FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Finds Insufficient Evidence to Reopen Criminal Investigation
BALTIMORE, MD – The Office of the Attorney General has completed its review of the investigative file from the death of Carl Johnson in 2010 and found insufficient information to warrant opening the matter for further investigation. Mr. Johnson, a 48-year-old Black man, died shortly after being restrained by Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) officers and Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers on May 27, 2010.
This review was completed pursuant to an executive order requiring a review of 41 restraint-related deaths occurring between 2003 and 2019 that independent medical examiners determined should have been classified as homicides. Prior to this audit by independent medical examiners, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) had not classified these cases as homicides. Since the release of the audit’s findings in 2025, the OCME has not changed the manner or cause of death certification in any of the 41 cases.
According to the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), the classification of the manner of the death is not a legal conclusion. A death is classified as a homicide when it results from a volitional act committed by another person. The classification does not by itself establish criminal intent or criminal culpability, which are determinations made through the legal process.
A team of experienced prosecutors and investigators from the Office of the Attorney General is now conducting a comprehensive review of the 41 cases from the audit. For this inquiry, prosecutors and investigators requested investigative material from State’s Attorney’s Offices, police departments, family members of the decedents, and attorneys representing the families. These materials are subject to disclosure to other parties pursuant to the Office of the Attorney General’s obligations under state law.
Today, the Office of the Attorney General announced that it has completed its review of the files from Carl Johnson’s death. This review considered files from law enforcement authorities and the OCME.
The following information was obtained from the investigative file created by law enforcement authorities. On May 27, 2010, at approximately 9:00 p.m., a Baltimore County Fire and Rescue paramedic witnessed a 2004 Toyota Tundra pickup truck driving erratically. The paramedic lost sight of the truck after it accelerated rapidly. The operator of the truck was later identified as Carl D’Andre Johnson.
A short time later, the paramedic observed the same truck in a grassy area between the ramps for I-695 and I-795. Police reports indicate that a large highway sign was lying on the ground near the truck. The I-beam that supported the sign had been sheared off after being struck by the truck. The truck sustained severe damage from the collision.
The paramedic advised the Baltimore County Fire and Rescue dispatcher of the collision. She further reported that the truck was resting on the guardrail protecting the eastbound ramp to I-695 and that Mr. Johnson continued to press the accelerator pedal, causing debris to be thrown onto the roadway. Eventually, both tires blew out after spinning at a high rate of speed in the dirt. The paramedic advised that she did not feel safe approaching the truck. She waited for law enforcement to reach the scene.
Maryland State Police troopers and BCoPD officers were dispatched to the scene. The paramedic observed a single MSP trooper approach the truck and issue commands, but Mr. Johnson remained inside the truck The trooper made several unsuccessful attempts to remove Mr. Johnson from the truck. Mr. Johnson rolled down his window but refused to exit the truck. After the trooper deployed OC spray, commonly known as pepper spray, inside the truck, Mr. Johnson exited the truck in a manner that the paramedic described as very uncooperative.
According to the paramedic, Mr. Johnson began fighting with the MSP trooper. Two BCoPD officers arrived on the scene and tried to handcuff Mr. Johnson, who continued to resist. The officers called for additional officers to respond, and a signal 13 (officer in trouble) was called.
Officers continued to try to handcuff Mr. Johnson. Officers struck Mr. Johnson with ASP batons. The paramedic described those strikes as ineffective as Mr. Johnson continued to fight and kick at officers. Additional officers arrived on the scene. Two officers deployed their Tasers. Taser logs indicate that each Taser was deployed once for five seconds. This use of force appeared to be effective, and Mr. Johnson was subsequently placed into custody.
The account offered by the paramedic was generally consistent with statements provided by other first responders on the scene. One civilian witness provided an alternative account, one that did not include: an accident or damage to the truck, the use of pepper spray or batons by the officers, or physical resistance by Mr. Johnson.
The paramedic stated that, after Mr. Johnson had been handcuffed, the MSP trooper and one of the BCoPD officers approached her. Both officers had apparent injuries. The paramedic requested additional units to respond to the scene. As the paramedic treated the officers’ injuries, she heard another officer yell for a medic, at which point she learned that Mr. Johnson was in medical distress. The paramedic said that she found that Mr. Johnson was no longer breathing and he did not have a pulse. The paramedic initiated emergency medical care for Mr. Johnson. This account by the paramedic was consistent with reports submitted by officers who responded to the signal 13. Officers described seeing Mr. Johnson handcuffed and lying in the grass. Officers called additional paramedics to the scene.
Mr. Johnson was placed on a backboard, loaded into a medic unit, and transported to an area hospital, which was approximately a 10-minute drive from the scene. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Mr. Johnson was pronounced deceased by an emergency room physician.
On May 28, 2010, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) performed an autopsy and found that the manner of death was ruled “Undetermined.”
On September 23, 2010, the State’s Attorney for Baltimore County declined to pursue criminal charges arising out of the death of Mr. Johnson. Approximately fifteen years later, pursuant to a state audit, independent medical examiners reviewed the findings of the OCME and determined that the manner of death for Mr. Johnson should have been “Homicide.” As of this date, the OCME has not changed the original certification as to the manner of death or cause of death for Mr. Johnson.
Against this backdrop, the Office of the Attorney General reviewed the investigative file for Mr. Johnson to see whether the evidence warranted further action by state authorities. This review by the Office of the Attorney General found insufficient evidence to prove criminal culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. The Office of the Attorney General accordingly concurs with the decision made by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office in 2010.
Upon completing its review of the available investigatory materials, the Office of the Attorney General found that there was insufficient evidence to reopen the matter of Carl Johnson for further investigation or for criminal prosecution. The Office of the Attorney General will provide the decedent’s family with an opportunity to review materials in the investigative file.
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