Suspect Fakes Injury to Turn Crowd on Baltimore Police: Prosecutor

A Baltimore man who prosecutors allege faked a gunshot wound days after riots swept through the city – which then prompted an angry crowd to turn on police -- has been indicted, according to federal authorities.

Robert “Meech” Tucker, 23, of Baltimore was indicted by a federal grand jury June 18 for being a felon in possession of a gun, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland. His encounter with police was at ground zero for several days of riots.

Protesters began looting, setting fires and throwing rocks April 27 in Baltimore, injuring several officers, as police turned out in riot gear in response to violence hours after the funeral for Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody more than a week before.

Several stores were looted in the area of North and Pennsylvania avenues, including a CVS, 7-Eleven and check-cashing store.

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According to court documents, Tucker’s confrontation with police happened May 4 in the Pennsylvania Avenue/North Avenue section of Baltimore, the same area affected by street riots days earlier. Police patrolling the area said Tucker showed signs that he was carrying a weapon. When police approached Tucker, he ran and reportedly threw a Ruger Blackhawk .357 handgun to the ground, causing it to fire.

No one was hit by the bullet. But, federal authorities say when police caught an uninjured Tucker, he repeatedly screamed as if he had been hurt. Bystanders then threw bricks and bottles at police officers, prosecutors say.

“People who throw bricks and bottles at police officers should be arrested and go to jail, just as they would if they attacked any other human being,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein after Tucker’s indictment.

Tucker faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.