NEW YORK – A New York State Police officer was denied bail after being charged with deliberately ramming a pickup truck he was chasing, causing the vehicle to overturn and killing a young girl from 11-year-old Brooklyn.
Christopher Baldner was placed in pre-trial detention following his court appearance Thursday, meaning he will remain behind bars until his trial begins, where he faces second-degree murder charges for causing the death of Monica Goods in December 2020. .
Tristan Goods was driving his wife and two daughters to visit relatives before Christmas when he was pulled over by police on I-87 for speeding in the city of Ulster, about 95 miles north of New York City. Baldner pepper sprayed the vehicle during the stop, prosecutors said, but it was unclear what prompted him to do so. Goods said he sped away because he was concerned for his family’s safety.
State police said the father later left, resulting in a manhunt. Baldner allegedly struck Goods’ truck from behind twice before it hit a guardrail and overturned. The truck flipped over several times and stopped upside down, prosecutors said.
Tristan Goods’ daughter Monica was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene. His 12-year-old sister was seriously injured.
“They could have used other safer methods if a supervisor authorized them to end the chase, and instead chose to intentionally ram Goods ‘vehicle twice in nine seconds, and that’s what caused Monica Goods’ death.” said prosecutor Jennifer Gashi.
Baldner’s defense attorney showed the judge a different image of the traffic stop.
“After Goods’s vehicle stopped at 101 mph in a 65 mph zone, there were exchanges between the operator of that vehicle and Mr. Baldner,” said John Ingrassia. “There were numerous and repeated requests by Officer Baldner for the operator to identify himself.”
Baldner was indicted by an Ulster County grand jury on Oct. 28, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced. He also faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and multiple reckless endangering charges.
The police union representing Baldner said it was disappointed with the judge’s decision to keep him behind bars.
“You have a police officer who has lived in this area for almost two decades. He has a family, children, he owns a house, he is not going anywhere,” said Thomas Mungeer, president of the Police Benevolent Police Association. New York State. . “I think the Bond Reduction Act of 2019 has worked for everyone, but in this case, it didn’t work for my police.”
There was a brief commotion in court when Baldner was taken away, and someone yelled “murderer” at him.
Michelle Surrency, Monica’s mother, thanks family supporters who gathered outside of court and was pleased with the judge’s decision.
“They sent him into pretrial detention today because that’s where he deserves to be, my son doesn’t have that option. My sons no longer have a sister,” Surrency said.
If convicted, Baldner could spend the rest of his life in prison.
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