BALTIMORE --
The Baltimore Police Department has suspended the commander of its homicide division after his unmarked police car was abandoned in a ditch off Interstate 95.
Maj. Terrence McLarney was suspended Monday afternoon pending a Maryland State Police investigation.
A state police trooper was called to the westbound Route 32 off-ramp of I-95 in Howard County at about 7 p.m. Sunday. The trooper said he found a 2006 Ford Taurus that had traveled down an embankment and hit some brush. No one was at the location and no one reported the incident.
State police said the car is registered to the city and assigned to the Police Department. Officers eventually discovered the vehicle was used by McLarney, police said.
"This could be something as simple as a weather-related mishap, or something more serious, which is why we're taking the proactive step of routinely suspending the major as we would any high profile commander given the circumstances," Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
Maryland State Police officials are trying to figure out why the vehicle was off the road and abandoned.
McLarney has recently gained national attention because of the investigation of missing teenager
.
A city police representative called the suspension routine. He told 11 News the car slid off the road in the rain, and McLarney got a ride so he wouldn't have to wait in the rain.
The representative couldn't answer why McLarney didn't call police.
The Baltimore Police Department issued the following statement Monday night:
"The Baltimore Police Department remains committed to upholding the highest level of professional integrity. As a result of a roadway incident involving the commander of the Homicide section, the police commissioner has placed Maj. Terrence McLarney on routine suspension pending the result of the Maryland State Police investigation.
"At this point, no criminal charges have been filed. An administrative departmental investigation will take place upon completion of the state police review."
Maj. Terrence McLarney's Car Found Abandoned-76.8280792236328139.1607470199956615
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