Sandy MaloneSilver Plume, CO – Authorities have released bodycam video of the fatal officer-involved shooting of 22-year-old Christian Glass in June while he was suffering a mental health crisis (video below).
Glass crashed his car into an embankment in Silver Plume late on the evening of June 11 and called 911 for help, Colorado Public Radio (CPR) reported.
Police said that Glass sounded mentally unstable, paranoid, and very frightened.
He told the 911 operator that his car was in a “trap” in a bush and didn’t feel safe, the video showed.
“I’m stuck in a dangerous place, and I will be killed,” Glass told the dispatcher.
“I’m in a 2007 Honda Pilot. I will not be fine on my own,” he said in the recording of the call. “You’re sending someone right? You tracked my location? My car is stuck under a bush… I love you. You’re my light right now. I’m really scared. I’m sorry.”
As the 911 call progressed, it appeared Glass might be hallucinating, the video showed.
“I’m going to have to kill two Skinwalkers. Can you stay on the phone with me?” he asked the 911 operator.
“Are there any weapons that you’re aware of?” the dispatcher asked.
“I have a weapon on me, and I will throw them out the window as soon as an officer gets here,” Glass told her.
Family members said the 22 year old was an amateur geologist and the “weapons” in his vehicle were rock knives and a hammer from a recent trip to Utah to dig rocks, CPR reported.
“I have two knives and a hammer and a rubber mallet,” he told the emergency dispatcher. “I’m not dangerous. I’ll keep my hands completely visible. I understand this is a dodgy situation.”
The dispatcher warned responding deputies that Glass had weapons, the video showed.
“I’m not having any luck clearing this party and he’s not making much sense,” the dispatcher told the deputies.
When Clear Creek County sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, Glass offered to throw his weapons out the window, the video showed.
But deputies ordered Glass to get out of his vehicle instead.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies responded to the scene and in the videos, Colorado State Police troopers are heard saying they didn’t think they had any reason to force contact with the driver.
During the standoff, a state trooper can be heard on his dash camera video asking what the plan is and why Clear Creek deputies don’t just leave if Glass isn’t wanted for a crime, KDVR reported.
“Can you ask Clear Creek what their plan is?” a state police sergeant asked over the radio in the video. “If there is no crime and he’s not suicidal or homicidal or a great danger, then there’s no reason to contact him.”
“Is there a medical issue we’re not aware of?” the sergeant asked.
“No,” a trooper responded.
“If there’s no crime and he’s not suicidal, homicidal or a great danger, then there’s no reason to contact him,” the sergeant said in the video.
But deputies continued to attempt to get Glass to step out of his truck for another 70 minutes, KDVR reported.
The video showed Glass had his hands up and said he didn’t feel safe getting out of his vehicle.
He followed officers’ commands and removed the keys from the ignition and put them on the dashboard, CPR reported.
“Please push me out, drag me out, I’ll follow you to a police station,” Glass told the officers in the video. “I’m so scared.”
“You need to step out of the car now. Step out of the car,” a deputy ordered Glass. “That is a lawful order. Step out of the car now or you’ll be removed from the vehicle.”
Glass remained in his vehicle with the windows up through the confrontation and was seen making a heart-shape with his hands on multiple occasions.
Video showed a deputy climbed on the hood of Glass’ vehicle at one point and shined a flashlight at him.
Then he drew his service weapon and pointed in the driver’s direction, CPR reported.
Deputies then attempted to break the car window and that was when Glass picked up the knife.
“He’s got a knife in his hand!” an officer said in the video. “Watch crossfire, watch crossfire.”
Glass kept his grip on the knife while law enforcement officers smashed the passengers window and yelled commands at him, the video showed.
“You need to drop that knife!” officers shouted.
Then officers deployed bean bag rounds into the car in an effort to gain control of the driver, CPR reported.
Glass started screaming and a deputy called for a Taser to be deployed, the video showed.
An officer deployed his Taser and struck Glass, who began squirming and screaming but he still refused to drop his knife.
“You can save yourself!” Glass yelled in the video. “You can still save yourself! Lord hear me. Lord hear me.”
Then a Georgetown marshal reached through one of the broken windows into the vehicle to try to gain control of Glass and the suspect swiped at him with the knife.
Law enforcement officials said a deputy, fearing for the marshal’s life, opened fire and fatally shot Glass, CPR reported.
5th Judicial District District Attorney Heidi McCollum is reviewing the case to determine whether it should go before a grand jury to consider charges against any of the law enforcement officers, KDVR reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content:
Holly Matkin