CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. – The trial of former Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office deputy Andrew Buen, who is facing charges including second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Christian Glass in 2022, has entered its second week.
A judge recently denied a motion to dismiss the case against Buen, who is also charged with official misconduct and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors allege that Buen fatally shot Glass after breaking his car window, using bean bag rounds and a Taser on him, before shooting him five times in the chest during an encounter in Silver Plume.
Defense attorneys argue that Glass was not experiencing a mental health crisis, contending instead that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The jury will ultimately decide whether Buen’s use of lethal force was excessive and unreasonable. The trial is set to continue with the defense presenting more witnesses.
In November 2022, a grand jury indicted Buen and his supervisor, former deputy Kyle Gould, who was not present during the incident. Gould, who pleaded guilty to “duty to report use of force by peace officers – duty to intervene,” was ordered to pay a fine and placed on probation. He also withdrew his certification and is prohibited from working as a law enforcement officer or security guard in Colorado.
The District Attorney’s Office later charged six other officers who were at the scene of Glass’ death for failing to intervene. In May 2023, the Glass family reached a $19 million settlement with Clear Creek County and several law enforcement agencies involved in the incident, marking the largest police misconduct settlement in Colorado history.
As part of the settlement, Clear Creek County has implemented a crisis response team to handle calls, reflecting efforts to address concerns raised by the incident. The case continues to draw attention and spark discussions about police conduct and accountability in the community.