Capt. William Brown attempts to explain

the facts surrounding the shooting.

Below, Sheriff Fred Davis faces jeers

and shouts that he must be voted

out of office.

— The Bay Net photos by Sean Rice 
 

About 200 area residents gathered in the Social Services Building in La Plata on Tuesday night to listen to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office explain the facts surrounding the recent shooting of Jonathan Lyles during a struggle with three officers.

Residents and many family members of the dead victim were given the opportunity to stand up question authorities about their version of the facts, but the forum got out of hand several times, with the crowd booing, laughing and yelling accusations of racism, police brutality and conspiracy.

Capt. William Brown, sheriff’s office patrol commander, began the discussion with an official recitation of the timeline of the incident that resulted in the 24-year-old being shot and killed by police.

Brown said a patrol officer was doing a routine patrol check of the Grande Apartment complex at about 7:15 a.m. March 18, when he discovered a suspicious vehicle backed up against a fan unit, running with the reverse lights on.

The driver was slumped over in the seat. When the driver was roused, he presented identification stating he was Dominique Butler.

During a computer check of the name, which police later determined was fake, an off-duty officer arrived and another on-duty officer as back-up.

An officer conducted a sobriety check of the driver, being that he was sleeping in the vehicle. After determining the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs the officers attempted to arrest the man when a struggle ensued, Brown said.

The three officers and Lyles rolled to the ground as officers tried to get his hands behind his back. Lyles was trying to bring his hands in front of him to avoid the cuffs.

“It was just a melee on the ground at this point,” Brown said

With all four men on the ground, a shot rang out from a gun Lyles had concealed, Brown said.

One officer backed off, another officer remained on the ground with Lyles and the other was standing “fighting,” Brown said.

“The officers see that gun coming around again and one shot was fired,” Brown said, striking Lyles in the chest.

Now at 7:29 a.m., a “signal 13” is called over the radio, indicating officer in distress/shots fired. EMS personnel arrive four minutes later along with numerous other officers and town officials.

At 7:59 a helicopter landed at La Plata firehouse to take Lyles to Prince George’s Hospital Center, where he died.

The vehicle was taken to