FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD – Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the February 16, 2026 fatal police-involved use of force incident that occurred in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland.
On Monday, February 16, 2026, at approximately 3:20 a.m., Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) Officer Derek Hadel responded to a 911 call reporting a vehicle sitting for a long time at the intersection of Security Boulevard and Whitehead Court in Gwynn Oak, Maryland. Officer Hadel approached the vehicle and observed a man, later identified as Samuel Brown, asleep in the driver’s seat. Officer Hadel knocked on the driver’s side window to wake up Brown. Officer Hadel told Brown to roll down his window. Brown reached over to the center console and did not roll down his window as instructed but instead turned on his windshield wipers. Officer Hadel opened Brown’s door and asked him multiple times to exit the vehicle. Brown refused. Video footage shows that Officer Hadel appeared to forcefully close the vehicle door and walk back to his police cruiser. Brown exited his vehicle and approached the officer. Officer Hadel pushed Brown back and repeatedly told Brown to get back in his vehicle. Brown did not comply. Instead, Brown appeared to slap twice at Officer Hadel’s hand, and he continued to approach the officer. Officer Hadel punched Brown in the face. Brown fell and his head struck the ground. Officer Hadel requested emergency medical services (EMS) and rendered medical aid to Brown until EMS arrived. EMS transported Brown to the hospital. After eleven days at the hospital, Brown was pronounced dead on February 27, 2026.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal police-involved use of force incident on Monday, February 16, 2026, and concluded its investigation on August 10, 2026. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the subject officer did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the subject officer in this case.
A copy of the IID’s detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be found in its declination report.
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