ALBANY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) -- A New York State trooper who was involved in a fatal Hudson Valley crash involving a girl from Brooklyn has been indicted on murder charges.
On Dec. 22, 2020 along I-87 in Ulster County, Trooper Christopher Baldner pulled over a vehicle driven by Tristan Goods, with his wife and two kids, ages 11 and 12, inside, the indictment said.
During the stop, which was for apparent speeding, pepper spray was deployed by Baldner into the car, after which Goods drove away, according to the indictment.
The indictment said Baldner pursued the vehicle, and rammed the rear of the vehicle twice. On the second strike, the car flipped over, ejecting 11-year-old Monica Goods from the vehicle, killing her.
Monica Goods was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, police said.
Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order allowing state Attorney General Letitia James, the special prosecutor in the original case, to investigate and possibly dole out charges related to the incidents.
In that executive order, Hochul said Baldner “engaged in prior similar conduct on two occasions leading to two prior motor vehicle collisions” in 2017 and 2019 on I-87.
The indictment also mentions the 2019 incident, saying, “Baldner similarly endangered the lives of three passengers by using his police vehicle to ram their car.” The indictment says Baldner with a “depraved indifference to human life” rammed a Dodge Caravan along I-87, causing the car to crash into a median. No one was killed.
Tristan Goods told the New York Daily News that Baldner “lost his temper” before using the pepper spray. He said that he feared for his life before taking off.
James announced the indictment of Baldner Wednesday on second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was arraigned, and has made a bail application after being remanded.
“Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve, but Trooper Baldner allegedly violated that trust when he used his car as a deadly weapon and killed a young girl,” said James. “While nothing will bring Monica back, we must hold law enforcement to the highest standards, which is why my office is committed to seeking justice in this case.”
If convicted of the top count, Baldner faces 25-to-life in prison.
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