COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — State and local officials identified Christine Guerin Sandoval as the parole officer who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash on Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened just after 3:45 p.m. Thursday near North Spruce and West Bijou streets in Colorado Springs, according to police. Three parole officers were trying to serve a warrant on Justin Kula while he was in a vehicle in a shopping center parking lot, officials said. Sandoval and another female parole officer were struck by Kula as he drove away, officials said. Sandoval and the other officer were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Sandoval died at the hospital. The other officer was treated and released.
Department of Corrections Director Andre Stancil said Sandoval was a wife, mother and daughter. Sandoval's death was the first Department of Corrections employee to be killed in an act of violence since 2013, when DOC Director Tom Clements was ambushed and killed at his home.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation sent out a Blue Alert for the suspect, Justin Kula, who was arrested about three miles away just before 7:45 p.m.
The District Attorney's Office said Kula was being held on suspicion of manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and third-degree assault on a peace officer.
Kula's criminal history shows he has been charged with second-degree assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest and parole violations from charges related to domestic violence, harassment, drug possession and violating a protection order.
The Blue Alert Program is a cooperative effort among the CBI, local law enforcement agencies, and the state's public and commercial television and radio broadcasters regarding the imminent danger posed by a suspect(s) who has killed or seriously injured a peace officer.
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