Bail Denied For New York State Trooper Charged With Killing Black Girl In High-Speed Chase
A New York State Police trooper will remain behind bars while awaiting trial after a state Supreme Court judge on Thursday (Oct. 4) denied his bail request.
Christopher Baldner faces second-degree murder charges for causing the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. In December 2020, Baldner pursued the car her father Tristan Goods was driving in a high-speed chase in upstate New York. He’s accused of deliberately ramming the SUV, causing it to flip over multiple times.
Baldner, who also faces multiple reckless endangerment charges, could spend the rest of his life in prison, according to NBC New York.
Prosecutors argued on Thursday that Baldner deliberately and recklessly took actions that resulted in the child’s death.
"He could have used other, safer methods if they were authorized by a supervisor to end the pursuit, and instead he chose to intentionally ram the Goods' vehicle two times within nine seconds, and that is what caused the death of Monica Goods," state prosecutor Jennifer Gashi said.
The defense team painted a different picture to the judge.
"After the Goods' vehicle was stopped at 101 mph in a 65 mph zone, there were exchanges between the operator of that vehicle and Mr. Baldner," attorney John Ingrassia stated. "There were repeated and numerous requests by Trooper Baldner for the operator to identify himself."
Baldner stopped Goods on I-87 for speeding. For unclear reasons, the officer sprayed pepper spray inside the vehicle, in which Goods’ wife and two daughters were passengers, the prosecutor said. Goods drove away, explaining that he feared for his family’s safety.
While pursuing Goods, the trooper allegedly struck the family’s vehicle twice from behind, causing it to flip several times and throwing Monica from the SUV. Monica was pronounced dead at the scene and her sister, 12, was seriously injured.
According to The New York Daily News, a 10-month state attorney general investigation resulted in Baldner’s indictment and a not guilty plea on Oct. 27.
At the hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor said the trooper reached speeds of 135 mph and struck the Goods’ vehicle the first time at 101 mph.
The News confirmed, through state police collision reports, that he hit the SUV twice in the rear.
Baldner failed to call a supervisor to pursue the Goods, the prosecutors alleged.
