State Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday the indictment of a state trooper on a murder charge in the death of a Brooklyn girl in an Ulster County crash.

Christopher Baldner is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and reckless endangerment.

Baldner is accused of using his police vehicle to ram a car occupied by four members of the Goods family, causing the car to flip over. Monica Goods, 11, was killed in the crash. Officials say Baldner pulled over the Goods family for traveling at a high rate of speed. They say during the stop, Baldner deployed pepper spray into the car and the driver Tristan Goods sped away. Officials say that's when Baldner rammed his vehicle into the Goods' family car.

"This is the first step in the journey for justice for this family for the wrongful death of a beautiful 11-year-old girl, and her sister was injured psychologically and physically," says Sanford Rubenstein, attorney for the Goods family.

The incident happened while Baldner was on patrol along the New York State Thruway in Ulster County in December 2020.

"Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve, but Trooper Baldner allegedly violated that trust when he used his car as a deadly weapon and killed a young girl," said James. "While nothing will bring Monica back, we must hold law enforcement to the highest standards, which is why my office is committed to seeking justice in this case."

Baldner was arraigned Wednesday and is due back in court on Nov. 4.