ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Two Anne Arundel County police officers, Corporal Eddie Enrique Vasquez, 29, and Corporal Kieran Christopher Schnell, 27, have been indicted on misconduct charges stemming from a 2023 unauthorized high-speed pursuit that ended in tragedy. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced the indictments Monday, marking the first time the state’s top prosecutor has directly charged police officers under new authority granted by the legislature.
The Incident
The early morning pursuit on December 7, 2023, began when Vasquez and Schnell pursued a white Infiniti G37 traveling southbound on Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena. The car’s headlights were reportedly off as it crossed the Stoney Creek Drawbridge, a narrow two-lane bridge with a 35 mph speed limit. According to the attorney general’s office, the officers followed the car for over three miles at speeds exceeding 100 mph without activating their emergency lights or sirens, failing to alert dispatch or obtain supervisor approval. The pursuit ended when the Infiniti collided with a utility pole near the intersection of Fort Smallwood and Bar Harbor Roads. The crash killed the passenger, 22-year-old Damione Gardner of Baltimore, and left the driver, 24-year-old Meziah K. Johnson of Parkville, hospitalized with serious injuries. Johnson survived and was later identified as having pleaded guilty just one day before the crash to attempting to elude police in Baltimore County. He received a one-year suspended sentence and probation.
Body-camera footage released by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division shows the moments after the crash. Officers inspected the vehicle and attempted to speak with the driver, whose door they were unable to open. The passenger, Gardner, was obscured by airbags and pronounced dead at the scene.
Misconduct Allegations and Legal Context
Vasquez and Schnell face charges of misconduct in office, which allege that their actions during and after the pursuit violated departmental protocols and jeopardized public safety. The indictments cite their failure to activate emergency equipment, notify dispatch, or seek authorization for the pursuit. Additionally, both officers are accused of providing false oral and written statements to conceal their involvement. “These officers failed to tell the truth that they chased the car for more than three miles at speeds in excess of 100 mph, including over a two-lane drawbridge,” Attorney General Brown said. He emphasized that the pursuit was unauthorized and that the officers’ actions represented a severe breach of public trust. Chief of the Independent Investigations Division, Allison Green, added that “immediately following the crash, both officers made factual misrepresentations and material omissions about the circumstances.” The case is also notable for being the first time the attorney general’s office has directly charged police officers since the Maryland legislature granted the office charging authority in 2022. Prior to this, decisions were referred to local state’s attorneys.
Statements from Police and Defense Attorneys
Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad issued a statement reiterating that the department’s internal investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct. “Based on our review of the available evidence, we are not aware of any conduct demonstrated by our officers that rises to the level of a violation of criminal law,” Awad said. She also emphasized that an indictment is not a finding of guilt and that the officers are presumed innocent. Schnell’s attorney, Peter O’Neill, called the charges “outrageous” and indicated that the defense had yet to fully review the allegations. Vasquez’s lawyer has not commented. The Anne Arundel County police officers’ union has not issued a public statement regarding the indictments.
Community and Policy Impact
The pursuit and subsequent crash have drawn significant public attention, raising questions about police accountability and high-speed chase policies. The BayNet previously reported on the attorney general’s investigation into the crash, which highlighted the officers’ failure to follow established protocols. This case underscores the inherent dangers of high-speed pursuits and the need for clear, enforceable policies to balance officer discretion and public safety. As the case proceeds in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, the focus will likely shift to whether these actions reflect systemic issues within the department or individual lapses in judgment. Schnell and Vasquez are expected to make their initial court appearances next month.
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They are going after the wrong people. You cannot keep letting these Young people off. They committed the crime and you expect police to pay the price.
This is why we have the crime we do. Stop tying the police officers hands.
We keep electing the same people. When will the people of Maryland open their eyes.
I absolutely agree. I am sorry to say, at this point why do we even have police? If they broke the law and the police tried to pull them over then they should have pulled over instead of fleeing. The police were doing their jobs. But our justice system is a joke and it’s catch and release. So if I was a cop I would just say screw it and let everyone do what they want to do..why even try especially when you will end up on trial. Wow just unbelievable!
The article states that the officers did not call in the pursuit, did not activate their emergency lights or sirens (the chase occurred in the morning while still dark outside), did not consult with their supervisor, did not follow proper protocol following an vehicle accident, they both gave false statements oral and written and their body cameras were released which probably sealed their fate in facing indictments. Both the driver of the fleeing vehicle and these officers are in the wrong. They ignored all they were sworn, trained and certified on how to respond in a situation as this.
A pursuit is defined by continuously following a vehicle after activating your emergency lights and sirens and the vehicle fails to stop. Attempting to catch up to the vehicle without activating your light and sirens does not define a pursuit nor is it a violation of any policy/law. They did not ignore what they were sworn to do. They are sworn to serve and protect the citizens of Anne Arundel County and that’s exactly what they were attempting to do.
I agree, if they followed them for three miles and they were going 100 MPH that’s less then 2 minutes before the driver crashed. Police officers in this case should not be charged and the surviving crook should be charged with manslaughter and whatever else they did.
I couldn’t agree more. Our highways have been overtaken by these speeders who break all the rules. Doesn’t the Attorney General have anything better to do?