Police officers have to uphold the law at all times. Breaking the law and harassing people because you didn’t get your way is never acceptable. When a law enforcement official is accused of assault, the stakes are high. They could face fines and prison time and even lose their job.
A Baltimore police trainee was recently arrested for assaulting and harassing several women who did not invite him to a party. It was confirmed on February 7 that the 22-year-old man was charged with three counts of harassment, three counts of second-degree assault and one count of reckless endangerment.
The man, who was off duty at the time, had pulled up next to a vehicle at a red light. Inside the vehicle were three women who told him they were going to a party. The man followed the women and while at another red light, they told him he was not invited to the party and they did not want to speak with him further.
The man continued to follow the women’s vehicle at high speeds. He even hit the car’s bumper at one point. After 4 miles, the women pulled into a Royal Farms and the man exited his vehicle to approach the women. The man displayed a fake FBI badge and instructed the women to “freeze.” The man had a gun on his hip and kept touching it.
The women took off and stopped at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Emergency Room. They found shelter in an ambulance and called 911.
The man told a police officer that he was pursuing the women because they appeared to be in a stolen vehicle, since he found it odd that the women would be driving such a nice car. Police interviewed the women and detained the man. He claimed that he wanted to go on a date with the women and had observed them smoking an illegal substance.
The man did not call 911 or notify any on-duty officers about the situation. It was determined that he broke several laws in the process, including following the women after they explicitly told him to stop.
The man was detained and had his handgun seized. He was taken to the police department’s Public Integrity Bureau. The man, who was hired as a trainee in March 2020, was still in his probation period. He has since been fired from his position. He posted bail and was released from jail.
Police officers may use excessive force in situations where their lives are at risk, but they should not be harassing and assaulting women who did not invite them to a party. What the police officer did in this case should not be tolerated and even a strong defense may not reduce his charges.
However, many assault cases can be defended. Need help? The Columbia assault lawyers at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can help you get the best possible outcome. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call (410) 774-5987. We have two offices to serve you.
Resource:
baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-baltimore-bpd-trainee-arrest-20210207-vzjtaa2gh5a7pe7gwgjykehi3i-story.html
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