Psychologist clears Denver officer to leave jail

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A Denver Police officer accused of shooting at other officers during a suicidal episode is not dangerous, according to a psychologist.

Thirty-one-year-old Officer Kachina McAlexander of Aurora, a 10-year Denver Police veteran, is on unpaid leave from her job in records at police headquarters.

She was arrested March 24 at a Super 8 Motel outside Custer.

This week, grand jurors in Custer indicted McAlexander on charges she shot at three law enforcement officers checking on her at a motel near Custer. McAlexander's mother, who spoke to her by phone, feared she was suicidal.

McAlexander is charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder and three alternate counts of aggravated assault.

Authorities say Highway Patrol Trooper Todd Albertson and Custer County deputies Frank Kistler and Derek Booker found McAlexander with a gun in her hand and she fired several times at them.

No one was hit.

A judge set her bond at $50,000 cash or surety during her first in-person court appearance Tuesday.

McAlexander had previously appeared in court via teleconference when a psychological examination was ordered.

The psychologist, Dr. Dewey Ertz, "did not believe she was an imminent danger to herself or others," said state's attorney Tracey Kelley.

If McAlexander posts bond, said Kelley, she must sign extradition papers ensuring she can be brought back to South Dakota for trial.

The conditions of the bond also require McAlexander to maintain contact with mental health professionals and avoid alcohol and weapons, said Kelley.

McAlexander had not posted bond as of late Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Denver Post, McAlexander faced weapons charges in 2006 after firing at a television and at the walls of her home in Adams County. Like last week's incident, McAlexander was reportedly suicidal at the time.

A judge acquitted McAlexander of the charges and an appeal by prosecutors was not successful.

A spokesperson for the Adams County District Attorney would not provide information on the case to 9NEWS saying the case information is sealed.

Denver Police are processing a request by 9NEWS to review McAlexander's disciplinary file. A police spokeswoman declined to discuss McAlexander's situation on-camera.

According to a police affidavit, McAlexander was armed when she came to the door of her Super 8 motel room outside Custer.

The affidavit says McAlexander refused officers' orders to drop her handgun and an officer deployed his Taser.

"They tried to get her to put the gun down, but she wouldn't do it," Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler said.

McAlexander fired 10 shots in the direction of the officers after being hit by the Taser, according to the affidavit.

Officers backed away from the door, said Wheeler, as McAlexander emptied her gun.

She surrendered shortly after.

"McAlexander said that at first, she thought she had been shot," the affidavit reads. "McAlexander said that she instinctively returned fire."

According to the affidavit, McAlexander told investigators she realized the men outside her hotel room were law enforcement officers before she started shooting.

Wheeler said a Super 8 clerk called police to the motel after speaking with McAlexander's mother who "felt uncomfortable" following a telephone conversation with her daughter. The initial call to authorities referenced a suicide attempt, Wheeler said.

McAlexander's mother hung up the phone when contacted by a reporter on last week.

Wheeler said McAlexander had been in South Dakota for a few days but was unsure why.

Wheeler did not know if McAlexander's handgun, a 9mm Glock, was her police-issued duty weapon.

In addition to her police work, McAlexander, who lives in Aurora, sells real estate in the Denver metro area.

Sterling Real Estate Group managing broker Rich Klapt said McAlexander has worked for the company as an independent contractor for several years.