A former Colorado officer who put a handcuffed woman in a parked police cruiser that was hit by a freight train has avoided prison time.
Jordan Steinke, 29, was found guilty of reckless endangerment and assault for the Sept. 16, 2022, crash near Platteville.
The former Fort Lupton police officer was acquitted of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter.
The judge ordered Steinke to perform 100 hours of community service.
Steinke, who cried during the sentencing hearing, apologized to Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, who attended the hearing virtually after suffering head trauma during the incident.
“What happened that night haunted me for 364 days,” Steinke said.
“I remember your screams and screams.”
Steinke said she hopes to accomplish part of her community service by giving educational talks to new police officers about the dangers of train tracks and the importance of police officers being aware of their surroundings.
Ms. Rios-Gonzalez was arrested by Steinke and then by Plateville Police Sergeant Pablo Vazquez after a road rage incident involving a firearm.
Steinke took her into custody and locked her in Vazquez’s police cruiser, parked on the train tracks.
Moments later, a train struck the vehicle, leaving Ms. Rios-Gonzalez with lasting head trauma and chronic pain.
Vazquez is still on trial for his role in the crash.
He was charged with five counts of reckless endangerment for allegedly endangering Ms. Rios-Gonzalez, Steinke and three others, as well as traffic-related offenses.
