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 Tawon Boyd in 2016 and found insufficient information to warrant opening the matter for further investigation. Mr. Boyd, a 21-year-old Black man, died two days after being restrained by a Baltimore County Police Department officer on September 19, 2016.
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 Tawon Boyd’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 September 19, 2016, at approximately 3:00 a.m., officers from the Baltimore County Police Department responded to a 911 call for a disturbance at a residence in Middle River, Maryland. When officers arrived, they encountered Tawon Boyd yelling about an intruder in the house. One officer described Mr. Boyd as confused, paranoid, and sweating heavily. Police were advised that Mr. Boyd had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, and that he was now acting “crazy” and falsely claiming that someone was inside the home.
When officers tried to speak to Mr. Boyd, he began to scream and ran outside. At one point, Mr. Boyd attempted to get inside a police car, but the car was locked. Mr. Boyd then ran to a nearby home and began knocking on the door and telling residents to call the police. Officers ordered Mr. Boyd to get away from the door and sit on the ground, but he did not comply. At that point, officers determined that it was necessary to take Mr. Boyd into custody for an emergency evaluation. An officer grabbed Mr. Boyd’s arm, but Mr. Boyd pulled away. After Mr. Boyd ignored additional orders to get on the ground, a struggle ensued for approximately five minutes. Mr. Boyd grabbed, scratched, and kicked officers. An officer struck Mr. Boyd twice in the face with his fist. Mr. Boyd was eventually handcuffed in front of his body. Officers used their body weight to keep Mr. Boyd on the ground as he continued to resist. Additional officers arrived and assisted by holding Mr. Boyd’s hands above his head and applying flex cuffs around his ankles, but Mr. Boyd continued to struggle.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., emergency medical services arrived on scene. While the officers continued to restrain Mr. Boyd, paramedics administered Haldol, a medication primarily used to control acute psychotic symptoms. Mr. Boyd appeared to immediately calm down. Officers noted that Mr. Boyd had a pulse and was breathing. Mr. Boyd was placed in an ambulance and transported to the hospital. While en route to the hospital, Mr. Boyd went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. Mr. Boyd was admitted to the hospital. He later suffered multi-system organ failure. Mr. Boyd was pronounced deceased on September 21, 2016.
On September 22, 2016, the OCME performed an autopsy and found the manner of death was “Accident.”
In December 2016, the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore County declined to pursue criminal charges arising out of the death of Mr. Boyd. More than a decade later, pursuant to a state audit, independent medical examiners reviewed the findings of the OCME and determined that the manner of death for Mr. Boyd 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. Boyd.
Against this backdrop, the Office of the Attorney General reviewed the investigative file for Mr. Boyd 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 2016.
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 Tawon Boyd 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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