After shooting a Craig resident multiple times in an April incident, a Craig police officer was cleared of wrongdoing Monday in a report by Colorado’s 14th Judicial District.

Troy Curtis Jr. of Craig was shot multiple times after refusing to comply with multiple directives from police to drop his gun and twice discharging a firearm. The April 26 incident followed a 911 call reporting a suicidal individual, according to a July 11 letter signed by District Attorney Matt Karzen and Chief Deputy District AttorneyJoseph Bucci of the 14th Judicial District.

After an arrest warrant was issued on July 11, Curtis Jr. turned himself in to Moffat County Jail on felony charges of menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm, and unlawful private transfer of a firearm which is a misdemeanor. He was later released on a $5000 bond.

Details of the shooting

According to the report, Sergeant Dalton Caudell of the Craig Police Department responded to a 911 dispatch on the morning of April 26 after Curtis’ wife, Elena, placed a call indicating that her husband was suicidal and about to leave the house in possession of a gun. Elena Curtis also contacted her father-in-law, Troy Curtis Sr., to assist her.

The report states that Curtis Sr. arrived at the home at 730 Ashley Road in Craig and parked his vehicle behind his son’s truck as his son was trying to exit the driveway. The report further states that Curtis Sr. approached the truck and saw his son loading a handgun and attempting to lift it to his head. Curtis Sr. lunged after his son in an attempt to disarm him and a struggle ensued.

Shortly after, Caudell arrived at the scene. Released video evidence from Caudell’s body camera shows Elena Curtis stating, “My husband is suicidal and he almost shot himself — his dad is trying to keep the gun off of him — please help.”

Caudell is seen in the video approaching the front driver’s door with his weapon drawn. Curtis Jr. and Curtis Sr. struggled over the weapon. Caudell twice ordered Curtis Jr. to drop the gun.

Curtis Jr. refused and fired a shot from his pistol. Caudell again demanded that Curtis Jr. drop his weapon. Curtis Jr. refused and fired a second round. Caudell responded by shooting Curtis Jr. in the right shoulder. Six shots were fired by Caudell. The report stated that all shell casings from both weapons were recovered.

The report stated that after Curtis Jr. was shot, Curtis Sr. was able to gain control of Curtis Jr.’s right hand. Another responding officer was able to recover the firearm from the rear floorboard. Caudell then requested medical assistance via radio and began emergency medical treatment. Curtis Jr. was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Craig for treatment of his gunshot wounds.

Body cam footage of the incident, which may be disturbing to some viewers, can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/5xncymxr.

Karzen opts not to prosecute officer after Grand County investigates

Investigation into the incident was completed by law enforcement officers from the 14th Judicial District which includes Grand, Routt and Moffat counties, along with the 14th District Attorney’s Office led by Karzen and Bucci, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office was designated as the lead investigative agency for this incident. At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was presented to the 14th Judicial District Attorney for review.

According to the report, Caudell’s actions were justified under Colorado law — specifically, C.R.S 18-1-704, which takes into account both the “reasonable belief and the actual belief of the person utilizing self-defense.”

The report described the actions of Curtis Jr., including his refusal to follow the orders issued by Caudell and his subsequent discharging of a firearm in close proximity to his father and Caudell. Arraignment for Curtis Jr. is scheduled for July 16.

The report asserts that the firearm possessed by Curtis Jr. had been purchased from Jake Curtis Swenson, a former coworker. According to the report, Swenson agreed to sell a Taurus 9 mm pistol to Curtis Jr. in the last year-and-a-half.

That gun sale allegedly violates state law since there was no background check or approval of transfer requested from a licensed gun dealer. As a result, the report stated that charges “are warranted” against Swenson for unlawful private transfer of a firearm.