(DENTON, MD) – The condition of the off-duty trooper injured in Caroline County last night has improved and no charges are being filed at this time in connection with the incident.
The off-duty trooper, assigned to the Easton Barrack, has been upgraded to serious condition, according to officials at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. The trooper is continuing to receive treatment at the hospital.
After interviews by State Police investigators and a review of information by the Caroline County State’s Attorney’s Office, no charges are being filed at this time against the three teenagers who were questioned overnight. All three were released after they were interviewed.
At this point in the investigation, information indicates the teen driver and his two companions may have encountered one or more trash cans in the roadway as they traveled in the area of 7th Street and Market Street in Denton, at about 7:15 p.m. yesterday. According to information developed during the investigation, the driver may have been attempting to push a trash can out of the way with the car. Then, a passenger reached out and grabbed the can, attempting to move it further out of the path of the car.
When the off-duty trooper drove up behind this scene in his personal car, it appeared the three may have been tampering with the trash can and possibly moving it into the roadway or turning it over. When the off-duty trooper approached the car, he was wearing plainclothes and was not displaying his badge or identification card.
The investigation indicates the 17-year-old driver was startled and unsure of whom the off-duty trooper was and may have instinctively accelerated away out of concern for his safety. The trooper was in contact with the car and was dragged down the street until he became dislodged and was injured as the car continued on.
The investigation is continuing.
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I'm generally on a cop's side, but it sounds like he made several bad procedural errors.
ReplyDeletealways identify yourself.
ReplyDeleteNow here is a case where I would actually agree with imclain if he were to suggest the trooper was STUPID!
ReplyDeleteHe needs some serious training/counseling.When he's off he's off.Charges should be filed against the trooper.My firm will be contacting the youths today to hopefully get that ball rolling.Everyone has reached out of a vehicle to move something away from their car at some time or the other.
ReplyDeleteAnother misinterpretation by cop!
ReplyDeleteThey think they know it all sometimes but are drastically wrong!
Lucky this one didn't get himself killed. AND, lucky for them he couldn't reach his concealed weapon in time to kill one of them.
Hope he makes it out alright and learns his lesson. Not all situations are what they are perceived to be.
Fortunately this one turned out well.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHe needs some serious training/counseling.When he's off he's off.Charges should be filed against the trooper.My firm will be contacting the youths today to hopefully get that ball rolling.Everyone has reached out of a vehicle to move something away from their car at some time or the other.
May 23, 2013 at 1:02 PM
Cops are never 'off'. He probably just assumed they knew he was a cop. What charges and/or counselling do you think the cop might need? He may have made a mistake or two, ones he paid dearly for and not ones he will soon be repeating. The only 'firm' you represent, in my estimate, would be a firm handshake. And that is questionable.
Had an unknown person gotten out of the vehicle and approach my car I think I would take off also. He probably scared the kids to death.
ReplyDelete@1:02, yay, another blood sucking lawyer. I assume you work for Dewey, Cheatem & Howe? Let me know when you get back in from chasing ambulances.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason this incident doesn't pass the smell test? Maybe the teenagers were the children of someone "important?"
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the off duty trooper activated his emergency warning lights? If so then this dispels the theory that the driver was scared.
ReplyDelete7:55
ReplyDeleteIt says he was in his personal vehicle.
Hey, I'm 59 years old, and if I was doing that and some guy came up to my vehicle and reached into my car, I would take off in an instant, and try to wipe him off my car with obstacles! I see no foul here except with the trooper. Good thing he couldn't get to his gun and blow the kids brain out.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete7:55
It says he was in his personal vehicle.
May 23, 2013 at 8:11 PM
My bad, I just saw that.
12:58....quit stealing my lines....just kidding you, brother. It WAS stupid. "...was in contact with the car...", means he tried to play hero and hang on to the car, maybe trying to grab the keys or something like that. He's lucky he wasn't messing with someone who was packing some heat and shot his dumb ass.
ReplyDelete