A former Colorado sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday for the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man who had called 911 for assistance during a mental health crisis in 2022.
In February, a jury found the former deputy, Andrew Buen, guilty of criminally negligent homicide after declining to convict him on the more serious charge of second-degree murder in the death of Andrew Glass.
The case highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces in crisis intervention, leading to changes in officer training and a $19 million settlement for Mr. Glass’s parents.
Before sentencing, Mr. Buen addressed the judge and the victim’s family, expressing deep regret. “I wish I could take it all back,” he said, noting that he did not recognize the gravity of his actions at the time.
Mr. Glass’s mother, Sally Glass, challenged Mr. Buen's expression of remorse, stating in a phone interview, “He got away with murder,” and emphasized that monetary compensation could not replace her son.
Mr. Buen was also previously found guilty of reckless endangerment related to the incident, and a jury could not reach a verdict on a second-degree murder charge, which could have resulted in a maximum sentence of 48 years. This led to a second trial, which lasted two weeks.
Judge Catherine J. Cheroutes of Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District Court sentenced Mr. Buen to serve 120 days for the reckless endangerment charge concurrently with his three-year sentence for criminally negligent homicide. She remarked that the incident involved an abuse of power rather than a mere mistake.
On the night of June 10, 2022, Mr. Glass called 911 after his Honda Pilot became stuck on an embankment near Silver Plume, Colorado. During the call, he expressed feelings of panic and fear, stating that he needed help.
Five law enforcement agencies responded and, after over an hour of negotiation, Mr. Glass was confronted by officers who attempted to persuade him to exit the vehicle and drop a knife he possessed. Body camera footage showed various interactions between Mr. Glass and the officers.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Buen broke the passenger-side window with a baton, leading to an altercation in which Mr. Buen shot Mr. Glass five times, resulting in his death at the scene.
Legal representatives for Mr. Glass’s family argued that the officers escalated the situation unnecessarily. Ms. Glass stated that the body camera footage demonstrated the excessive force used by Mr. Buen, emphasizing that it should serve as a lesson against poor policing practices.
Mr. Buen was reinstated to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office after the incident but was terminated in November 2022 following his indictment.
Before sentencing, Judge Cheroutes pointed out the disparity in sentencing for police officers who kill, noting that the judicial system typically imposes severe penalties in such cases.