ACC finds two 2024 complaints unfounded; no discipline recommended in St. Mary's County cases

The St. Mary’s County Administrative Charging Committee presented written determinations for two cases at the Police Accountability Board meeting on May 15, finding both matters unfounded and recommending no discipline.

Case OPR20245306 involved a hospital complaint from September 2024 alleging sexual misconduct by a sheriff’s deputy. The committee’s written summary said the complainant had a “long history of mental and emotional disorders,” had not been taking prescribed medication at the time of the allegation, and that the sheriff’s office investigation found no physical evidence to support the claim. The ACC’s written determination concluded the allegations were unfounded and recommended no discipline.

The second matter, OPR2020743, involved five officers and alleged improper detentions, searches and biased policing related to incidents on May 11 and June 12, 2024, in Lexington Park. The ACC reviewed body‑worn camera footage and agency records and concluded that actions taken during a May warrant execution and a June traffic stop were consistent with applicable law and agency policy. The committee cited case law in its report regarding canine alerts and warrantless searches and concluded the allegations were unfounded for all officers; no discipline was recommended.

Nut graf: Both written ACC dispositions were presented under confidentiality rules; the committee redacted personally identifiable and sensitive investigatory information and limited public discussion to summaries permitted by Maryland’s public safety confidentiality provisions.

Members asked for clarification about the June traffic stop, including the length of time between the initial stop and a canine sniff. Sheriff’s Office personnel said the K‑9 unit is assigned to each patrol squad, is available unless already committed to a call or training, and that the canine in the June incident was already operating in the area so the canine search did not prolong the traffic stop. Sheriff’s office staff described canine staffing and training constraints and said coverage is arranged by patrol shift.

Ending: The PAB accepted the ACC reports as summaries of the committee’s determinations; no changes to the findings were made at the meeting. Board members emphasized that detailed investigatory materials remain confidential in accordance with applicable public safety statutes.