A Maryland cop who rammed a fleeing suspect with his patrol car was found guilty by a jury last Wednesday and now faces up to 10 years in prison, according to WTOP.
The incident was caught on the officer’s own dash cam.
Prince George’s County police officer Juan Hernandez was convicted of one count of second-degree assault for ramming 22-year-old Ulrich Boaoutou with his police cruiser as Boaotou fled on foot.
Hernandez, 42, was one of two officers who responded to a call about a fight between two potentially armed suspects on June 13, 2016.
A caller reported to police three men were arguing when the two other men threatened to shoot him. While one officer was patting down Boaoutou, checking him for weapons, he took off running into an open field.
As the officer chased on foot, Hernandez pulled up to the scene and saw Boaotou running and began pursuing him before rammed him with his patrol car.
Thankfully, Boaotou wasn’t injured and refused medical attention.
Hernandez’s supervisor reported the incident and he was suspended the next day.
The Prince George’s County Police Department conducted an internal affairs investigation into the incident and forwarded it to the Prince George’s County Attorney’s Office to review for possible criminal charges.
In December, a grand jury issued an indictment against Hernandez.
County Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said in a statement Hernandez’s actions “were unwarranted given the circumstances of the incident.”
“While it’s never a good day when we have to prosecute one of our own, it’s important that those we serve understand that we will hold people accountable when their actions go above and beyond what is necessary,” Alsobrooks said.
Hernandez, an 11-year-veteran of the Prince George’s County Police Department, faces up to 10 years in prison, will undergo an internal administrative review and could receive a dismissal from the department.
He’s scheduled for sentencing on July 28.
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