Colorado state trooper assigned to guard Capitol charged with felony menacing in on-duty gun incident

Colorado State Patrol

Jay Hemphill

A Colorado State Patrol trooper tasked with protecting the Colorado Capitol and the politician faces a felony menacing complaint for allegedly pointing his weapon astatine a operator portion crossing the thoroughfare adjacent the statehouse.

Trooper Jay Hemphill, 49, connected Aug. 25 pointed a weapon astatine a pistillate driving a car portion crossing the thoroughfare astatine the intersection of West 14th Avenue and Sherman Street, according to an apprehension affidavit written by a Denver constabulary detective. Hemphill pulled the weapon retired and yelled astatine the pistillate arsenic helium crossed the thoroughfare successful beforehand of her truck, the affidavit states.

The pistillate reported the incidental to constabulary and told investigators that she feared helium would sprout her.

Hemphill reported the incidental to a State Patrol sergeant the aforesaid day. He agreed to an interrogation with Denver constabulary investigators, but what helium told them is redacted from the apprehension affidavit provided by the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

Hemphill was connected work astatine the clip of the incident, according to a quality merchandise from the State Patrol. He was not wearing a uniform.

Denver prosecutors connected Friday filed the felony menacing complaint against Hemphill. If convicted, helium could beryllium sentenced to up to 3 years successful prison. Hemphill was released connected a idiosyncratic recognizance bond, according to online tribunal records.

State Patrol medication placed Hemphill connected permission aft learning of the allegations, according to a quality merchandise from the agency.

Hemphill joined the State Patrol successful 1995 and has worked astatine the Capitol arsenic a subordinate of the executive information unit since 1998, according to the quality release. The portion provides information to the Capitol, the governor’s mansion, and the politician and his family.

Hemphill successful 2007 intercepted an equipped antheral astatine the Capitol offices of then-Gov. Bill Ritter. Hemphill spoke to the man, who made threatening remarks, and walked him extracurricular the governor’s office. Hemphill killed the antheral aft helium produced a firearm and said, “No constabulary are going to halt me,” according to a statement of events by the State Patrol.

The Denver territory lawyer astatine the time, Mitch Morrissey, found that Hemphill’s actions were legally justified. He was awarded the  Colorado State Patrol’s Medal of Valor for his actions.

Hemphill is the 2nd State Patrol trooper to beryllium charged with felony menacing this year. Wesley Dakan was fired from the bureau successful June aft helium was charged with felony menacing for allegedly pointing a firearm astatine a driver.