State Trooper Charged with Assault, Misconduct

A Maryland state trooper has been charged with punching a handcuffed man in custody who was under arrest for tossing a lit cigarette on the trooper.

Trooper First Class Nathan Steelman, 28, is charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office, according to a news release. He will remain on suspension with pay, a status he has been on since the Dec. 10 incident was reported.

A Maryland State Police criminal investigation began when State Police personnel at the Glen Burnie Barrack reported seeing Steelman punch a handcuffed suspect while escorting him in the barrack that afternoon.

Steelman was off-duty and in plainclothes Dec. 10 when he walked by a car in an Anne Arundel County convenience store parking lot and the driver allegedly flicked a lit cigarette at his chest. The trooper identified himself and the men argued before the suspect drove away.

Steelman obtained a tag number and an arrest warrant was issued for Chuck T. Snook Jr., 31, of Glen Burnie, charging him with second-degree assault and related charges.

A uniformed trooper from the Glen Burnie Barrack and Steelman went to Snook’s home to arrest him; he was reportedly disorderly and uncooperative. A witness said Steelman threatened Snook after his arrest.

Snook was taken to the Glen Burnie Barrack and reportedly continued to passively resist and be belligerent. Steelman told investigators Snook threatened him and his family.

Investigators say that while Steelman was escorting Snook inside the barrack, he pushed the handcuffed man into the restroom door and hit Snook in the torso several times with a closed fist. At least one other trooper saw and reported the incident.

Snook did not require medical treatment. The charges against him were later dropped by the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The state’s attorney’s office determined Steelman should be charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office.

The Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit is conducting a parallel investigation that examines whether Steelman followed department policies and Maryland law.

Steelman has been a member of the Maryland State Police for five years. He was assigned as an investigator with the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center.

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