Former Police Officer Sentenced For Showing Gun During Argument With Teens At Complex Pool

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A former Hyattsville police officer has been sentenced to one month in jail for first-degree assault after a July 2020 incident where the officer, who was off duty at the time, argued with teenagers at an apartment complex pool and showed his handgun to the teens.

On Sept. 2, 2020, Mitchell Joseph Lowery, 30, was indicted by a Howard County grand jury and on July 26, 2021, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault. As a result of the felony charges, the Hyattsville Police Department suspended Lowery without pay. He resigned from his position in July 2021.

“Our office takes any allegations of misconduct by a law enforcement official, whether on duty or off duty, seriously,” Maryland State’s Attorney Rich Gibson said. “Mr. Lowery misused his position of power to take unjust advantage of individuals simply playing at a pool and will now have to pay a high price for his actions by never being allowed to work as a police officer and live life as a convicted felon.”