Suspect Paralyzed While Fleeing PGPD: Report

OXON HILL, MD — An investigation is underway after a suspect reportedly was paralyzed while trying to flee Prince George's County Police.

Police have placed the officer on leave and are investigating how the suspect got injured while he attempted to flee arrest in Oxon Hill, police say. It all started when a patrol officer pulled over a car with expired tags at around 5:35 p.m. on Thursday in the 4700 block of Wheeler Road, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

"The suspect was driving the car with a young child inside," the report states. "During the stop, the officer called for backup when the driver repeatedly reached for the center console despite the officer’s repeated commands to the driver to place his hands on the steering wheel."

When two additional officers arrived, they asked the driver to get out of the vehicle, and they placed him in handcuffs. The child was turned over to another adult who arrived, police say.

"As officers attempted to search the suspect and complete the arrest, the suspect began to strike one of the officers and attempted to escape," the report states. "In order to prevent the suspect from striking the officer again, and to prevent him from escaping, the officer grabbed the suspect’s arm as he was fleeing. The suspect fell to ground landing on the roadway. He complained of pain and an ambulance was called immediately. He has since undergone surgery and is in stable condition."

WCTV identified the suspect as 24-year-old Demonte Ward-Blake, and reported that he had been partially paralyzed after suffering a spinal injury.

Police found a knife and 30 grams of marijuana in the car, the police report states.

"The officer who made the initial stop did record a portion of the traffic stop on his cruiser’s dash camera," it adds. "Because the suspect was about to be placed into a cruiser, he was out of the dash camera’s view when he attempted to flee and was injured."