BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The man at the center of a police use-of-force investigation has died, authorities said.
The man, since identified as Samuel Brown, died Feb. 27.
The confirmation came through the Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
The case dates back to Feb. 16, when an officer with the Baltimore County Police Department was called around 3:30 a.m. to the intersection of Security Boulevard and Whitehead Court for a wellness check, according to WMAR.
A case report reviewed by WMAR detailed that Brown, who was sitting behind the wheel, was woken up by a responding officer who smelled alcohol on Brown’s breath.
After exiting his car, Brown hit the officer on the arm, prompting the officer to punch him back. Brown fell onto the ground and hit his head.
Bill Murphy, the Brown family’s attorney, previously told WBAL that Brown suffered injuries that “caused him to become permanently brain dead.”
The latest comes after a rally of about 100 people gathered outside the Woodlawn precinct to demand justice in the case.
The family and supporters in the community have called for the release of body camera footage. However, the IID has said such footage is “generally” released within 20 days of an incident to provide investigators with ample time to evaluate all possible recordings.
