Judge declares mistrial due to coronavirus in case of murdered Colorado deputy
04/14/2020 2:27 pm PDT
By Dara Bitler, KDVR
ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- A judge has declared a mistrial for the man charged with shooting and killing Adams County Deputy Heath Gumm due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to an order released from the Adams County District Court, a mistrial was declared due to the safety issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. “The Court finds that the events resulting from COVID-19 and the People's decision not to pursue the death penalty at this point in the trial warrants a mistrial."
TRUE CRIME DAILY: Coronavirus-related crime coverage - TCD
Dreion Martise Dearing, 23, was charged with four counts of murder, including two counts of first-degree murder of a police officer. He also faces charges of burglary, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and assault.
Gumm and other deputies responding to a reported fight in a residential area north of Denver on Jan. 24, 2017 chased a man who ran behind a house, pulled out a handgun and fired.
