The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has finished its review of a fatal Colorado Springs police shooting tied to a suspected drug deal. The report focuses on Benjamin Greenfield and a late-night encounter involving officers from the Metro Division Task Force.
Police said the incident began during proactive operations in a high-crime area, not after a routine call for service. The DA’s review now leaves a difficult public question: how a suspected street-level drug investigation turned deadly so quickly.
How Police Say the Encounter Began
On April 4, just before 11 p.m., Colorado Springs police officers and one El Paso County sheriff’s deputy were working with the Metro Division Task Force. The DA’s Office said they were conducting proactive operations in identified high-crime areas when they located Benjamin Greenfield.
The report said Greenfield was well known to officers because of previous convictions tied to drug and weapons charges, as well as running from law enforcement. That history shaped how police viewed the encounter before the suspected deal on North Academy Boulevard.
Greenfield’s black spray-painted Nissan pickup pulled into a 24-hour fast food restaurant parking lot in the 1200 block of North Academy Boulevard. Officer Joao Paulo Davilva saw a woman enter the passenger side and radioed that he believed a drug deal was happening.
Why Officers Tried to Block Greenfield’s Truck
Because Greenfield had a history of running from law enforcement, officers coordinated an approach meant to block the Nissan before it could leave. The DA’s Office said the plan used vehicles, emergency lights, and assigned positions to control the parking lot quickly.
Officer Mitchell Mueller drove the unmarked Chevrolet 2500 block truck, which had a reinforced bumper, bullet-resistant windshield, and concealed emergency lights. Officer Daniel White sat with him, while Officers Michael Dauchy and Angel were positioned in an unmarked Ford Interceptor nearby.
After officers activated emergency lights, the report says Greenfield reversed into the block truck, then accelerated forward into a fence. Mueller was ordered into a contact block, and Greenfield’s truck later became stuck after pushing through 12 feet of fence.
Why the DA Ruled the Shooting Justified
Officers first tried to move toward a less-lethal option while Greenfield’s truck was stuck and still revving. Officer Mueller retrieved a pepper ball gun from the block truck, but officers reported seeing Greenfield reaching around inside the Nissan before it could be used.
The DA’s Office said Greenfield allegedly fired one shot through his window at police, striking the ballistic windshield of the block truck. Officers then returned fire. Officer White fired 17 rounds, Officer Dauchy fired 16, and Officer Mueller fired 6.
Greenfield was hit about 10 times, and officers tried life-saving measures before he was taken to the hospital, where he died. The DA ruled the force justified because officers said they feared for themselves, fellow officers, and the public.
Endnote
Debate around this Colorado Springs case now sits between proactive drug enforcement and the point where officer safety takes over. The DA’s review leaned on Greenfield’s alleged shot, his prior drug and weapons convictions, and officers saying they feared for their lives.
With the shooting ruled justified, the next chapter is public trust, not another criminal charge against Greenfield. Colorado Springs residents will likely look at the report, the North Academy Boulevard timeline, and whether less-lethal plans can survive once gunfire starts.