Christopher Baldner
Service Record
New York State Police
| Rank | Trooper |
| Salary | $116,086 (2021)[1] |
| Last Known Status | Resigned[2] |
Incident Reports
2017 Collision
On January 26, 2017, Baldner collided with a vehicle.[3]
2019 Collision with Jonathan Muthu
On September 6, 2019, Baldner used his police vehicle to ram a car driven by Muthu.[3][2]
Response Timeline
Balder was charged with Reckless Endangerment as part of a later incident, below.[4]
2020 Death of Monica Goods
On December 22, 2020, Baldner stopped a vehicle for speeding. Baldner used profanity in the stop. The driver requested a supervisor. Baldner retrieved a can of pepper spray from his vehicle and discharged it into the vehicle. The driver fled. During the pursuit, Baldner rammed the rear of the vehicle twice at over 100mph, causing the vehicle to flip over several times.[5][2]
Goods, a passenger in the vehicle, was ejected and died.[5]
Baldner had not obtained a supervisor's approval to ram the vehicle.[2]
Response Timeline
The state Attorney General opened an investigation.[2]
Baldner resigned.[2]
On October 27, 2021, the Attorney General indicted Baldner on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree. Baldner faces 25 years to life in prison for the murder charge.[5]
In August 2022, the state Division of Criminal Justice Services revoked Baldner's certification.
In February 2023, a county judge found the evidence to be insufficient. The judge dismissed the Murder in the Second Degree charge and reduced the Reckless Endangerment charges. The Attorney General appealed the ruling.[4] The vehicle flipped over.
On September 19, 2024, the New York State Supreme Court found that the Attorney General showed that Baldner acted with depraved indifference and reinstated charges of Murder in the Second Degree (Depraved Indifference Murder) and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree.[4]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ Christopher Baldner G, New York State Police, Trooper State Police, govSalaries
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Brendan Lyons, Appellate court reinstates murder charge against ex-trooper in fatal crash, Times Union, 2024-09-14
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Executive Orders, New York State Register, 2021-11-10
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Attorney General James’ Statement on Decision Reinstating Charges Against Former New York State Trooper for the Death of 11-Year-Old Monica Goods, New York Office of the Attorney General, 2024-09-19
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Attorney General James Announces Indictment of New York State Trooper on Murder Charge, New York Office of the Attorney General, 2021-10-27
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