Maryland AG Declines Charges in Two Fatal Police Custody Cases

The Maryland Attorney General's Office has declined to press charges in two separate cases involving deaths linked to police encounters in 2024. In Hagerstown, Kelvin Lashawn Baker died after being placed in handcuffs and transported in a police vehicle, where he suffered a medical emergency; the investigation found no criminal conduct by officers. In Howard County, Tyree Winslow died following a barricade situation during which he exchanged gunfire with police after forcibly entering a residence; the investigation determined Winslow's fatal wound was self-inflicted and no officers involved committed crimes. Both incidents involved thorough investigations by the Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division, empowered since 2023 to prosecute police-involved deaths. The ruling highlights the complexities of police encounters resulting in deaths and the challenges in attributing criminal liability. Support resources were noted for those affected by domestic violence in relation to the Howard County case.