Baltimore Co. police officer indicted on
manslaughter charges in death of teen after struggle
TOWSON, Md. — A
Baltimore County police officer was indicted Wednesday on manslaughter charges
in the death of a teen after a chase and a struggle sparked by youths throwing
rocks at his Randallstown home while he was off-duty.
A grand jury
indicted Officer James Laboard on manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter
charges in the death of 17-year-old Christopher Brown. Both charges are felonies,
with each carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
County officers facing felony charges are suspended without pay. Laboard was
arrested and released on personal recognizance after a court appearance
Wednesday, police said.
Laboard was at
home on June 13 when he heard a loud noise, went outside and found his front
door damaged — and three or four people running, police said. Laboard chased
the group for several blocks before pulling Brown from some bushes and
struggling with him. Police said Laboard called for help when the teen lost
consciousness. Brown was later pronounced dead at a hospital and his death was
ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.
Some, including
Brown’s mother, were frustrated by the pace of the investigation and had raised
concerns that Laboard was getting special treatment because he is a police
officer. But State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said in a statement
announcing the indictment that the case was treated like any other.
“The fact that Mr.
Laboard was an off-duty police officer had no bearing on the time that it took
to evaluate the evidence and move this case forward to the Grand Jury,” the
prosecutor said.
Brown’s family is
unhappy that Laboard is not facing more-serious charges, according to attorney
Russell Neverdon, who represents Brown’s family. Based on neighbors’ accounts
of what happened that night, Laboard should have been charged with at least
second-degree murder, he said.
“They’re very
disappointed and what adds salt to the wound is that he walks,” Neverdon said
referring to Laboard’s release without bail. Laboard poses a threat to public
safety, he said.
In the same
statement, Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson said officers are asked
to make “split-second, life-and-death” decisions, but they aren’t above the
law.
“The evidence
shows that at a moment during this altercation, Officer Laboard stepped beyond
the scope of his employment,” Johnson said. “He, as well as the Brown family,
deserved a thorough investigation of the facts, which we have conducted. Now,
Officer Laboard deserves due process under the law, the same as any other
citizen.”
Shaun Owens, an
attorney for Laboard, a nine-year department veteran, extended sympathies to
Brown’s family, but stressed that the officer “acted in full accordance with
his rights and responsibilities under the law.” He said the circumstances
surrounding the matter would come to light in a courtroom.
“It is important
for the community to bear in mind that tragedy does not require blame,” Owens
said.