Baltimore Police Sergeant In Viral Video Charged With Making False Statements About Alleged Assault
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Baltimore Police sergeant was indicted Friday on charges of making false statements after he claimed he was assaulted by two men in January.
A Baltimore City Grand Jury returned a two-count indictment against Baltimore Police Sergeant Welton Simpson Jr. He was indicted on one count of false statement to law enforcement and one count of misconduct in office. He could face up to six months in prison for his alleged behavior.
At the time, a viral video emerged showing people kicking Sergeant Simpson while he was trying to arrest a man.
The incident drew swift criticism from many, including Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison and Gov. Larry Hogan.
Days later, 23-year-old Zayne Abdullah and 20-year-old Donnell Burgess were arrested, along with a 17-year-old boy.
But, new video emerged telling a different story.
The video appears to show Sergeant Simpson walk into a convenience store, exchange words with Abdullah and then is seen pushing him.
Moments later, bystander video captures Sergeant Simpson and Abdullah struggling on the ground as Abdullah cries out, "I can't breath."
Sergeant Simpson reportedly told police that Abdullah spit in his face, but the indictment says none of the footage show "either spittle or spit coming from Abdullah's mouth."
Sergeant Simpson also allegedly told police that he was kicked in the head, but according to the indictment "the evidence instead shows...he was employing a prohibitive choke hold."
That's when Burgess is seen trying to pull Abdullah away from Sergeant Simpson.
Charges against both Abdullah and Burgess have officially been dropped, after their attorneys say they spent four months in jail.
"So, we're happy six months late, that he is being vindicated as telling the truth immediately on the scene," Abdullah's attorney, Natalie Finegar, said.
"The State's Attorney is finally doing what's right. This case never should have been charged by the State's attorney's office. They had much of the information from the very beginning," Burgess' attorney, Hunter Pruette, said.
Attorney's for the accused say one thing that's missing from Friday's announcement is an apology to their clients.
They would like to hear an apology from Mosby, Mayor Young, Gov. Hogan and Police Commissioner Harrison.
"Wearing a uniform and a badge means that the public needs to trust you and believe you. The indictment alleges that the officer violated this trust by making false statements and engaging in misconduct. We cannot accept and will not tolerate such actions," State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement.
Baltimore Police said in a statement that Sergeant Simpson's police powers have been suspended and that he's been assigned to administrative duties during this investigation.
The department said its also conducting its own internal investigation.
