Crime
Golden Police Officer Killed in Line of Duty Identified as Evan Dunn, suspect Stephen Geer arrested
The other injured officer remains in the hospital.
A tragic incident unfolded in Golden, Colorado, when a 43-year-old mechanical engineering professor at the Colorado School of Mines, Stephen Geer, was arrested following a suspected DUI crash that resulted in the death of a Golden police officer Evan Dunn and injured another.
Authorities are investigating Geer for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
On Thursday morning, Jefferson County Court Judge Thomas Vance informed Geer of the potential charges against him, setting his bond at $250,000 and scheduling a hearing for November 14.
Geer, who has no prior criminal history and is well-established in the community, will remain in custody unless he posts bond.
The crash took place shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday in snowy conditions along Colorado Highway 58 near Washington Avenue.
A 33-year-old Evan Dunn, Golden Police Department officer, was pronounced dead at the scene, while another officer suffered serious injuries.
Both officers had been outside their vehicle investigating an earlier crash when Geer’s vehicle allegedly struck another vehicle along a curve, propelling the officers under the initial crashed vehicle and trapping them beneath it.
According to Golden Police Chief Joe Harvey and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), officers had positioned a police cruiser before the crash site, and two additional officers were on foot managing the scene when Geer’s vehicle entered the crash zone, impacting the officers.
The CSP noted that Geer’s driving was “unsafe on an already dangerous day” and cited poor road conditions.
Geer reportedly told police he had consumed one 16-ounce beer at a local brewery prior to the collision.
His defense attorney, Lindsay Stone, argued that the crash could have been an unfortunate accident, given that the earlier crash had only just occurred and lacked clear warning signs.
No blood alcohol test results were available at the time of the Thursday hearing.
Golden Police Chief Harvey paid tribute to the officer who lost his life, describing him as “an incredible human being” with a distinguished military background, including a career as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and commander.
The fallen officer is survived by his wife, sister, and parents.
The other injured officer remains in the hospital.
Officer Dunn is survived by his wife, Annalise, and their beloved dog, Remy, as well as his parents and two siblings. Annalise shared that Evan was, first and foremost, a man of faith, loyal, steady, quiet, and observant. The couple shared a deep love for the outdoors, often camping and traveling together in their free time. She is deeply appreciative of the overwhelming support from the community but asks for privacy in the coming days as she grieves.
Officer Dunn joined the Golden Police Department as a Code Enforcement Officer, where he served for a year before entering the police academy. He graduated in July and was partnered with Officer Bethany Grusing, his field training officer, who was also injured in the crash. Officer Grusing, a member of the Golden Police Department since 2020, sustained serious injuries. “She has a broken heart as well,” said Chief Harvey.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.