Harford Deputy-Involved Death: State Delays Release Of Camera Footage

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The Office of the Attorney General gave an update on its probe into the deadly shooting of a Harford County man at the hands of Harford County deputies.

Typically, the agency provides the public with footage from body and dashboard cameras within 14 days of a police-involved shooting.

In this case, investigators said Monday they need more time to "conduct untainted interviews" and "carry out an appropriately thorough investigation."

The attorney general's independent investigations division is leading the probe into the death of John Raymond Fauver, 53, in accordance with a state law passed in October 2021 mandating it handle all police-involved fatalities.

Fauver, who lived in Whiteford, was shot by two deputies outside a shopping center on Rock Spring Road on Saturday, April 23, officials said.

Officers in Harford County were alerted about a suicidal person who may have a long gun around 2:45 p.m. that day, officials said. An hour later, deputies encountered Fauver, who ultimately was shot and later died.

After the shooting, the attorney general's office and the Harford County Sheriff's Office were at odds over who should be in control of the evidence. A judge ordered the sheriff's office to hand over the videos and other information to the Office of the Attorney General by April 30.

To ensure witnesses could be interviewed without having viewed footage from the scene, the attorney general's office said it would need to delay the release of these videos.

"Once the release of the video will not compromise the investigation, the [independent investigations division] will make public the body-worn camera footage on its video channel," the attorney general's office reported Monday.

Officials cited these protocols for the independent investigations division: “The IID will generally release body camera footage within 14 days of the incident. There may be situations where more than 14 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to redact the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public."

See Also:

• Harford County Judge Orders Sheriff To Surrender Evidence: Report
• Attorney General Sues Harford Sheriff Over Deputy Shooting Probe
• 'Shameful': Harford County Sheriff On Attorney General's Lawsuit
• Man Killed In Forest Hill Encounter With Deputies
• 2 Officers Named In Forest Hill Shooting: Harford County Sheriff
• Man Killed By Deputies Identified: Harford County Sheriff