Seat Pleasant, MD – The Seat Pleasant Police Department (SPPD) reported Friday, Jan. 18 that the officer who fired his service weapon Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17 after a motorist sped off from a traffic stop, is on administrative leave while an internal investigation is being conducted. Town authorities stated in a press release that the officer involved is Pfc. John O’Connor, who is a St. Mary’s County commissioner. The Republican is in his second term representing St. Mary’s Third Election District.
Prince George’s County Police Department reported Friday, Jan. 18 that detectives with the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division along with the Special Investigation Response Team of the Internal Affairs Division are investigating the officer-involved shooting.
“Preliminarily, on Jan. 17 around 3:45 p.m., [Pfc. O’Connor] conducted a traffic stop on Central Avenue near East Capitol Street,” a PGPD press release stated. “The officer exited his patrol car and as he was approaching the stopped driver’s window, the driver sped off. There was a very brief pursuit which the officer called off, but then saw the vehicle turn down a dead-end street. The officer followed, stopped his patrol car, got out and retreated to the rear of his patrol vehicle, then began to give the driver loud verbal commands. At that time, the driver ignored his commands and accelerated, fleeing the area. For reasons, which remain under investigation, the officer discharged his service weapon multiple times. There was another gun later located near the scene of the incident. Our detectives are working to determine whether it is connected to the case. Today [Friday], our detectives located and recovered the involved-citizen’s vehicle in Northeast DC. We are still working to identify and locate the driver. It is unknown if the driver was injured in the shooting.”
O’Connor is both a military and law enforcement veteran. When he was in the Army O’Connor served as a Military policeman
Prince George’s and Seat Pleasant police are asking anyone who might have information in this case, please call the PGPD Internal Affairs Division at 301-856-2660 or if you wish to remain anonymous, please call Prince George’s County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device).
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com