Judge Reduces Bond For Suspect In Trooper's Death
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - The man arrested in the death of a Colorado State Trooper had his bond reduced by half on Wednesday and he was released from custody in the evening.
Jaimie Jursevics was struck by a car just before 9 p.m. Sunday. She had been assisting another trooper on the scene of an accident at Interstate 25 and Tomah Road.
State Patrol says Jursevics was outside her car, talking on the phone to a motorist nearby who had reported a suspected drunk driver heading her way. The person on the line says the trooper tried to use a flashlight to pull the suspect over, but was struck and killed by that vehicle, which left the scene. The person heard her scream, then saw her flashlight fly in the air. Four miles later, Palmer Lake Police arrested retired Army Col. Eric Henderson.
Henderson admitted to drinking several beers before and after the Broncos game. Officers say his speech was slurred, he smelled of alcohol, and reportedly cried while saying, "I killed a cop."
On Wednesday, the judge in Douglas County reduced Henderson's bond from $1 million to $500,000. He will appear in court on Friday for formal filing of charges. The judge expressed concern about how Henderson left the scene, didn't slow down and didn't stop.
Prosecutors say although Henderson had a distinguished career, with 27 years of military service, he's facing serious felony charges of DUI vehicular homicide and hit-and-run resulting in death.
"Vehicular homicide predicated on allegations of a DUI is also a third-class felony punishable by 4-12 years in the Department of Corrections. I had mentioned to the court that we had, in my term of office, two other officers killed by drunk drivers, both of those drivers went to prison for 10 years or more and in some ways those cases are indistinguishable from this one and in some ways this case is more aggravating," said 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler.
There are additional conditions to the bond reduction, including that Henderson cannot leave the state and he had to turn over his passport.
The memorial service for Jursevics is Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene off Hampden.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Jaimie Jursevics' family.
