- Lawsuit says Baltimore Police use vehicles to inflict force.
- Teen was run over by a police SUV during a 2021 pursuit.
- DOJ findings cited to support claims of a broader pattern.
Police have a tough gig, no question about it. They’re the ones who show up knowing each day might bring danger, sometimes life-threatening. But with that responsibility comes the duty to protect and serve, which is why incidents involving excessive force draw attention.
One particular case in Baltimore suggests that officers use police cars as weapons. Footage from the incident doesn’t look good, either.
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The lawsuit centers on a June 2021 incident involving Devonte Jett, who was 16 years old at the time. According to the filing, Jett was fleeing officers responding to a reported carjacking when he was struck and run over by a Baltimore Police Ford Explorer in the Harlem Park neighborhood.
When Police Cruisers Become Weapons
Aerial video captured by a police helicopter and highlighted by The Banner shows Jett running across an open grassy area while being chased by an officer on foot with his weapon drawn. Moments later, another officer, identified in the lawsuit as Steven Reed, drives the SUV directly toward Jett and runs him over, knocking him unconscious.
The lawsuit alleges Jett suffered a likely concussion along with lung and pelvic injuries, followed by months of physical therapy and ongoing emotional distress. Attorneys argue the video footage contradicts officers’ written reports, which claimed Jett ran into a marked patrol vehicle and reached toward his waistband during the pursuit.
Attorneys for Jett say the incident is not isolated. To support claims of a broader “pattern and practice,” the lawsuit cites past cases and findings from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the Baltimore Police Department.
@cmndrmusa Baltimore PD overdoing it trying to run over a black man
♬ original sound – Chief
A Troubling Pattern
In a completely separate incident that seems to corroborate the case, one Baltimore officer is seen on camera seemingly attempting to hit a citizen in a grassy field. When he misses, a short chase ensues with the officer ending up crashing before the video cuts out.
In that instance, the officer ended up suspended. Part of the argument in Jett’s case is that the officer associated it with it allegedly faced no discipline.
Baltimore city officials declined to comment on the allegations, saying the matter will be addressed in court. Police spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge confirmed that an internal investigation into Reed has concluded, though its findings were not disclosed.
Ironically, the Baltimore PD recently hit one of its own in another similar situation. According to a local report, an officer mowed down a detective who was on foot chasing a suspect. Maybe this is just a case of Baltimore PD having a department full of terrible drivers.
Other Departments Under Scrutiny
We’ve seen plenty of other states where officers allegedly use their cars as weapons. In some places, like Arkansas, officers routinely use dangerous PIT tactics at high speeds.
They’re often protected from recourse, even when they PIT the wrong car altogether. In other states like New York, police have come under fire for what appears to be using their cruisers to hit mopeds or individuals fleeing on foot.
Nobody is saying that criminals who flee should face zero consequences. Unquestionably, they’re willfully putting their own safety into question by running. Despite that, when anyone runs over another person who is actively fleeing and not posing a direct threat, it’s easy to see why some would question how good these good guys (and gals) really are.