On Monday, a police officer in Colorado was accused of putting a handcuffed woman in a parked car that was hit by a freight train on the tracks, according to the lawyer in court.
During the opening statements in the state court in Greeley, defense attorney Mallory Revel claimed that Officer Jordan Steinke positioned herself on the train tracks during a nighttime traffic stop on September 16, 2022, although evidence will indicate that she was unaware of another officer parking his patrol car on the tracks. Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, the individual inside the vehicle, sustained severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.
Revel mentioned that there were two reflective signs on either side of the railroad crossing in the rural area, but there were no illuminated crossing gates or signs. Additionally, the tracks were completely level with the road, posing no obstruction during the journey.
Revel stated that prosecutors will not be able to demonstrate that she acted negligently by abandoning the woman inside the patrol vehicle.
Revel, who emphasized that the outcome relied on Steinke’s awareness at that time, stated, “regardless of how clear that danger may appear later on, you cannot ignore a risk that you are ignorant of.”
Prosecutors said that she knew exactly what Steinke lay out, but she did not present any evidence about her state of mind. In her opening statement, Deputy District Attorney Lacy Wells noted that she had walked across the train tracks several times during the incident, including when she was escorted to the patrol car after her arrest.
Wells stated, “Instead of parking her own patrol unit safely on the west side of the railroad tracks, Officer Gonzalez Rios-Yareni chose to park the patrol car in Platteville, east of the railroad tracks. This decision by the defendant’s state of mind can be inferred by the court, which will have the opportunity to hear and see evidence from the court.”
The car crashes into police officers who are rushing while the train is getting closer, and additional footage reveals officers inspecting Rios-Gonzalez’s truck while the train is approaching and its horn is loudly sounding. A video previously released by the police.
Revel stated that there was no one else in Gonzalez-Rios’ vehicle who could potentially ambush the police, so she made sure to get into the nearest patrol car. Steinke, who was working for the Fort Lupton Police Department, was taught to focus on patting down the suspect, and she was following her training.
Steinke is being prosecuted for attempting to commit the criminal offense of third-degree assault and reckless endangerment, which are both misdemeanors. Additionally, the police officer from the nearby Platteville Police Department, who had parked their car on the tracks while on patrol, is also being prosecuted for misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment.
Judge Timothy Kerns is expected to deliver a judgment. The jury is currently listening to testimonies for the trial, which is set to conclude on Friday.