HUGHESVILLE, Md. — A 60-year-old Hughesville man is facing two second-degree assault charges after Maryland State Police say a confrontation involving a dump truck escalated, with investigators later reviewing photographs and surveillance video of the encounter.
James Fredrick Medlin, 60, of Hughesville, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree assault.
The charges stem from a July 30 incident on Prince Frederick Road in Hughesville, according to an application for a statement of charges filed by Maryland State Police.
According to the charging application, Maryland State Police were dispatched at approximately 10:22 a.m. July 30 to Prince Frederick Road in Hughesville for a reported hit-and-run collision.
A 911 caller reported that a red dump truck associated with Medlin and Sons Construction had struck her vehicle and left the scene, police said.
According to the application, the woman said the driver did not want to exchange information. While waiting for police, the driver, later identified as Medlin, handed her a piece of paper containing the name and phone number of his insurance carrier and attempted to leave the scene.
The charging documents state that the woman then stood in front of the dump truck because she wanted the driver to remain at the scene.
According to her account to police, the truck moved toward her, causing her to step backward.
The woman told police she was concerned she would be struck by the dump truck.
Investigators reviewed photographs taken on the woman’s smartphone.
According to the charging application, the images were Apple Live Photos, which capture a short period of motion and sound when a picture is taken.
Police said the Live Photos showed a red dump truck approaching the woman as she narrated that the truck was being driven toward her.
The trooper contacted the dump truck’s driver by telephone during the investigation.
Police records and motor vehicle information were then used to confirm Medlin’s identity, according to the application.
Medlin spoke with the trooper by telephone and allegedly acknowledged being present during the incident.
According to the police filing, Medlin said the woman was being “belligerent” and that he had to get away from her after she got in front of the truck.
On Aug. 13, investigators reviewed video footage captured by cameras on Prince Frederick Road.
According to the charging application, the timestamp on the footage matched the time of the July 30 incident.
According to police, the video showed the woman standing in front of the dump truck as the male driver moved the truck toward her, then backed up and drove toward her a second time.
Medlin is charged with two counts of second-degree assault. The case was filed Aug. 14 in District Court for Charles County.
Medlin is scheduled for a preliminary inquiry Sept. 28 at Charles District Court.
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