By Chevall Pryce

Source Baltimore Sun

Baltimore Police released body camera footage Friday of an officer being struck by a car before shooting the driver in Downtown Baltimore.

On Aug. 22 at 9:30 p.m. in the 300 block of North Eutaw Street, Baltimore Police officer Samuel Thomas was writing a ticket and removing license plates from a vehicle with expired registration before having the vehicle towed.

Thomas, who has been with the department for 20 years, let the owner of the vehicle, Tyrik Braxton, re-enter the vehicle and grab his belongings before the vehicle having it towed away. Thomas stepped in front of the vehicle and called for backup.

Instead, Braxton started the vehicle and attempted to drive, striking Thomas as he held onto the hood of the vehicle. Thomas let go of the vehicle before he shot three times at the vehicle, critically injuring the man.

“People’s complete lack and disregard for law and refusing to comply with lawful orders is why we end up with police-involved shootings,” Commissioner Richard Worley said during a news conference about the shooting. “Here’s another incident where he gets shot over a parking ticket and losing his car.”

Thomas was taken to the hospital with neck and back injuries, but Worley confirmed the officer is “fine.” Braxton was also taken to the hospital, where he is currently in critical but stable condition.

At the time of the incident, Worley said Thomas was “just being nice” by allowing Braxton to re-enter his car, claiming the situation would not have escalated if Braxton did not attempt to drive off and strike Thomas.

“The simple thing is [to] comply with the officer, and don’t get in the car and try to drive away,” Worley said. “You’ve got officers up here trying to do what we ask them to do, which is addressing quality of life issues, and this is what happens, and it happens because you have someone who doesn’t comply to the orders.”

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