BALTIMORE (WBFF) — With a viral cell phone video at the center of the case, the trial of suspended Baltimore Police Officer Robert Parks has moved into the verdict-watch phase after two days of testimony and closing arguments.Parks is accused of trying to run down a man with his patrol car during an encounter in North Baltimore on Oct. 28, 2025. He faces several charges, including second-degree attempted murder, as well as assault and misconduct in office.The two-day trial at the Mitchell Courthouse downtown ended Wednesday with closing arguments from both the state and the defense. The verdict now rests with Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton because Parks chose a bench trial, meaning there is no jury and the judge alone will decide the outcome.Brandon Mead, a Baltimore criminal defense attorney at Mead Law who is not associated with the case but has been watching the proceedings, said bench trials can be a strategic choice.ALSO READ | Victim testifies he fled in fear after Baltimore patrol car strike seen in viral video“No case is purely open and shut,” Mead said.Mead said defendants may opt for a bench trial to avoid the unpredictable reactions of jurors, particularly in cases involving police.“A lot of times you choose that route in certain cases, to limit the empathy that sometimes you would want as a defense,” Mead said. “And in a case like this, there are a lot of feelings that can be had when you have 12 individuals that have had different interactions with Baltimore City Police, have different feelings towards the police department, and you cut that part of it out by going with a court trial.”During Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecutors cross-questioned Parks, who testified that he believed the victim was showing signs of being armed and said that was why he pursued him, as seen in the viral video. Prosecutors questioned why Parks did not inform anyone during the pursuit that he believed the victim might be armed, saying, “You didn’t once tell another human being there was a safety concern until after you wiped out your vehicle.”Parks also maintained during cross-questioning that his patrol vehicle never made contact with the victim, testifying, “I never struck him in the first place,” and adding, “I didn’t come close to striking him.”ALSO READ | Baltimore officer’s bench trial begins after rejecting plea deal in viral patrol car caseMead said the video evidence could be difficult for the defense to overcome.“I think the video is very damning for the defense and there’s really no way around that other than to try to argue that you didn’t really hit him. But, I don’t know how successful that argument is going to be,” he said.Mead said Judge Middleton is expected to take time to review the evidence before reaching a decision.“She’s going to take her time, she’s going to review all the evidence, she is not going to jump to a conclusion right off the bat, as one shouldn’t. There should be some deliberation time. For you to think through this through on your own. And I think that’s what’s happening right now,” Mead said.Verdict watch begins Thursday morning.Follow FOX45 reporter Keith Daniels on X and Facebook. Send tips to Kdaniels@sbgtv.com.
