Former Clear Creek County sheriff’s sergeant, Kyle Gould, has been sentenced to two years of probation and a $1,000 fine for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Christian Glass. Gould pleaded guilty to official misconduct in Clear Creek district court on Thursday. As part of the plea deal, Gould must withdraw his Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training certification and is permanently barred from working as a law enforcement officer or security personnel.
The incident occurred on June 11, 2022, when Glass called 911 for help while experiencing a mental health crisis after crashing his car on an embankment in Silver Plume. Responding officers, including Gould’s colleague, Andrew Buen, spent an hour attempting to coax Glass out of his car. However, the situation escalated, leading to Glass being shot by police.
Although Gould was not physically present at the scene, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Potts argued that Gould still bore responsibility for Glass’ death as he authorized the actions that led to the shooting. Potts stated that all the officers present at the scene shared some responsibility for the tragic outcome.
During the court hearing, Glass’ parents, Simon and Sally Glass, expressed their grief and the impact their son’s death had on their family. They criticized the law enforcement response and the subsequent difficulties they faced in grieving for their son.
Gould’s attorney, Bob Weiner, acknowledged his client’s responsibility and stated that there was no cover-up involved. Gould, who was at home when he authorized the use of force, drove to the scene when he realized the situation was not being resolved peacefully.
District Court Judge Catherine Cheroutes acknowledged that a jail sentence would have been appropriate but decided against it to allow everyone involved to move forward. She expressed hope that the plea agreement would serve as a deterrent and educate law enforcement about the consequences of their actions.
The Glass family has already filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado and three local law enforcement agencies in connection with Christian Glass’ death.
