Md. Police to Probe Arrest of Commissioner's Son

Sheriff's Officers Used Excessive Force in Incident at Waldorf Concert, Cooper Says

Maryland State Police officers have agreed to investigate allegations that Charles County sheriff's officers used excessive force in arresting the son of Wayne Cooper, president of the Board of County Commissioners.

Bryan W. Cooper, 28, was arrested Sept. 20 during a country music concert at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf after a struggle between Cooper and sheriff's officers in which he was shot with a Taser. During Tuesday's commissioners' meeting, Wayne Cooper (D-At Large) distributed a statement saying that he had been present during the incident and found the officers' conduct "excessive and shocking, both as a father and as a private citizen."

Sheriff's Office policy requires a review of any arrest in which officers use force, including the electric stun guns known as Tasers, spokeswoman Diane Richardson said. Because of the "unique circumstances" in Bryan Cooper's case, the Sheriff's Office asked the state police to conduct an "independent, impartial investigation," Richardson said in a statement.

According to charging documents, sheriff's officers approached Bryan Cooper after receiving reports from stadium employees that he was inappropriately touching women at the day-long music festival. Police said that Cooper refused to be escorted out of the stadium and resisted arrest. Officers also said that Cooper smelled of alcohol.

The Sheriff's Office said that an officer's microphone was broken during the scuffle with Cooper, who was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, destruction of property and failing to obey a law enforcement officer's orders.

Cooper hired a lawyer, Clarke Ahlers of Columbia, who has filed a notice that would allow Cooper to sue the Sheriff's Office. The office of the Charles state's attorney says it plans to prosecute the case.

Wayne Cooper said Tuesday that he will recuse himself from voting on any matters regarding the Sheriff's Office until the issue is resolved. He offered to allow board Vice President Edith J. Patterson (D-Pomfret) to preside over a discussion Tuesday of sheriff's officers' pension plans, but Patterson expressed confidence in his ability to oversee the matter impartially.