Police probe officers' conduct at Route 32 arrest
By Mike Santa Rita
msantarita@patuxent.com
Posted 11/24/08
Howard County Police Chief William McMahon has ordered an internal investigation into a Nov. 20 arrest in which a police officer appeared to punch a man who was lying on the ground following a car chase on Route 32.
Stephen Zombro, 40, of Jessup, was wanted on a theft charge when police tried to stop him at the intersection of Dorsey Run Road and Patuxent Range Road, in Jessup, at 12:55 p.m., police said. Zombro fled onto Route 32, police said, in his white Ford pick-up truck.
As he fled, Zombro drove erratically, weaving in and out of traffic and nearly striking a number of vehicles. Police eventually flattened the truck’s tires, and Zombro stopped on Route 32 near Route 29, police said.
One police officer was hurt when Zombro’s car struck his, police said. The officer was taken to Howard County General Hospital with minor injuries, police said.
After Zombro’s truck stopped, he got out and laid down in the street. Video footage of the incident from WJLA-TV in Washington showed an officer punching Zombro while he lay on the ground.
“I have watched the video and I am concerned,” McMahon said in a statement. “I have directed our internal affairs division to conduct an investigation into some of the actions that took place during the arrest.”
A police officer was placed on administrative duty following the incident and will be confined to desk work while the internal affairs investigation continues, said Cpl. Jennifer Reidy-Hall, a police spokeswoman.
Police charged Zombro with multiple counts of first- and second-degree assault, possession of a controlled dangerous-substance that is not marijuana, and malicious destruction of property over $500. His charges also include attempting to elude a police officer by failing to stop, reckless driving, negligent driving, and failure to stop a vehicle at a scene of an accident involving bodily injury, according to charging documents.
In a bail review hearing Nov. 24 in Howard County District Court, Judge Pamila Brown ordered Zombro held on $8,500 bail on the theft charge and $200,000 bail on the other charges, according to Wayne Kirwan, a spokesman for Howard County State’s Attorney Dario Broccolino.
Zombro was represented at his bail review hearing by public defender Lou Willemin who declined to comment on the case. When asked about the circumstances of the arrest Willemin said, “The video speaks for itself,” and declined to comment further.
This article has been updated.
Stephen Zombro, 40, of Jessup, was wanted on a theft charge when police tried to stop him at the intersection of Dorsey Run Road and Patuxent Range Road, in Jessup, at 12:55 p.m., police said. Zombro fled onto Route 32, police said, in his white Ford pick-up truck.
As he fled, Zombro drove erratically, weaving in and out of traffic and nearly striking a number of vehicles. Police eventually flattened the truck’s tires, and Zombro stopped on Route 32 near Route 29, police said.
One police officer was hurt when Zombro’s car struck his, police said. The officer was taken to Howard County General Hospital with minor injuries, police said.
After Zombro’s truck stopped, he got out and laid down in the street. Video footage of the incident from WJLA-TV in Washington showed an officer punching Zombro while he lay on the ground.
“I have watched the video and I am concerned,” McMahon said in a statement. “I have directed our internal affairs division to conduct an investigation into some of the actions that took place during the arrest.”
A police officer was placed on administrative duty following the incident and will be confined to desk work while the internal affairs investigation continues, said Cpl. Jennifer Reidy-Hall, a police spokeswoman.
Police charged Zombro with multiple counts of first- and second-degree assault, possession of a controlled dangerous-substance that is not marijuana, and malicious destruction of property over $500. His charges also include attempting to elude a police officer by failing to stop, reckless driving, negligent driving, and failure to stop a vehicle at a scene of an accident involving bodily injury, according to charging documents.
In a bail review hearing Nov. 24 in Howard County District Court, Judge Pamila Brown ordered Zombro held on $8,500 bail on the theft charge and $200,000 bail on the other charges, according to Wayne Kirwan, a spokesman for Howard County State’s Attorney Dario Broccolino.
Zombro was represented at his bail review hearing by public defender Lou Willemin who declined to comment on the case. When asked about the circumstances of the arrest Willemin said, “The video speaks for itself,” and declined to comment further.
This article has been updated.
user comments (2)
user beatendowntaxpayer says...
Zombro was taken to Howard County General Hospital. A preliminary investigation has revealed no serious injuries, police said.
There you go. Case closed.
After putting all those people in danger, officers and civilians included, and his history and his actions, officers needed to take him down quickly and efficiently, which they did.
Posted 10:48 PM, 11.21.08
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