BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — A fatal police-involved use of force incident in Baltimore County that began with a predawn 911 call in February will not result in criminal charges, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, on Monday, Feb. 16, at about 3:20 a.m., Baltimore County Police Department Officer Derek Hadel responded to a 911 call reporting a vehicle that had been sitting for a long time at the intersection of Security Boulevard and Whitehead Court in Gwynn Oak. Hadel approached the vehicle and saw a man later identified as Samuel Brown asleep in the driver’s seat.
Hadel knocked on the driver’s side window to wake Brown and told him to roll down the window. Brown reached toward the center console and did not roll down the window as instructed, but instead turned on the windshield wipers. Hadel opened the door and asked Brown multiple times to get out of the vehicle, but Brown refused.
Video footage shows Hadel appeared to forcefully close the vehicle door and walk back to his police cruiser, according to officials. Brown then got out of the vehicle and approached Hadel. Hadel pushed Brown back and repeatedly told him to get back in his vehicle, but Brown did not comply. Brown appeared to slap twice at Hadel’s hand and continued to approach him, the release said.
Hadel punched Brown in the face, and Brown fell, striking his head on the ground, according to the AG’s office. Hadel requested emergency medical services and rendered medical aid until EMS arrived. EMS transported Brown to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead Feb. 27, 2026, after 11 days.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division began investigating the incident on Feb. 16, 2026, and concluded its investigation Aug. 10, 2026.
After evaluating the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General determined the officer did not commit a crime under Maryland law and declined to prosecute.
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