COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man accused of hitting and killing a parole officer in Colorado Springs last month was formally charged Friday with numerous felony counts including leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular homicide, and assault.
On Sept. 28, Christine Guerin Sandoval and two other officers were trying to serve a warrant on Justin Kula while he was in a vehicle near North Spruce and West Bijou streets in Colorado Springs.
According to law enforcement officials, Kula drove away and struck Guerin Sandoval and another officer. Both were rushed to a hospital. Guerin Sandoval died at the hospital, and the other officer was treated and released.
Kula was arrested three miles away several hours after the crash.
According to body camera footage reviewed by a Colorado Springs Police detective, the parole officers never identified themselves as law enforcement, or as parole officers. The officers arrived in unmarked cars and without emergency lights, according to surveillance video the detective watched. The detective wrote two of the three officers were definitely wearing vests, but it wasn't clear what was written on them, based on the footage.
The detective wrote parole officers approached Kula while he was in the driver's seat of a parked car. They said, "Don't! Don't move it! Don't shift it. Don't," according to body camera footage the detective watched, without identifying themselves as law enforcement. Kula then went into reverse, hitting one officer, and then driving over Sandoval, before fleeing.
Kula was formally charged Friday with:
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Manslaughter
- Vehicular homicide
- Third-degree assault
- Three counts of habitual criminal (sentence enhancers)
Kula was released from prison on Feb. 15, according to a DOC spokesperson.
Kula had an arrest warrant issued on Aug. 31 for a parole violation. Court records show Colorado Springs Police arrested Kula for a parole violation on June 14 and El Paso County deputies arrested Kula on Aug. 20 for a parole violation.
His 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.
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.
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