Columbia, Missouri – A Columbia police officer has plead guilty in connection with a child’s death that occurred in January 2019. Officer Andria Heese was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of 4-year-old Gabriella Curry but those charges were reduced last week to careless driving. That charge could carry up to 180 days in jail.
Gabriella was standing on a sidewalk outside Battle High School when Heese drove her police car onto the sidewalk and struck her. Investigators stated that Heese was parking her car on the sidewalk to watch high school students get onto buses.
The New York Daily News reported that Gabriella’s family reached a $3.4 million settlement with the city of Columbia in May 2019.
ABC 17 confirmed through The Department of Public Safety that Heese has an active peace officer’s license and is commissioned by The Columbia Police Department.
