A Baltimore police officer has been indicted with second-degree assault and misconduct in office stemming from an incident involving a man who refused to wear a facemask inside of a Shoppers Supermarket in April.
Last week, a Baltimore City grand jury returned the two-count indictment against Baltimore Police Department Officer Andre Maurice Pringle for offenses that occurred on April 19 in the City of Baltimore. Pringle faces up to up to 10 years in prison for the assault charge. There is no statutory penalty for the misconduct charge, which is classified as a misdemeanor.
The indictment alleges that on around 3:15 p.m. on April 19, Brandon Walker entered a Shoppers Supermarket with a face mask on top of his head in violation of Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive order and then-Mayor Jack” Young. Walker was using a crutch at the time and had a cast on his right foot.
Prosecutors allege that a Shoppers Supermarket manager asked Walker to put his face mask on properly and he refused. The manager called store security who asked Walker to comply with the governor’s order or leave and again Walker refused. The manager then called Pringle.
Prosecutors allege that Pringle and Walker entered the enclosed area between the two sets of automated doors, when Walker stopped and glared at Pringle. Walker then turned back around and Pringle responded by grabbing him by his jacket and shoving him out of the store’s exit. Once outside, Pringle slammed Walker to the ground, face first, causing Walker to hit his head on the concrete. Pringle then got on top of Walker and folded his left leg upward forcing Walker’s left foot to his buttocks. The contact which started with the shove and continued through the arrest resulted in intentional, harmful, offensive, and unwanted touching by Pringle.
Indicted on a misdemeanor? In Maryland? How does that work
The officer is black, the man assaulted, white. If it were reversed, there would be riots.
What say you Hogan , this officer doesn’t have the right to force the wearing of masks .
Revolution is coming , stop the mask BS .
When will people learn that all they have to do is obey the commands of the nice police officer and everything will be cool. No problem.