Press Release: Charges Dismissed Against Officers in Christian Glass Case Spark Outrage
Clear Creek County, Colo. – In a disheartening development for advocates of police accountability, charges have been dismissed against two officers who were present when Christian Glass was shot and killed by a Clear Creek County Sheriff’s deputy over two years ago. Siddhartha Rathod Mohamedbhai, attorney for the Glass family, expressed profound disappointment, stating, "This isn’t fair. The people of Colorado should be outraged."
The dismissed charges, which pertained to alleged ‘Failure to Intervene’ under the Police Accountability Act, were against two officers from the Division of Gaming. Mohamedbhai criticized the legal loophole allowing the dismissal, as the law requires that all POST-certified officers must act to prevent unlawful acts by fellow officers. While not all law enforcement roles require POST certification, both officers involved are indeed POST certified.
"This situation undermines the intent of the legislation," Mohamedbhai lamented, arguing for a reevaluation of the statute to ensure accountability across all law enforcement officers, regardless of their position or certification status.
In a statement, the Colorado Department of Revenue, overseeing the Division of Gaming, extended condolences to Glass’s family and reiterated its commitment to preventing such tragedies. The department emphasized the importance of ongoing training in de-escalation and intervention for its POST-certified officers.
As for the deputy who shot Glass, he was found guilty of reckless endangerment, but a jury was hung on the second-degree murder charge, with a retrial scheduled for February.
Coalition to hold law enforcement accountable across the board is growing, with calls for legislative changes echoing throughout the community. "We must demand that our Colorado lawmakers revisit and fix this statute to hold all law enforcement officers accountable," Mohamedbhai asserted.
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