From the Maryland Attorney General‘s office:
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today filed a complaint requesting, among other things, a temporary restraining order to stop the Harford County Sheriff’s Office from interfering with the investigation of the Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division into the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in Forest Hill on April 23.
In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly created an independent unit within the Attorney General’s Office, called the Independent Investigations Division (IID), to investigate all police-involved fatalities in the state. Local law-enforcement agencies are required by law to cooperate with the IID’s investigations.
As detailed in the documents filed today, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) notified the Independent Investigations Division on April 23 that two of its deputies had shot and killed a civilian. IID investigators, along with the Maryland State Police (MSP) homicide unit and forensic sciences unit, began arriving within 40 minutes to process the crime scene, collect evidence, and interview witnesses.
At the scene, the HCSO refused to allow the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Unit – an independent body – to collect the evidence in this case, in accordance with the IID’s standard protocols. The HCSO insisted instead that its own employees collect the evidence. The HCSO did not begin collecting that evidence until after MSP evidence technicians were present and available to do so in a reliable, independent manner. That evidence has not been provided to the IID in the two days since the fatality occurred.
The HCSO also refused to provide copies of any video footage of this incident to the Independent Investigations Division. That video includes the body-worn cameras of the involved and witness officers, as well as dashboard cameras and additional video from non-law-enforcement sources. Having copies of those videos for analysis is crucial to conducting an independent investigation. The HCSO’s proposed alternative—that the IID review the videos only under HCSO supervision—is antithetical to an independent investigation.
Within the last month, the General Assembly passed, and Governor Hogan signed into law, a bill to provide additional protections against the types of interference occurring in this case. The law (Ch. 141) will become effective July 1. Even before the new law becomes effective, the Attorney General may obtain all of the standard forms of injunctive relief, including the temporary restraining order filed today.
Attorney General Frosh has released the following statement about the fatal incident and its investigation:
“The Sheriff’s Office is interfering with the Division’s investigation in this case. This interference with an independent investigation is in violation of the law. The people of Maryland deserve better, and we will fight to see that they get it.”
We ask that anyone with information about this investigation contact the Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division at (410) 576-7070.
Once again Harford County doing whatever the hell Harford County wants to do. Whether its racism in its courts or Sheriffs interfering with investigations it only proves what a back water poop hole this county is. The leadership in that county should be distinctly proud for creating the laughing stock they are across the United States
Lock Gahler Up! Period! His arrogance needs to go!
I actually think Gahler’s actions are hurting his cause more than helping. If I was one of the involved Deputies or part of the victim’s family, I would be infuriated. It now looks like they are hiding something.
Mike.
I don’t believe they are hiding anything. This is just another case of Sheriff Gahler playing politics.
“Sheriff on AG’s accusations of interference: ‘We will see what the court says'”
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/harford-county-sheriff-shooting-investigation-court-battle/39828084
The sheriff has issues with the Police Accountability Act of 2021.
As long as ALL the information required is delivered to whichever agency is required to get it, then who CARES who did the investigating? The bodycam footage will tell the tale and that is the way it is.
“Judge grants temporary restraining order against Harford County sheriff”
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/temporary-restraining-order-harford-county-sheriff/39849642
In 2013 he and his furniture thief buddy o’malley enacted legislation with the express purpose to not only tax, but to prevent, legal Marylanders from rightfully owning firearms. He won’t stop with his treasonous acts even though they’ve done nothing to reduce crime. Democrats should be ashamed of putting this useless, American hating, piece of shit in office.
FJB
Rather than supporting a bunch of baby killers, illegals, blm millionaires and antifa, maybe this country wouldn’t be in the economic shitter it now is.
FJB
OMG…how many times does the Harford County police have to shed their colors and badge and show their true self. Indeed they do whatever they want. They will walk into your home, scare your wife, kick your dog and steal everything in your home and you will do nothing about it because they have the LAW on their side. They will trample your rights down into the ground. When they force their way into your home…it will always to preserve the peace and sanctuary of our American home right?…Bullshit…these thugs with police badges are part of the problem. Let me go into your home Officer Nottingham and do what your “police officers?” did in my home…and then tell me you are doing anything good. You and your goonies like Meme are the bigger problem. You people don’t care about the poor or under classed. You are bigger and better then us….arent you?
How can anyone believe anything that comes from Harford County politicians or our entire government? Does anyone know that our country has been sold out from right under our feet. We are all living a false reality. The home you are paying for…the future you think you are building for you children? will all be wiped out in the blink of an eye….soon. The CIA is the Great Satan…. The government inside our government will be our undoing and our end.
Several weeks ago Maryland became a “Shall Issue” state with regard to handgun wear and carry permits. Use the following link to learn how to exercise Your Constitutional Right:
https://www.marylandshallissue.org/jmain/index.php
Baltimore city has been an illegal conceal carry for years. No permit, no gun license, no application, no required safety coarse and no consequences.
Only law abiding marylanders dont illegal carry.
Maryland sucks donkey dick.