BALTIMORE – The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of the Attorney General today released its investigative report of the June 29, 2023, fatal police pursuit in the Waldorf area of Charles County, Maryland.
On June 29, 2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 11900 block of Acton Lane in Waldorf for reports of a woman being assaulted by a man in a parking lot and a possible carjacking. Officers were made aware that the man, who was not known to the woman, left the scene after stealing the woman’s car. The first arriving officer spotted the woman’s car being driven out of the parking lot and the officer followed. The male driver, later identified as Dejuan James Mitchell, failed to stop when officers began pursuing him and led them on a pursuit for several minutes. While fleeing south on Mattawoman-Beantown Road, Mr. Mitchell lost control of the car, striking a curb. The car rotated before it struck a grass median, crossed into the northbound lanes of Mattawoman-Beantown Road, and then collided with a dump truck. Mr. Mitchell was pronounced dead on scene. The dump truck driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The woman who was assaulted was taken to a local hospital also with minor injuries. No officers were injured.
The IID concluded its investigation on August 24, 2023, and forwarded its report to the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office on August 25, 2023. The Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office notified the Charles County Sheriff’s Office on March 22, 2024, of its decision not to prosecute the case.
The IID’s report contains detailed investigative findings and an analysis of relevant legal issues. Because the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office—not the IID—retains prosecution authority[1] in this case, the report does not make any recommendations as to whether any individual should or should not be charged. A copy of the investigative report can be found here.
Easy way to fix the problem. Mandatory sentences (20 years) for outrageous crimes like carjacking and home invasion. The audacity of these predators to want to take your property (car) or enter your home with the intention of harming people is unconscionable. Tougher sentences across the board!!!
Wow
I agree!!!