Another brutal assault & arrest of another young black man by Baltimore Police

Beaten, battered and humiliated; One brutally beaten while another falsely arrested by Baltimore City Police.

The day seemed to be your average day for this 22-year old father of one, who after trying to find employment as usual, was stuck in the house babysitting his nephews. As the cold winds outside may have whipped hard against the metal porch, Devin Fields just knew his day was going to be spent in doors, reveling in the comfort of family, food and fun with the kids. However, at about 4:30P, Field’s mother asked him to go pick up his sister from work for she was not up to such. Graveling in the idea of going out in that cold, Devin chose not to defy his loving mother, yet when he stepped out of his house on that cold December afternoon, neither could have known what lay ahead for the young father.

As soon as he came out of the screen door of his row-house on Bruce Street, a small alley-like street connecting to Baltimore Street, Devin felt something wasn’t right. Seeing two Baltimore City Police officers’ patrolling the block was not rare, however they looked to be acting strangely suspicious? Therefore, he proceeded towards his sister’s truck which was parked on the corner of Baltimore and Bruce, on the east side of Baltimore Street. Upon entering the vehicle and proceeding to start the engine and put it in drive, Officers Gaskins and King approached the vehicle with guns drawn. After ordering the young Fields out of the vehicle, they began procedures of an arrest, however allegedly first getting in some severe beatings to the young man.

Witnessing this brutal attack of his neighbor, Samuel Epps, a 54-year old veteran living directly across from where the beating was taking place, called out for the officers to leave the boy alone. Not taking his warranted advice the two officers continued beating on the young man until a third officer showed up, Officer Rosado. He pulled out a billy-club which was said to have been used on Mr. Fields as well, before placing the young man in handcuffs and under arrest. After hearing the cries of assistance from Mr. Epps to Field’s family members who now stood there in shock and disbelief, the officers then proceeded to go across the street, into Mr. Epps’ residence and placed him under arrest as well for “disorderly conduct”. As Mr. Fields was later only charged with driving on a suspended license, driving without a license and resisting arrest, they were both transported to Western District police station on Mount St. It was here that Medic #23 examined Mr. Fields who was badly injured and after refusing his request for treatment at an area hospital, Ms. Bell, the EMT Medic on the scene allegedly told Mr. Fields, “If you were my son, I’d whip your ass when you got home for messing with these police!”

Now according to the police report given to Mr. Fields, written up by Officer King, though as you read through it you can see that most came from his partner Officer Gaskin. They first state that they were called to this location by another officer for a progress call regarding a person wanted on an open warrant. Never again identifying either this mysterious officer, or the person wanted for this warrant, they went on to say that they were apparently checking out a vacant property across the street from where Mr. Field’s lives on Bruce Street. They say that they later identified Mr. Fields walking at a “very quick pace” repeatedly turning back to look at the officer. They allege that another male, never again identified in the report, coming from a totally different direction identified Mr. Fields as the person that came out of this vacant property. Taking different routes to the vehicle in which Mr. Fields was headed, both Officers King and Gaskin, with guns now drawn, approached the vehicle from different tactical positions. Saying that Mr. Fields was trying to elude them on foot, they say he [Offc. King] came around the corner just in time to see Devin jump into what was later identified as his sister’s truck. “Not sure what I was faced with,” said King, he then approached the truck quickly with weapon drawn and pointed at vehicle and suspect, as he gave verbal commands to “Show me your hands”, “Put the car in park” and to “Stop moving around”.

He says Mr. Fields began to get more and more nervous acting as the seconds passed and continued to ignore his commands. As Officer Gaskin joined him in drawing his weapon and giving commands as well, they both apprehended the suspect out of the vehicle, as Gaskins grabbed him [Fields] and Devin began to struggle and resist. After apparently throwing multiple punches with closed fists and striking both officers, Mr. Fields was then subdued to the ground, as each officer gave several punches to Mr. Fields body on order to loosen his grip on Gaskin. After “several grueling minutes”, as this police report read more like a Dickens novel than an actual account of what happened, they finally seemed to get Mr. Fields under control after fellow officer Rosado showed up and helped get the situation under control?

Now beginning with the warrant, which Mr. Fields was not wanted on and never questioned about, why was he apprehended if they were there to help serve such an arresting document. Then Mr. Fields was later charged with first not having a license and also driving on a suspended license, well it has to be one or the other? Furthermore, the license, which turns out to be valid and NOT suspended according to MVA, was taken from Devin on the scene by these officers which was how they knew how and who they were charging?! If he supposedly struck both officers with closed fists, why was he only charged with resisting arrest and not assault on a police officer? Why Mr. Epps was later roughed up and arrested, only to later be released with no charges for merely witnessing the abuse and reporting to have testified on behalf of Mr. Fields? These questions and more should be answered by not only these officers, but by their superiors and even Commissioner Bealefeld, who has said time and time again, that this type of behavior in the BCPD would not be tolerated? Well I’d like to see what becomes of this incident?  

After being transported to Baltimore City’s Central Booking and Intake Center, Mr. Field’s was later released on his own recognance while Mr. Epps was held for hours, later to be released without any charges being filed against him. This has come to be known as a “walk-through”. However, both were later treated at area hospitals after their release and both plan to sue the City and the Baltimore City police. IMPAC, the Independent Movement Political Action Committee supports their lawsuits and is calling on the Baltimore City Council President or the Mayor, to adhere to the City Charter and bring forth a Committee on Legislative Investigation, which under Article 1, Section 1; Sub-Section 4:

Allows for a standing committee of the City Council to be created, to have the powers of Investigative Authority in order to motion and/or request any official or employee of any department, bureau, commission, board or agency, so that it may study and investigate complaints or allegations of faulty operations, inefficiencies and/or malfunctioning in any of these departments, bureaus, commissions, boards or agencies.  

This would be a five-member committee consisting of Baltimore City Council persons, appointed by the President with the approval of the Council. We would ask that this process be taken up as the Civilian Review Board has become an apparent joke to not only the communities affected but also by the officers who seem to never get demoted, accosted or even given so much as a severe warning for their actions. Therefore something must be done on behalf of the innocent citizens who are being assaulted on a daily basis, as we only hear about a select few like Mr. Fields when their cases are brought to journalists’ such as this Examiner, who are not afraid of the political retribution and aren’t under the control of certain Baltimore powerbrokers. It’s time we began to see a real change in this City, if not for the better it shall certainly be for the worst!

For more information on this article and more email me here, follow me on Twitter, Friend me on Facebook, view past Reporters' Roundtable shows here ; view future Season II clips or campaign/communications/media/video services provided by GCOMM Media Co. here.