Cop Indicted for Holding Gun to Man's Head

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A Prince George’s County Police officer has been suspended without pay after being indicted by a grand jury on Thursday for allegedly holding a gun to a man’s head outside his Bowie home.

Police Officer Jenchesky Santiago was charged with first-degree assault and other misdemeanor charges for the encounter, which occurred while he was on duty on May 10, 2014. No one was injured.

WUSA TV reports a cell phone video showed Santiago’s interaction with a driver who stopped in front of a home in Bowie. He questioned the driver and passenger about what they were doing there and said they were parked illegally, even though they were not.

The driver reportedly told Santiago he was dropping off the passenger and lived at the home. When the passenger got out of the car, Santiago allegedly blocked the path to the home and pulled out his gun, authorities said. He forced the man back to the vehicle with a gun to his head.

At one point, he said, Santiago pointed the gun at the man’s mouth, prosecutors said.

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division launched an investigation after learning of the incident. Santiago’s police powers were suspended on June 3, 2014.

Police Chief Mark Magaw issued this statement following the grand jury indictment:

“We immediately brought this case to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review and we appreciate their partnership. We do not train our officers in this manner. These actions are not indicative of the high standards we expect of our officers. Our department remains, as always, committed to constitutional, ethical and professional policing.”

Santiago has been employed by the PGPD for three years and was assigned to the Bureau of Patrol, District II.

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