Prince George's Officer Faces Attempted Murder, Assault Charges: Police

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A police officer from Prince George's County has been suspended without pay after he was arrested Friday morning and charged with multiple offenses that include attempted murder in Charles County and second-degree assault in St. Mary’s County.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Cpl. David Hardester, 42, of Mechanicville discharged his service weapon during an altercation in Charles County shortly after 1 a.m. Feb. 23. According to investigators there, officers were called to the area of Crain Highway in Newburg after a man called police and said Hardester had shot at him. The man told police he and Hardester had gotten into an argument and Hardester fired a single shot while the man was walking to his car, reported WUSA.

The man was not hurt and when Hardester went to leave, the man followed him in his car, called 911 and told officers where Hardester was located. He was eventually stopped in St. Mary's County where he was arrested.

Charging documents show Hardester claimed the shooting was an accident, according to WUSA. Documents indicate that the victim told police he was expecting to meet Hardester at his house to fight because Hardester was aware the other man was talking to his estranged wife. Instead, the two met in a parking lot and the man confronted Hardester. Court documents say Hardester fired his gun while still seated in the driver's seat of his truck, through the truck's door. reported WUSA.

Hardester also has been charged with second-degree assault in connection to a domestic incident that happened earlier in the evening Feb. 23 at his home in St. Mary’s County. The police department did not say what exactly happened at his home.

Hardester joined the police department in 2005 and currently is assigned to the bureau of patrol.