NEW YORK – A New York State trooper faces second-degree murder charges for hitting a family’s car during a December 2020 chase, causing the car to overturn. and take the life of an 11-year-old girl from Brooklyn.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the indictment of police officer Christopher Baldner by a Ulster County grand jury Wednesday. Baldner also faces charges of murder and reckless danger.
The minor’s father, Tristin Goodsen, was driving his wife and two daughters to visit relatives when police pulled him over for speeding in the city of Ulster, about 95 miles north of New York City.
State Police said the father fled shortly after the traffic stop, resulting in a chase. Baldner allegedly rear-ended Goods’ truck before it hit a guardrail and overturned.
The 11-year-old Monica Goods was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene.
Gov. Kathy Hochul had said last week that Baldner could face charges for Goods’ death as well as previous incidents.
Five of the eight charges against him relate to Goods’ death and the remaining three are linked to an alleged September 2019 assault.
“Police officers are tasked with protecting and serving, but Officer Baldner allegedly violated that trust when he used his car as a deadly weapon and killed a young girl,” James said in a statement.
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