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Administrative Charging Committee letters: four case determinations reviewed by PAB
Summary
At its March 12 meeting the Police Accountability Board reviewed ACC determination letters for four OPR files involving use of force on an aggressive dog, an arrest after an alleged arson threat, claims of property removal during a warrant search, and an arrest/inventory after an alleged intoxicated break‑in.
At its March 12 meeting the Police Accountability Board reviewed Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) determination letters for four OPR case files: OPR2024-1197, OPR2024-0722, OPR2024-1700 and OPR2024-1800. For each case the ACC's written determinations, as summarized to the board, concluded that no officers should be administratively charged and adopted final reports on the dates indicated in the ACC letters.
OPR2024-1197 (incident date Feb. 18, 2024; Hollywood, Md.): Deputies approached a residence to investigate a reported violation of a court-issued peace order. Body‑worn camera footage reviewed by the ACC showed three loose dogs attacked a deputy on a porch; one dog was shot by a deputy during a split‑second use‑of‑force decision and later euthanized on-site. The ACC found the deputies' conduct reasonable under policy and exonerated or found allegations unfounded across counts including trespassing and search issues. The determination noted the deputy suffered a deep leg bite that required 15 stitches and that animal control assisted on scene. The final report was adopted in December 2024.
OPR2024-0722 (incident date Feb. 5, 2024; Lexington Park): Deputies arrested a person after reports that the individual threatened to commit arson and was observed spraying an unknown liquid. The ACC reviewed body‑worn footage and reports and concluded the responding personnel acted in good faith; it also noted legal confusion about whether the charged offense (threat of arson) — a misdemeanor — always permits a warrantless arrest. The ACC adopted the sheriff's recommendation and declined to administratively charge officers; the committee recommended remedial training to address the legal misunderstanding. The ACC adopted its final report on Jan. 29, 2025.
OPR2024-1700 (incident date June 16, 2023; Solomons): Complainant alleged a watch was removed during execution of a search warrant and replaced with a different watch, among other claims including misuse of the offender registry and remote access to a Google account. ACC review of body‑worn video and documentary evidence found no support for the allegations and deemed them unfounded; the ACC adopted the sheriff's recommendation and made no administrative charges. The final report was adopted in February 2025.
OPR2024-1800 (incident date March 22, 2024; Lexington Park): Personnel responded to reports of an impaired driver who allegedly forced entry into a residence. The ACC reviewed body‑worn footage and concluded officers had probable cause to detain and arrest a suspect who matched witness descriptions; it found no excessive force and characterized an inadvertent lapse in activating a deputy's body‑worn camera at the moment of vehicle search as non‑disciplinary. The ACC did not recommend charges; its final report was adopted in February 2025.
During the board review, members asked clarifying questions about prior contacts, evidence such as what was observed at the scene, and whether prior instances involving the parties were documented; ACC summaries indicated investigators reviewed body‑worn camera footage and witness interviews before making determinations. No new discipline recommendations were issued at the PAB meeting. The PAB moved to the next agenda item after the ACC letters were discussed.
