Overview
- The Maryland attorney general’s Independent Investigations Division released about eight minutes of body‑camera footage from a Feb. 16 wellness check in Woodlawn showing Officer Derek Hadel strike Samuel Brown after Brown swiped at his hand, causing a fall and head injury.
- Brown, 56, died on Feb. 27 after nearly two weeks in critical condition following the encounter captured on the video.
- Brown’s family and their attorney, Billy Murphy, say the footage shows illegal excessive force and are demanding that Hadel be fired, criminally charged, and sued.
- The Baltimore County Police Department says it is cooperating with the IID review; Hadel, a nine‑year veteran, has been moved to administrative duty/leave.
- Debate over de‑escalation and proportional force has surfaced as experts differ on the punches shown in the clip, and IID investigations can take months before any charging decision.