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Police Investigate Death of Gaithersburg Man

For Immediate Release: Saturday, April 20, 2013

Detectives from the Major Crimes Division are investigating the death of a Gaithersburg man.

On Friday, April 19, at approximately 6:11 p.m., 6th District officers responded to the 8800 block of Cross Country Place in Gaithersburg for a report of a male subject acting strangely.  The caller stated to the 9-1-1 center call-taker that an African American male, possibly in his 30’s, was standing in a parked pick-up truck, yelling profanities, striking the truck with rocks, and crawling on other vehicles.

When the first officer arrived, he found the subject, as described, in the bed of the pick-up truck.  The subject left the pick-up truck and jumped to the roof of an SUV next to the truck. The officer ordered the man down from the SUV and he jumped from the SUV but continued to act aggressively and strangely.  After the subject failed to comply with the officer’s instructions, the officer administered his pepper spray and the subject ran a short distance away to the sidewalk adjacent to the lot.

The subject continued to act aggressively and picked up and dropped in succession a larger potted plant and a landscaping rock. After dropping the rock, the subject approached the front door of 8830 Cross Country Place.  At one point he picked up a child’s scooter and used that to strike the front door of the residence.  Additional officers arrived at the scene and ordered the subject from the front porch of the residence.  He refused their commands and two officers deployed their tasers, causing the subject to drop to the ground.  Additional officers then restrained him with handcuffs.

Officers quickly noticed that the subject was not breathing.  They requested Fire/Rescue personnel and began administering CPR to the subject.  The subject was transported to Shady Grove Hospital where he was pronounced dead after a short time.

The identity of the 51-year-old male will be released after family members have been notified.

Following protocol, the five officers directly involved in this event have been placed on Administrative Leave.

Detectives have been interviewing approximately 12 witnesses, including the original complainant to this event. However, anyone who witnessed this event and has not spoken to police is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070.

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Release ID: 13-122
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases