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Baltimore cop’s slaying of fellow officer prompts lawsuit
BALTIMORE -
Family members of slain veteran Baltimore Police Officer Norman Stamp have notified the city they intend to file a wrongful-death lawsuit, their attorney said Wednesday. Robert E. Donadio, one of two lawyers who, with a private investigator, is conducting an independent probe of Stamp’s shooting death, said he discovered new details about Stamp’s death that led to the notice’s filing. Stamp, 65, was shot to death by a fellow officer during a fight outside the Haven Place club on the 500 block of North Haven Street in Southeast Baltimore. Police say Stamp pulled a gun on the officer, though his family and friends question that account. “We’ve gained information that is going to lead to a wrongful-death suit,” Donadio said, declining to elaborate. Along with Stamp, Donadio was one of five founding members of the Chosen Sons Motorcycle Club, whose other founders were a Maryland state trooper, a prison guard and a Baltimore police mechanic. “Norman and I were very close,” Donadio said. “I loved him like a brother. I lost my brother in 2003, and I felt the same way when Norman died.” Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld has said officers responded just after midnight April 24 to reports of a fight at a strip club. Officer John Torres tried to stop customers from leaving the bar during the fight in the parking lot, police said. Torres confronted Stamp, who was off duty, when he left the bar wearing brass knuckles, Bealefeld said. When Stamp did not respond to Torres’ commands, Torres used a Taser to knock Stamp to the ground, where Stamp drew his handgun and Torres fired the fatal shot, Bealefeld said. Members of the Chosen Sons and Stamp’s family had publicly questioned that account, arguing that Stamp could not have pulled a gun on Torres if he had on brass knuckles at the time. Stamp’s association with the large Baltimore-based motorcycle gang drew criticism from a Baltimore County lawmaker — and former cop — who called on local police leaders to review social club policies. Councilman Vince Gardina, a Perry Hall Democrat, said Chosen Sons is known for instigating bar fights. “That motorcycle gang, while it’s not one of the bad criminal enterprises, the places they hang out and getting in fights at bars, that’s not appropriate behavior for police officers,” Gardina said. “Something like that should be specifically prohibited.” Most area police departments, including those in Baltimore City and Howard County, said they have rules against associating with criminals that would extend to “questionable” social organizations. “We would not have our employees associate with criminals or those of questionable character,” said Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson. “We would not have an employee dishonor the uniform and position in our county government.” lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com |