DENVER — Nearly a year after cell phone video captured a police officer body slamming a man amid the chaotic Nuggets championship celebrations in 2023, the criminal case has concluded.
Officer Adam Glasby was originally charged with felony assault, and as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of misdemeanor assault in a courtroom on Monday. The felony charge has been dismissed.
The judge sentenced Glasby to two years probation, and he will not see any jail time. After a year, Glasby can file a request to end his probation early.
The incident happened early in the morning of June 13, as people swarmed downtown to celebrate the Nuggets championship win. Glasby was working with another officer during an off-duty assignment at Hayter's bar when a fight broke out.
The cell phone video does not capture what happened in the seconds leading up to the body slam of Elijah Smith.
Last year, Smith admitted to 9NEWS over the phone that he did punch someone in a fight before he was body slammed.
On Monday in court for Glasby’s hearing, Smith told the judge the incident has hampered his ability to remain employed because of injuries to his head and mental well-being.
Civil rights attorney Mari Newman, who represents Smith, told 9NEWS they plan to file a lawsuit now that the criminal case has concluded. Newman said Monday’s conclusion in court does not reach their desired level of accountability.
The Denver Police Department suspended Glasby without pay because of the felony charge.
The misdemeanor assault conviction is expected to lead to Glasby’s decertification as a law enforcement officer in Colorado, which prosecutors and defense attorneys acknowledged in court on Monday.
9NEWS has requested city video footage of the incident captured by a HALO (High Activity Location) camera, which has been suppressed by prosecutors because of the pending criminal case.
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