Charges include assault, reckless endangerment, excessive force, theft, various traffic violations, and misconduct in office
Baltimore, Md. (February 20, 2024) - Today, State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announces that his Public Trust & Police Integrity Unit has secured indictments against law enforcement officers in three separate cases with offenses including assault, reckless endangerment, excessive force, theft, various traffic violations, and misconduct in office. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial.
“Wearing the badge of law enforcement and protecting and serving the residents of Maryland is an honor and a privilege. The allegations outlined in these indictments show a complete disregard for upholding the integrity of the badge,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “Creating a safer Maryland becomes all the more challenging when officers sworn to uphold the law commit criminal acts themselves. My administration will remain steadfast in its commitment to apply the law equally regardless of the offender, with the ultimate goal of achieving justice for victims and holding individuals accountable.”
In the first case, Corporal Zachary James Small, a sworn member of the Baltimore County Police Department, was indicted by a Baltimore City Grand Jury on Second-Degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment, Excessive Force, and Misconduct in Office. Baltimore County Officers Jacob Roos and Justin Graham-Moore were indicted on Misconduct in Office relating to the same incident.
The indictment of Cpl. Small alleges that on September 27, 2023, at approximately 7:12 p.m., Cpl. Small, along with Baltimore County police officers, Baltimore City Police Officers, and Johns Hopkins Hospital security officers, were in the 400 block of N. Washington Street exchanging a suspect who had escaped police custody at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The indictment alleges that officers cuffed the suspect’s hands behind his back and placed leg shackles around his legs before putting him into the back of a marked patrol vehicle with a partition in front of the back seat. All windows of the vehicle were rolled up.
According to court documents, shortly after being placed into the patrol car, the suspect argued with Cpl. Small about not being able to breathe in the back of the vehicle. Cpl. Small responded by threatening to pepper spray the suspect. The argument escalated until Cpl. Small sprayed nine shots of O/C Pepper Spray directly into the suspect’s face and then closed the patrol car door while the suspect was still in handcuffs, leg shackles, and seat belted. The suspect began to gasp, choke, and call out for the assistance of the officers while kicking against the car door to get the attention of the officers. In response, Cpl. Small pulled the suspect out of the car by his shirt and threw him onto the ground. Once on the ground, Cpl. Small grabbed the suspect’s hair and began to yank his head and neck back and forth while the suspect repeatedly asked for help.
According to court documents, as the suspect lay face down on the concrete, an officer asked him, “Why can’t you breathe.” Cpl. Small answered, “Because he got sprayed.” The suspect stated that he could not breathe and asked that the officers not put him back into the vehicle. In response, Cpl. Small grabbed the suspect’s shirt collar and used force to lift his torso from the ground while yelling at him. After maneuvering the suspect by his collar for approximately 30 seconds, Cpl. Small directed the suspect to get up and lifted him from the ground by his shirt collar. The suspect was then forced back into the patrol car where O/C Pepper Spray had been deployed.
The indictment alleges that Cpl. Small did not call for medical assistance for the suspect, nor did he attempt to render aid to the suspect. Instead, Cpl. Small ordered the suspect transported to Woodlawn Police Precinct in Baltimore County, Maryland.
The indictment of Cpl. Small, initially, included one count of first-degree assault, which was dismissed by the state prior to the announcement. “After careful review of all of the evidence available to us, I made the decision to dismiss the charge of first-degree assault. We believe we have the evidence to proceed on the remaining charges,” said Bates.
The indictments of officers Roos and Graham-Moore allege that at the time of the event on September 27, 2023, at the 400 block of N. Washington Street, the officers’ failure to step in and assist the individual during the incident between the suspect and Cpl. Small constituted Misconduct in Office.
In the second case, Baltimore Police Officer Alexia Davis was indicted on Misconduct in Office, Reckless Driving, Negligent Driving, Failure to Control Speed to Avoid Collision, and Driving an Emergency Vehicle without Regard for Safety. On June 17, 2023, Officer Davis was involved in a traffic collision while on duty and operating her patrol vehicle at the 4900 block of Sinclair Lane.
In the third case, Baltimore Police Detective June Hall was indicted on Theft between $100 and $1500, Theft Scheme between $100 and $1500, False Entries in Public Records, and Misconduct in Office.
The indictment alleges that on November 11, 2022, Det. Hall’s sergeant noticed that she had left her post for approximately three hours and 30 minutes during her 0700 hours to 1530 hours shift. When questioned about her whereabouts, Det. Hall advised that she had been at a dentist appointment for several hours. Furthermore, Det. Hall utilized a vehicle issued to the Recruitment Unit, did not notify her supervisors that she needed to leave her post, and failed to submit a medical leave request. She also requested and received overtime pay for that day from 0638 hours to 0700 hours. Subsequently, members of BPD’s Ethics Unit began to surveil Det. Hall.
According to court documents, the Ethics Unit observed several instances between March 3, 2023, and May 3, 2023, where Det. Hall reported in hours on her timesheet that she did not work and used BPD vehicles for personal errands.
In one instance, on March 30, 2023, Det. Hall left her residence at approximately 0728 hours and arrived at headquarters at approximately 0814 hours for her 0700-1530 hour shift. According to her timesheet, Det. Hall submitted and received overtime pay from 0626-0700 hours. On March 31, 2023, Det. Hall left her residence at 0728 hours and arrived at headquarters at approximately 0801 hours for her 0700-1500 hour shift. According to her timesheet, Det. Hall clocked in at 0720 hours. Later that day, she sent a text message to her sergeant stating, “Can you please fix my login time I forgot to log in at 7 bout time I remembered it was 0720.” Det. Hall received the full pay.
Case 1:
Click here for Corporal Zachary James Small’s Indictment
Click here for Officer Jacob Roos’ Indictment
Click here for Officer Justin Graham-Moore's Indictment
Case 2:
Click here for Officer Alexia Davis’ Indictment
Case 3:
Click here for Detective June Hall’s Indictment