MD Cop Indicted For Attempted Murder After Viral Chase Video

BALTIMORE, MD — A Baltimore City police officer who was captured in a viral video appearing to run down a person with his cruiser has been indicted for attempted murder, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Robert A. Parks faces several other charges following the Oct. 28 incident, including assault, reckless driving and misconduct in office, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said in a statement.

Parks turned himself in at the Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse late Wednesday morning and was being processed at Central Booking, Sheriff Sam Cogen told The Baltimore Banner. The indictment was foreshadowed when Parks was suspended from the department without pay earlier this week.

"The charges brought forward in this indictment reflect the serious and dangerous nature of the actions we all witnessed in the video of Officer Parks," Bates said in a statement. "When a police officer threatens the safety of those they are sworn to protect, it erodes the crucial trust between the community and law enforcement that is critical to the historic reductions in violent crime in our city and essential to keeping Baltimore safe."

According to the indictment, around 5 p.m. on the day of the incident, Parks drove to Wylie Liquors Bar located at 3101 Wylie Ave., where several people were standing on the sidewalk. Parks left his vehicle and approached the group, and asked them to disperse. The indictment does not state why he made that request.

In response, one of the people began walking away. As the others left, prosecutors said Parks got back into his patrol vehicle and drove westbound on Wylie Avenue, stopping along the curb to the right of the first person who had left the liquor store corner.

According to the indictment, Parks called the person to come over and got out of his vehicle again. Prosecutors said the officer stated, “Don’t make it worse. I’m going to be straight up with you. I’m going to be straight up with you. You gotta come. …” According to prosecutors, the individual refused and walked away.

As the person walked away, prosecutors said Parks yelled out, “All right, I’m gonna call the dogs and come get you.” As the person was walking away on a paved driveway, prosecutors said Parks returned to his patrol vehicle and stated over the radio, “I have one running, adult male … in the alley.”

According to the indictment, Parks then drove his police cruiser directly at the man with increasing speed. As the man ran to his left into a grassy area to avoid being struck, prosecutors said Parks steered his cruiser directly at the man and hit him.

After being hit, the man ran away from the patrol car toward Wylie Avenue. According to prosecutors, Parks continued to drive at the man, who then ran onto the sidewalk and between a pole and a fence. Parks then drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk directly at the man, prosecutors said.

The individual then ran toward an alley behind residences and businesses. According to the indictment, Parks made a U-turn and drove down the same alley, plowing through a stationary chain-link fence and into the backyard of 3129 Sumter Ave., nearly striking the man and causing him to jump over a fence to avoid being hit.

At that time, prosecutors said Parks’ vehicle became disabled, so he chased the man on foot. According to the indictment, he stopped chasing the man shortly after and returned to his patrol car.

Video of the incident that was later shared on social media captured a portion of the interaction and quickly went viral.

In a statement released Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called Parks' actions "unacceptable" and at odds with how public servants are expected to act.

"We are thankful to our partners in the State’s Attorney’s office for their work, and will be closely following the outcome of this trial," Scott said. "If convicted, the officer will be fired immediately, in accordance with the law.”