Dump truck driver pleads guilty to attempted murder of police officers

WASHINGTON — A dump truck driver has pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder of Prince George’s County police officers, but has been found not criminally responsible and will remain in a mental health facility.

Gene Thomas Brandon was behind the wheel of a 2007 GMC dump truck when he approached officers Jeffrey Bragg and Rodney Lauchman on Jan. 7, 2015, as the officers stood between their parked cruisers at Woodmore Towne Centre, in Glenarden, Maryland.

Brandon told the officers they killed his brother. The officers told Brandon they did not kill his brother, and he would have to move his truck because it was blocking traffic.

When Brandon repeated the accusation, the officers again replied they had not harmed his brother, ordered him to move his vehicle, and told him to have a nice day.

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