blog Violent Crime Did Police Mishandle the Christian Glass Case? What It Means for Mental Health and Criminal Justice in Colorado

Did Police Mishandle the Christian Glass Case? What It Means for Mental Health and Criminal Justice in Colorado

By Colorado Attorney-at-law on April 10, 2025

In June 2022, a 22-year-old named Christian Glass called 911 after getting his car stuck in Silver Plume, Colorado. He told dispatchers he was scared and possibly being followed.

What began as a welfare check tragically ended with Glass being shot and killed by a Clear Creek County deputy. This incident sparked national outrage and raised pressing questions about police use of force, mental health awareness in crisis situations, and law enforcement accountability.

Now, nearly three years later, the Christian Glass police mishandling case continues to shape public policy and defense strategies in Colorado.

For individuals with mental illness—and the attorneys who represent them—this case has become a sobering reminder of what can go wrong when crisis response protocols break down.

What Happened to Christian Glass?

Christian Glass called 911 for help, not to commit a crime. He was reportedly disoriented, paranoid, and made strange but non-threatening statements to dispatchers and arriving officers. He also told them he had knives and rocks in his vehicle, but made no move to use them.

Multiple officers arrived, and for over an hour, they attempted to coax Glass out of the vehicle. He repeatedly refused, saying he was afraid.

Despite the lack of an immediate threat, officers escalated the situation by breaking his windows, tasering him, and ultimately shooting him after he brandished a knife inside the vehicle.

Following a thorough investigation, the deputy who shot Glass was indicted for second-degree murder. Two other officers were also charged.

For many, this case illustrates a glaring failure in how law enforcement interacts with mentally ill individuals. Further, it’s reshaping discussions around mental health and law enforcement in Colorado.

Did Police Follow Crisis Response Protocols?

The short answer: No.

The Christian Glass case underscores a failure to follow well-established crisis response protocols, which are critical when law enforcement interacts with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

These protocols are designed to de-escalate tension, reduce the likelihood of violence, and avoid unnecessarily criminalizing people who are in need of medical or psychiatric care.

Best practices—many of which are part of law enforcement training across Colorado—typically include:

  • Recognizing signs of mental illness
  • Calling for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers
  • Creating space and time to de-escalate
  • Avoiding physical confrontation unless there’s an imminent threat

In Glass’s case, none of these measures were effectively implemented. Officers failed to call mental health professionals or specialized CIT responders. Instead, they treated a nonviolent individual in distress as a criminal threat.

The Intersection of Mental Health and Criminal Charges

Unfortunately, Christian Glass’s case is not unique. Across Colorado, people with mental illness are frequently arrested, detained, or harmed when they need medical support, not jail time.

According to some estimates, approximately 20% of inmates in jails and 15% of inmates in state prisons are suffering from some type of serious mental illness. Many were arrested during or shortly after experiencing a mental health crisis. This reality raises troubling concerns for defense attorneys and clients alike.

If you or someone you love is facing a Colorado felony arrest involving mental illness, the Glass case serves as both a warning and a guide.

Defense attorneys can use law enforcement’s mishandling of similar situations to challenge the legitimacy of an arrest or highlight the need for diversion into treatment programs instead of incarceration.

Implications for Defense Strategy

At Whitaker & Penix, LLC, we’ve seen how police misconduct defense strategies must evolve to incorporate failures in crisis management. In cases involving mental illness, several defense angles can be informed by the Christian Glass tragedy.

Unlawful Use of Force

If law enforcement used excessive force in a situation involving a person in crisis, especially when no immediate threat was present, that conduct can be challenged as a violation of constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Involuntary Confessions

Statements made by someone in a mental health crisis may not meet legal standards for admissibility, especially if their Miranda rights were not properly delivered or understood. We often challenge such statements in court.

Alternative Sentencing and Diversion Programs

In light of the mental health crisis in Colorado’s criminal justice system, our firm frequently petitions for clients to be considered for mental health courts, treatment programs, or supervised release instead of prison time.

Challenging Probable Cause

In situations like Christian Glass’s, where the only “crime” may be erratic behavior, we analyze whether the police had probable cause to detain or arrest the individual in the first place. In some cases, improper escalation can lead to motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges.

A Call for Police Reform and Legal Vigilance

While the state of Colorado has made strides in funding behavioral health services and revising police training, the legal system is still catching up to the realities of mental health crises.

HB 23-1210, passed in 2023, mandated mental health training for new police recruits and expanded access to crisis response teams. But as Christian Glass’s death tragically demonstrated, training alone isn’t enough without accountability and real-time application.

For criminal defense attorneys, that means remaining vigilant. For defendants, it means knowing you have rights, even if they were ignored at the moment.

Why This Case Matters for Colorado Defendants

The Glass case has become a rallying cry for change, but it also sets precedent. For example, more judges and juries are becoming aware of how dangerous it can be when police fail to follow de-escalation policies or treat mental illness as a criminal offense.

If you’re facing charges and believe mental health and law enforcement failures played a role in your arrest, you may have powerful arguments in your favor. This is especially true if police failed to follow policy or caused unnecessary harm.

At Whitaker & Penix, LLC, we bring deep knowledge of police misconduct defense, trial strategy, and Colorado criminal law to every case. We’re not afraid to take a firm stand against government overreach to protect the rights of vulnerable individuals caught in the justice system.

Talk to an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Breckenridge

If you or a loved one is facing charges after a mental health-related incident or you believe your rights were violated during an arrest, do not wait to seek legal help. At Whitaker & Penix, LLC, we know how to challenge excessive police use of force, expose failures in crisis response protocols, and fight for just outcomes in even the most complex cases.

Attorneys Kylie Whitaker and Ehren Penix have extensive trial experience and a reputation for delivering personalized, honest, and strategic defense in Colorado’s 6th Judicial District and beyond. Our legal team also has an A+ rating from the Colorado Better Business Bureau.

Call our law firm today at (970) 368-0602 to schedule a free consultation with a Breckenridge criminal defense lawyer. We are here to help you protect your future and your rights.

Posted in: Violent Crime