Jurors Find Former Sheriff’s Deputy Guilty of Homicide in Christian Glass Case
Former Clear Creek County sheriff’s deputy, Andrew Buen, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the tragic killing of Christian Glass. The jury’s decision could lead to Buen facing up to three years in prison for the homicide conviction, a significantly lesser sentence compared to what he could have received for a second-degree murder charge.
This verdict came after Buen’s second jury trial, as the first jury was unable to reach a decision in the initial trial. Buen’s conviction this time was solely for second-degree murder, unlike the previous trial where he was only convicted of reckless endangerment.
After the guilty verdict was read, Buen was visibly distraught, with his head in his hands. The jury deliberated for approximately seven hours before delivering their decision.
The fatal incident occurred on June 10, 2022, when Glass, who was in a mental health crisis, called 911 for help after his car got stuck on a rock in Clear Creek County. Despite efforts from law enforcement officers to coax him out of the vehicle, the situation escalated when Buen decided to forcefully remove Glass from the car, leading to a tragic outcome.
During the trial, prosecutor Joseph Kirwan highlighted that Glass posed no immediate threat and had offered to surrender his knives before the shooting occurred. Buen’s defense attorney, Mallory Revel, argued that Buen acted in self-defense when he believed Glass was about to harm another officer.
A subsequent grand jury investigation revealed that Glass had not committed any crime and had acted in panic and self-defense before his untimely death. The law enforcement agencies involved reached a settlement with Glass’ parents in 2023, emphasizing the tragic nature of the incident.
Buen was terminated from his position following the indictment, while his supervisor, former Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kyle Gould, faced consequences for failing to intervene in the excessive use of force during the incident.
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