Colorado School of Mines prof arrested in crash that killed officer

On November 8, 2024By Littum

The Golden State Police officers killed and injured Wednesday in a suspected DUI crash were identified Thursday. Earlier that day, a Colorado School of Mines professor accused of the crash appeared in court.

Golden officials Thursday afternoon said Evan Dunn, 33, was killed in the line of duty while responding to the crash on Colorado 58. Officer Bethany Grusing was seriously injured.

Stephen Geer, a 43-year-old Colorado School of Mines mechanical engineering professor who was arrested and held overnight in the crash that killed Dunn is being investigated for vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault. He showed up the Thursday morning before Jefferson County Court Judge Thomas Vance, who set Geer’s bond at $250,000 and scheduled his next appearance for Nov. 14

Geer has no prior criminal history and deep ties to the community.

Dunn, who also served as a pilot and company commander in the Colorado National Guard, and Grusing were outside their vehicle investigating a separate accident shortly before 1 p.m. said late Wednesday.

The officers were forced under the vehicle from the initial crash and were pinned, according to police Colorado State Patrol.

“There was one officer staged in a police cruiser prior to the crash scene and two additional officers were manning the crash scene when a passing vehicle entered the scene. Both officers at the original crash scene were struck and forced under the original crashed vehicle,” CSP officials said Thursday morning in a press release.

Dunn died at the scene of the collision.

Geer “drove in a manner that was unsafe on an already unsafe day,” Jeffco senior deputy attorney Alexa Visscher said at the hearing Thursday morning.

Geer told police he had a 16-ounce beer at a local brewery Wednesday before the collision at the scene of a crash on icy roads, defense attorney Lindsay Stone said at the hearing.

“This crash could have happened to anybody….” Stone said, noting that the previous crash had just happened and “there was no setup to warn him of that crash.”

There were no results from a breathalyzer test Thursday morning.

Harvey called Dunn “a great human being” who had “a long stellar career in the military, flying Blackhawk helicopters and serving as a commander.” He is survived by his wife, two siblings and parents. Grusing was taken to a hospital.

Colorado School of Mines President Paul Johnson issued a statement saying, “The Mines community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a Golden police officer yesterday and injuries to another officer while responding to a crash on Colorado 58. The officers, their families , their colleagues in the Golden Police Department and all others closely affected by this devastating event are in our thoughts and prayers.We mourn with them today, we pray for the recovery of the injured officer, and we will be looking for ways to offer support during this incredibly difficult time.”

Gov. Jared Polis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Dunn’s memorial service, which has not been set.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Officer Dunn and my thoughts go out to his family and friends at the Golden Police Department. We also hope for a speedy recovery for the officer who was injured in this incident. Our law enforcement officers put themselves danger to protect Coloradans day in and day out, and that is exactly what Officer Dunn and his partner, Officer Bethany Grusing, did. We are grateful for their service and commitment to keeping Coloradans safe,” said Police.

The Golden Police Department set up a Colorado Fallen donation website at t.co/Yo6Vouyi1g to help Dunn’s family.

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Originally published: 7 November 2024 at 11:08 a.m. MST