PG County Cop Convicted Of Assaulting Man With His Police Cruiser

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A Prince George's County Police Officer has been found guilty of assaulting a 22-year-old man with his police cruiser last year while responding to a report of a fight and armed suspect, police say.

Officer Juan Hernandez was found guilty of second-degree assault, but found not guilty of misconduct in office, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

Police say Hernandez received a call for an armed person and fight in the 800 block of Fairview Avenue on June 13, 2016, and found three men arguing at the scene.

"One man indicated the other two threatened to shoot him," the report states. "As the officer was checking for weapons and patting down the individuals, one ran away. Our investigation revealed as Officer Hernandez pulled up to the scene, he saw the man running and was advised by a fellow officer to pursue the man. During the pursuit, Hernandez struck the man with his cruiser."

The man continued running, but was taken into custody shortly after. He refused medical treatment.

Hernandez, a patrol officer, was an 11-year veteran of the police force.

PG County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said in the report that Hernandez's supervisor immediately reported his conduct, prompting an internal investigation.

"As the internal investigation proceeded, our department’s investigators were immediately concerned that the conduct was criminal in nature," Stawinski said. "At that point, the case was turned over to the States Attorney’s Office who subsequently charged Officer Hernandez. I expect video of this incident to cause concern in the minds of the public just as it caused concern in my mind and those of our investigators."

Image via PGPD