Man killed by police after calling 911 because his car wasn't working
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Featured Image Credit: Rathod | Mohamedbhai LLC/Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office
In the early hours of 11 June, 22-year-old Christian Glass was shot by a police officer after calling 911 for help with his car.
At 11.21pm on 10 June, Clear Creek's County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a motorist in need of help in Silver Plume, Colorado.
That motorist was Christian Glass, a chef and artist, who during his 911 call said his car had 'got stuck in a really bad way' and that he needed help.
During the call he said he had two knives, a hammer and a rubber mallet in the car which he said he could throw out of the car when officers arrived to make them feel safe.
According to the police statement, however, Christian 'immediately became argumentative and uncooperative' when police arrived.
He was hit with beanbags, tasered and eventually shot dead at the scene after a situation which lasted for more than an hour.
Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office said after the situation, which lasted for over an hour, he 'eventually tried to stab an officer and was shot', with Christian being 'pronounced deceased on the scene'.
The autopsy report into Christian's death said he received five gunshot wounds to the chest and one to his right arm, with the coroner ruling that his death was a homicide caused by the gunshot wounds.
However, lawyers representing the Glass family allege that 'from beginning to end, the officers escalated and proactively initiated force'.
In a statement, they claimed there was 'no need' for the officers to threaten Christian or use force, arguing that 'the officers on the scene acted unconscionably and inhumanely'.
Bodycam footage from the officers shared by the Glass family lawyers shows them at Christian's car for more than an hour as he asks them to pull him out of his predicament.
Christian could be seen on camera praying for them not to break his windows, and at other times footage from the shooting shows Christian repeatedly making the heart sign at officers on the scene.
The footage later shows Christian being shot multiple times and his body being removed from the car.
The office of district attorney Heidi McCollum released a statement on the investigation into Christian's death saying they were 'working diligently to thoroughly review the evidence in this case'.
The statement also said it was 'not in the interests of justice and fairness' to rush proceedings and get to a quick resolution.
Full statement from Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office:
"On Friday evening June 10, 2022, at 11:21pm, the Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a call of a 'motorist assist' in the 600 block, of Main St. in Silver Plume.
"Deputies arrived and found a single vehicle, which appeared to have been involved in an accident.
"The driver and sole occupant, an adult white male, immediately became argumentative and uncooperative with the Deputies and had armed himself with a knife.
"Additional law enforcement officers arrived and for over an hour tried to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. "Deputies were able to break out the car windows and remove one knife. The suspect rearmed himself with a rock and a second knife.
"Deputies deployed lees-lethal bean bags, and Taser with negative results. The suspect eventually tried to stab an officer and was shot. The suspect was pronounced deceased on scene. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation are conducting the investigation.
"The Deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation."
UNILAD has contacted Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office for further comment.
