Testimony begins in deputy’s trial in Christian Glass killing

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — It’s been almost two years since Christian Glass was shot and killed by a Clear Creek County Sheriff’s deputy.

Opening statements started Friday in the trial of Andrew Buen, the former deputy accused of firing the shots that killed the 22-year-old, who had called 911 for help after he got his car stuck on the night of his death.

FOX31 heard from both the prosecution and the defense. They spoke about what they saw, heard and observed from the body camera video captured in the late hours of June 10, 2022.

“Upon arrival of responding to a motorist assist call, he was so focused on the wrong thing that nearly everything he did that evening escalated the situation, resulting in Christian Glass’ death,” said Heidi McCollum, Fifth Judicial District attorney.

“He reaches out the back window and stabs at the chief. That is the point my client fired shots,” said Buen’s attorney, Carrie Slinkard. “Not before that, but as soon as that driver turned around in the car and tries to stab through an open window in the back.”

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Glass’ mother and father sat in the front row of the courtroom as they listened to prosecutors and defense attorneys argue about whether Glass was in fear for his life during a mental health crisis or if he was a deadly threat to deputies.

”He spent the last hour and a half of his life in absolute fear. Keep in mind throughout this trial: Christian Glass was the one who called for help. He mistakenly thought when he needed assistance, the police would do just that,” the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors argued to the jury Friday that the actions of the former deputy, who shot Glass five times, were aggressive, and he was hostile from the moment he arrived on the scene.

Buen’s defense attorney argued Buen did the best he could do with someone who was not responding to commands and potentially under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The defense attorney suggested he had multiple weapons in the car at the time.

“My client’s reaction when he sees the knife sitting in his (Christan’s) lap was to pull his gun as they were trained to do,” Buen’s defense attorney said. “Now, the DA’s office said it’s no need for this. He’s sitting in his car. He’s not a threat. He doesn’t have a seatbelt on. He doesn’t know if the door is opened or unlocked. Police get ambushed all the time.”

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Two witnesses were also called on Friday: a 911 operator and an assistant director for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

The former deputy is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree official misconduct and reckless endangerment. The trial is scheduled to resume Monday starting at 8:30 a.m.

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