Ivan Bates, the state’s attorney for Baltimore, said Wednesday his office is bringing attempted murder charges against a police officer accused of trying to run over a man in a wild chase that went viral.
The city’s top prosecutor said the officer, Robert Parks, additionally faces assault, reckless driving and misconduct in office charges in last month’s pursuit in which a patrol car sped down alleys, on sidewalks and over grassy patches before crashing.
“This fool done lost his mind, to be honest,” Mr. Bates said about his initial reaction to the video. “Sometimes you see something that’s just so egregious, you cannot understand how an individual would have placed himself in that position.”
Officials said Officer Parks, a five-year veteran with the department, turned himself in on Wednesday. Baltimore police had already suspended him without pay after a bystander’s video of the interaction in Park Heights began rocketing around the internet.
Court documents said Officer Parks drove up and walked toward people standing near Wylie Liquors Bar at about 5 p.m. on Oct. 27.
“It’s getting a little hot, guys. I just need you guys to take a lap, you know,” he told the crowd, according to the filing.
Court documents said the officer soon got on his radio and said, “I have one running, adult male, in the alley.”
The officer then hopped into his squad car, sped toward the man, and seemed to clip him.
“Ayo what the f—-? You gonna hit him with the car?” the person recording the incident yelled.
The video captured the officer racing across an intersection, busting a U-turn and driving back the way he originally came, now with his sirens on.
The officer then sped down a different alley until he crashed into a parked car and bailed out of his vehicle in search of the suspect when the video cut off.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the video “deeply disturbing” when it first went viral last month, while Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the video was “not only disturbing, but alarming.”
“This is not how we expect our officers to behave, and this incident does not reflect the values or standards of the Baltimore Police Department,” the commissioner said. “Our department continues to work hard to rebuild trust and change the narrative of our department and our city. We remain committed to holding officers accountable for their actions and continuing the work of rebuilding trust with our community.”
If convicted of all charges, Officer Parks could spend up to 65 years behind bars.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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