BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) has released the identities of the officers and suspects involved in Tuesday’s officer-involved shooting in the western part of the city.
The officers involved are Officer Anthony Bennett, a five-year veteran, Officer Austin Gutridge, a 12-year veteran and Officer Jacob Redding, a four-year veteran. Police said all the involved officers are assigned to the Operations Bureau, Eastern District Action Team.
The two suspects are 61-year-old Andrew Brown and 37-year-old Devin Thomas.
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On Dec. 16 around 7:57 p.m., Eastern District Detectives were monitoring CCTV cameras when they saw suspected narcotics activity near North Charles and East 21st Streets. Members of the Eastern District Action Team (DAT) were then directed to the area to investigate and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle believed to be involved in the narcotics activity.
The vehicle fled and a police pursuit ensured. A request was made for Foxtrot, BPD’s helicopter, but it wasn’t in service at the time, according to police.
The suspect vehicle entered the 500 block of West Lanvale Street and drove into a dead-end alley. Three officers then exited their vehicle and approached the suspects on foot, giving verbal commands for the occupants to show their hands.
Police said the vehicle suddenly reversed toward an officer and crashed into a fence. The vehicle accelerated again towards the officer, at which point all three officers discharged their firearms.
BPD said Brown, the passenger, fell out of the vehicle as it drifted in reverse. Thomas, the driver, got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground.
Officers put handcuffs on both men and rendered aid to Thomas, who had been struck by gunfire, until medics arrived. Thomas was transported to a local hospital and has since been released. He was later arrested and charged with assault and dangerous weapon with intent to injure, according to BPD. Thomas’ bond review is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m., according to online court records.
Officers searched the vehicle and recovered two firearms and narcotics.
Baltimore police car and crime scene tape. (WBFF)
BPD’s Special Investigations Response Team (SIRT) is investigating. The police department has also activated its Public Release of Critical Incident Recordings Policy.
The policy reads in part, “In order to promote transparency, it is the policy of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to release audio and video recordings of Critical Incidents involving the BPD as long as such disclosure does not jeopardize any ongoing law enforcement investigation. All releases shall be made in accordance with federal, state, and local law.”
You can read BPD’s Public Release of Critical Incident Recordings Policy below:
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