Six law enforcement officers have been cited for failing to intervene during the fatal shooting of Christian Glass, a 22-year-old man who was experiencing a mental health crisis, in Silver Plume in June 2022. The misdemeanor charges were filed against former Georgetown Police Marshal Randy Williams, Idaho Springs Officer Brittany Morrow, Colorado Division of Gaming officers Mary Harris and Christa Lloyd, Colorado State Patrol trooper Ryan Bennie, and former Clear Creek County deputy Tim Collins, according to a statement released by Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum on Friday morning.

The charges against the six officers stem from their alleged inaction during the incident involving Andrew Buen, who shot and killed Glass after he had called 911 for roadside assistance. The officers on the scene reportedly failed to intervene to prevent the shooting, as revealed in body camera footage. Despite Glass's pleas and prayers, none of the officers attempted to stop the situation before it escalated. Glass was ultimately shot after he grabbed a knife when officers broke the window of his car.

District Attorney McCollum emphasized the need for accountability within law enforcement: "Law enforcement officers must be held accountable for their actions when performing their trusted public service duties. Yesterday, my office filed additional charges against each of the six other officers who were present on June 11, 2022, for failing to intervene in the events and actions of Andrew Buen, which led to Christian Glass' death."

In addition to the failure to intervene charges, Randy Williams also faces a misdemeanor count of third-degree assault, according to court documents.

The charges against these officers come shortly after Kyle Gould, a former Clear Creek County sheriff's supervisor who authorized the removal of Glass from his vehicle, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges. Gould admitted to ignoring his duty to intervene and his duty to report the use of force by peace officers. He was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and a $1,000 fine and is now prohibited from working in law enforcement or security.

However, there has been controversy surrounding the charges, with Colorado State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew C. Packard expressing shock at the decision to charge Trooper Ryan Bennie. Col. Packard reviewed the body camera footage and found no indication that Bennie violated any agency policies or training.

A grand jury previously determined that the decision to remove Christian Glass from his vehicle directly resulted in his death. The former deputy, Andrew Buen, who shot and killed Glass, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and criminally negligent homicide. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 20, where a trial date is expected to be set.

The six charged officers - Williams, Collins, Morrow, Bennie, Lloyd, and Harris - are scheduled to appear in court on December 12. The overall case has sparked a widespread debate regarding police accountability and the need for better handling of mental health crises by law enforcement.