Prince George’s County to pay $1M to settle officers’ lawsuit in ‘double-dipping’ case

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Prince George’s County has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by police officers who were publicly indicted and suspended without pay in a widely publicized “double-dipping” case that later collapsed.

The lawsuit stemmed from an August 2022 announcement by thenState’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy and former Police Chief Malik Aziz, who revealed that 13 active officers and one retired officer had been indicted by a grand jury on charges of misconduct in office and felony and misdemeanor theft.

Prosecutors alleged the officers were improperly paid to provide private security at apartment complexes while simultaneously being “on the clock” for the county police department.

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“This is truly a disheartening day for the men and women who represent the very best of the Prince George’s County Police Department,” Aziz said at the time.

The officers named in the indictment were:

• Cpl. Nick Agapov
• Cpl. Jonathan Haskett
• Cpl. Mathew Obordo
• Cpl. Matthew Cotillo
• Cpl. Joshua Hitchens
• Cpl. Chris Hall
• Cpl. Michael O’Connell
• Cpl. Kyle Cook
• Cpl. Travis Popielarcheck
• Cpl. Anthony Brooke
• Cpl. Brandon Farley
• Police Officer First Class Christopher Oliver
• Police Officer First Class John McIntosh
• Retired Cpl. James Lubonski

Less than six months later, the State’s Attorney’s Office dropped all criminal charges, citing newly discovered evidence that undermined the case, including problems with witness statements and payroll records.

“There were a lot of problems with the investigation,” said attorney Raymond Shepard, who represents the officers.

Shepard filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the group, alleging they were unfairly targeted by a flawed and biased investigation that damaged their careers and personal lives.

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“Either incredibly negligently performed or biased,” Shepard said of the investigation.

Several officers have since returned to duty, none agreed to speak publicly. Shepard said his clients suffered significant financial and emotional stress while suspended without pay.

“They had to scramble for insurance. How were they going to feed their families?” Shepard said. “That creates a lot of stress.”

Under the settlement agreement, Prince George’s County will pay the officers $1 million and allow them to seek transfers to specialty units within the department, provisions Shepard said help lift the stigma associated with the charges.

In return, the officers agreed to dismiss the lawsuit and waive future legal claims related to the case.

Shepard said the financial payment was secondary to what mattered most to his clients which is having their names cleared.

“These are topnotch officers,” he said. “Prince George’s County is very lucky to have them. They didn’t deserve this, and hopefully they can get back on track.”