UPDATE 12/1/2022: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of Attorney General today released its investigative report of the March 11 fatal police pursuit in Charles County.
On March 11, 2022, at 4:06 a.m., officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a hit-and-run crash in the 3900 block of Pine Cone Circle in Waldorf.
When officers arrived on scene, the driver, Darell Byrd, was no longer there, but a witness identified the crashed car as Mr. Byrd’s. At around 4:47 a.m., officers located Mr. Byrd driving a pickup truck in the area of Pine Cone Circle and Huntington Woods Drive. Officer Shayne Cannon attempted to pull over Mr. Byrd.
Mr. Byrd initially stopped but then drove away, leading officers on a pursuit along St. Charles Parkway. Officer Cannon, Officer Kenneth Barry, and Officer Shawn Griffith pursued Mr. Byrd. Less than one minute after beginning to flee, Mr. Byrd lost control of the truck and crashed into trees along St. Charles Parkway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The IID concluded its investigation on September 30 and forwarded its investigative report to the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office on October 3. The Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office notified the IID on November 2 of its decision not to prosecute the case.
The IID’s report contains detailed investigative findings and an analysis of relevant legal issues. Because the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office—not the IID—retains prosecution authority in this case, the report does not make any recommendations as to whether any individual should or should not be charged. A copy of the investigative report can be found here.
By law, the IID’s report must remain confidential until any related prosecution is completed or the State’s Attorney’s Office declines to prosecute. If the local State’s Attorney decides to prosecute the matter, the IID will release the report, with appropriate redactions for confidentiality, within 30 days of a final judgment of all defendants in the case.
If the local State’s Attorney declines to prosecute, the IID will release the report, with appropriate redactions for confidentiality, within 30 days of that determination.
UPDATE 3/25/2022: The Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General released dashboard camera footage from the fatal police pursuit that occurred on March 11, 2022, in Charles County, Maryland.
The decedent was identified as 50-year-old Darell Byrd of Waldorf.
The Independent Investigations Division, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Crash Team, continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal pursuit.
3/11/2022: On March 11, 2022, at 4:06 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for a motor vehicle crash in the 3900 block of Pine Cone Circle in Waldorf.
When officers arrived, family members reported their relative crashed his car into a parked vehicle, leaving the vehicle unattended in the roadway. The driver was suspected to be under the influence and fled on foot. As officers attempted to locate the driver, the family observed him drive past the scene in his pick-up truck. They alerted officers who then attempted to stop the driver on St. Marks Drive, but the driver accelerated and fled. The driver turned onto St. Charles Parkway and continued driving at a high rate of speed and, within seconds, lost control of his truck and crashed.
Officers attempted to render first aid, but it was clear the driver was deceased.
In accordance with Maryland law, the Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) and the Maryland State Police (MSP) were contacted and responded to the scene to lead the investigation, working alongside members of the Sheriff’s Office. The name of the driver will be released by the Attorney General’s IID. Anyone with additional information about this incident should call the Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division at 410-576-7070.
The investigation is ongoing.
