A Colorado police officer who placed a handcuffed suspect into a police SUV that was then hit by a train has been sentenced to supervised probation and community service, her attorney said.
Fort Lupton Officer Jordan Steinke will serve 30 months of supervised probation and 100 hours of public service, according to attorney Mallory A. Revel.
In July, Judge Timothy Kerns found the former officer guilty of reckless endangerment and third-degree assault, but found her not guilty of a felony charge of attempted manslaughter, CNN previously reported.
“There is no reasonable doubt that placing a handcuffed person in the back of a patrol car parked on the tracks creates a substantial and unjustifiable risk of harm from the train,” Kerns said as he read the verdict.
Steinke joined a traffic stop last September in Weld County, Colorado, during which he apprehended Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, who was suspected of brandishing a gun at another driver in a road rage case earlier that evening.
Steinke placed Rios in the cruiser of Platteville Police Officer Pablo Vasquez, who arrived first on the scene and parked in the middle of a marked railroad crossing.
The body camera and dash camera video released by police showed Rios screaming for help as the train approached and struck the vehicle. She suffered nine broken ribs and a broken arm, among other injuries, but survived the crash.
Steinke spoke directly to Rios prior to her sentencing.
“I understand, acknowledge and sympathize that Ms. Rios-Gonzalez and her family have endured great physical, emotional and psychological pain,” Steinke said. “As a police officer, it was never my intention for another human being to suffer harm under my supervision. I feel very responsible for what happened to you that night. What happened that night haunted me for 364 days.”
Rios’ attorney also told the court that Rios did not mind Steinke being in jail and instead felt “very sorry” for her.
Fort Lupton is located about 30 miles north of Denver.
CNN’s Andy Rose contributed to this report.
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