'Please, I’m Scared': MoCo Police Release Footage Of Interaction Before Man's Death

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County police this week released body camera footage of an incident involving a Silver Spring man who died several days after an interaction with officers.

According to police, the incident occurred on Dec. 15 at an apartment complex located at 9737 Mount Pisgah Road. Officers responded to the location after receiving a call about a man having a mental crisis.

Police said the caller told officers her friend was in the lobby of the apartment building with a man who had not taken his medication and was experiencing a "mental situation." The caller also told police the man, later identified as 31-year-old Jamal Thompson, had not slept for three days and was acting strange.

Initially, a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crew responded to the apartment building. According to authorities, Thompson ran away from EMS personnel as they were trying to help, prompting police to also respond.

Body camera footage released by Montgomery County police starts around 8:30 p.m. when officers arrive at the scene and locate Thompson, who was walking back and forth in the lobby.

After speaking with Thompson, police said officers determined he needed to be taken into custody for an emergency evaluation. Body camera footage shows police officers surrounding Thompson in a hallway, where they struggle to detain him.

“Please, I’m scared. I don’t want this,” Thompson tells officers during the encounter.

Officers called for assistance and were able to place Thompson in handcuffs and move him on his side in what is known as a "recovery position," police said.

According to body camera footage, Thompson remained in handcuffs until approximately 8:55 p.m., when police helped fire and rescue personnel move him onto a stretcher to take him to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Following the incident, police said Thompson experienced a "medical crisis" at the hospital and died a week later on Dec. 22. Authorities have not released his cause of death.

Pete Piringer, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, told Bethesda Today on Wednesday that the agency was informed on Jan. 11 that Thompson had deteriorated and died at the hospital “after EMS transferred medical care to hospital staff.”

“Our EMS quality assurance personnel conducted a proactive, comprehensive review of the medical care provided by the EMS team,” Piringer said. “The care was provided in accordance with state and local clinical protocols.”

County police spokesperson Shiera Goff also told Bethesda Today on Jan. 23 that none of the involved officers were placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation into Thompson’s death.

The Maryland Attorney General's Office is investigating the incident.