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Driver pleads not guilty in trooper's death

Posted at 5:51 PM, Mar 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-21 22:30:33-04

Retired Army Col. Eric Henderson pleaded not guilty in the death of Colorado State Patrol Trooper Jaimie Jursevics on Monday.

Henderson, a retired Army colonel with a long history of service, is charged with hit-and-run, vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence and drunken driving.

Jursevics, 33, was investigating a minor crash with another trooper near Plum Creek Parkway in Castle Rock in November 2015 when she was informed by dispatchers about a possible drunk driver in a pickup truck headed toward her.

Jursevics called the driver who reported the suspected drunk driver. The caller was still following the driver and told Jursevics he could see the lights on her vehicle as they approached her, according to an affidavit about Henderson's arrest.

"(The caller) could see the female trooper shining a flashlight toward the ground," the affidavit states.

The driver in the pickup did not stop and the caller reported seeing the trooper's flashlight fly through the air.

The caller was still on the phone with Jursevics and heard her scream as she was hit by the oncoming truck.

Several miles away, Henderson, was arrested.

"I killed a cop," Henderson later told detectives through tears, according to the affidavit.

Prosecutors say he spent the day drinking at a Broncos game Nov. 15 before he hit 33-year-old Trooper Jaimie Jursevics and fled.

A friend told investigators Henderson had at least six beers while in Denver for the team's matchup with the Chiefs, according to the affidavit.

Affidavit | Retired Army colonel arrested in death of trooper had about 7 beers at Broncos game

Henderson retired from the Army in June 2013 after a 27-year career and was the chief of operations for the Space and Missile Defense Command in his final post.

He is scheduled to go to trial July 25.

Trooper Jursevics left behind a husband and an 8-month-old daughter.