being disaster.
Kyle Gould, 37, pleaded responsible to failing to intervene in the excessive use of force by one other officer in Clear Creek district courtroom on Wednesday.
He was sentenced to 2 years of probation and a $1,000 high-quality for the misdemeanor cost. Gould should withdraw his Colorado Peace Officer Requirements and Coaching certification and is barred from ever working as a legislation enforcement officer or safety personnel beneath the plea deal.
Gould was initially charged with criminally negligent murder and reckless endangerment after he and former Clear Creek Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Buen had been indicted by a grand jury in November 2022.
Buen pleaded not responsible to second-degree homicide, reckless endangerment and official misconduct on Nov. 2.
Gould was not on the scene when Glass was shot on June 11, 2022, however he nonetheless bore accountability for Glass’ demise, Chief Deputy District Legal professional Steve Potts advised the courtroom Thursday.
Glass referred to as 911 after crashing his automobile on an embankment in Silver Plume and advised the dispatcher he was afraid of “skinwalkers” and folks chasing him, in keeping with earlier reporting.
Buen was amongst seven legislation enforcement officers from a number of companies who responded to the decision and spent an hour attempting to coax Glass out of his automobile whereas he was experiencing delusions and paranoia.
Officers escalated the scenario and made it worse, Potts mentioned, and when Buen contacted his supervisor, Gould, Gould licensed the actions that led to Glass’ demise.
“Mr. Gould had the chance to stop this,” Potts mentioned. “All of the legislation enforcement officers on the scene had the chance to stop this, and the actual fact is that they didn’t. If that they had, we wouldn’t be right here right this moment.”
Whereas Gould was not bodily current on the scene, Potts added, his authority was current.
“I believe all of the officers who had been there in all probability bear some accountability for the demise of Christian Glass,” Potts mentioned.
Glass’ dad and mom, Simon and Sally Glass, spoke by tears about how the lack of their son has impacted their lives.
Makes an attempt by legislation enforcement to cowl up what occurred to Christian Glass marred his household’s capability to grieve, Simon Glass mentioned in courtroom.
“As an alternative of grieving and maybe celebrating his brief life, we had been shocked and confused,” Simon Glass mentioned. “Christian’s brutal torture and homicide has destroyed our household. It can by no means be the identical.”
Sally Glass mentioned her son had gotten caught on rocks and simply needed assist.
“I hope that Mr. Gould now and all through his life will take into consideration being kinder and extra compassionate to folks which can be in bother,” she mentioned.
The Glass household has already settled a document $19 million lawsuit in opposition to the state of Colorado and three native legislation enforcement companies in Christian Glass’ demise.
Gould’s lawyer, Bob Weiner, mentioned there was no cover-up by Gould, however he wouldn’t debate the info of the case.
“We’ve accepted accountability,” he mentioned. “Mr. Gould is giving up his proper to be a peace officer and doesn’t need to struggle this out of respect for the Glass household and his need to maneuver on together with his life.”
Weiner mentioned Gould was at residence in mattress when he licensed the usage of power “in any case different negotiating instruments had been exhausted” and drove to the scene when he realized the scenario wasn’t being resolved.
Gould didn’t converse in the course of the listening to besides to reply questions from District Court docket Decide Catherine Cheroutes.
Gould may have been sentenced to as much as 364 days in jail, however the plea settlement really useful two years of probation.
Cheroutes mentioned whereas she thought a jail sentence could be acceptable, she wouldn’t impose one for the advantage of everybody with the ability to transfer on within the case.
“Hopefully this plea deters and teaches legislation enforcement about what the implications are of their actions,” Cheroutes mentioned.
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