Yareni Rios-Gonzalez (2022)
Overview
On September 16, 2022, a 911 caller reported that a woman had been tailgating their vehicle and had displayed a gun. Platteville Colorado Police Department Sergeant Pablo Vazquez located Rios-Gonzalez's car and stopped her just past a set of railroad tracks, leaving Vazquez's vehicle on the the tracks at the crossing. Rios-Gonzalez was handcuffed and Fort Lupton Colorado Police Department Officer Jordan Steinke placed her in Vazquez's vehicle, which was later struck by a train.[1]
Rios-Gonzalez suffered nine broken ribs, a fractured sternum, a broken arm, and a broken leg.[2]
Rios-Gonzalez was charged with felony menacing.[3]
In September 2022, Vazquez was placed on paid administrative leave.[4][5]
Steinke was placed on administrative leave.[1]
In October 2022, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation completed their investigation and sent the results to the District Attorney.[5]
Vazquez was charged with five misdemeanor counts of Reckless Endangerment, and one count each of Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway, Careless Driving, and Parking Where Prohibited.[6]
Steinke was charged with felonies for Criminal Attempt to Commit Manslaughter and Second Degree Assault, and a misdemeanor for Reckless Endangerment.[6]
In December 2022, Vazquez was fired.[1]
Rios-Gonzalez filed a lawsuit against the officers.[1]
On February 23, 2023, the District Attorney dropped the second-degree felony assault charge against Steinke.[1]
On March 2, 2023, Steinke pleaded not guilty.[7]
On June 30, 2023, Rios-Gonzalez pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor menacing charge and received a one-year deferred sentence.[8]
On July 28, 2023, Steinke was found guilty of reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. The judge said the prosecutor did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Steinke "knowingly intended to harm" and found her not guilty of attempted reckless manslaughter.[9]
On August 1, 2023, Steinke was fired.[10]
On September 15, 2023, Steinke was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation.[11]
Officers Involved
Official Reports
Additional Sources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 DA drops felony charge against Fort Lupton police officer in train crash case, CBS Colorado, 2023-02-25
- ↑ Jeremy Jojola, Woman hit by train while in police car takes steps toward lawsuit, 9 News, 2022-09-28
- ↑ Gina Martinez, Two Colorado police officers charged after train hit patrol car with handcuffed woman inside, CBS News, 2022-11-07
- ↑ Steve Staeger, CBI investigating officers who left suspect in squad car on train tracks, 9 News, 2022-09-21
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brian Maass, Police officer who parked on train tracks called 'incompetent' by fellow officers, demotion recommended at previous department, CBS Colorado, 2022-10-27
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Officers, woman charged in September train collision case, Weld County District Attorney, 2022-11-07
- ↑ Officer who put 20-year-old in patrol car hit by train pleads not guilty, CPR News, 2023-03-02
- ↑ Wilson Breese, Woman in police car hit by train pleads no contest to misdemeanor menacing charge, 9 News, 2023-06-30
- ↑ Meredith Deliso, Verdict reached in trial of cop who placed woman in patrol car hit by train, ABC News, 2023-07-28
- ↑ Jeremy Jojola, Officer fired after conviction in train collision case, 9 News, 2023-08-01
- ↑ Alejandro Galva, Probation given to officer who placed a handcuffed woman in a police car that was hit by train, Colorado Public Radio, 2023-09-15
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