Man Dies After Alleged Use-of-Force Incident with Baltimore County Officer

Family demands release of body cam footage after 57-year-old Samuel Brown suffered serious injuries

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A 57-year-old man named Samuel Brown has died after an alleged police use-of-force incident in Baltimore County on February 16. Brown's family is calling for the release of body camera footage, claiming the officer used excessive force that led to Brown suffering a broken nose, fractured skull, and other serious injuries before he died from his wounds last week.

Why it matters

This incident has raised concerns about police use-of-force policies and procedures in Baltimore County, with Brown's family alleging the officer's actions were illegal and excessive. The case has also renewed calls for greater transparency around police encounters, with the family demanding the release of body camera footage to shed light on what happened.

The details

According to authorities, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on February 16 when a Baltimore County police officer found Brown asleep behind the wheel of a car at a stoplight. Brown allegedly got out of the car and approached the officer, leading to a physical encounter where the officer used force. Brown was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.

  • The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on February 16, 2026.
  • Brown died from his injuries last week.

The players

Samuel Brown

A 57-year-old man who died after an alleged use-of-force incident with a Baltimore County police officer.

Billy Murphy

An attorney representing Brown's family, who is demanding the release of police body camera footage.

Baltimore County Police

The police department investigating the use-of-force incident involving one of their officers.

Maryland Office of the Attorney General

The state agency investigating the incident and overseeing the release of the body camera footage.

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What they’re saying

“The choice that the officer made was an illegal choice. He has no right to hit Sam twice in the face, break his nose, break bones in his face, and hit him so hard that he immediately hit the ground and hit his head against the ground, fracturing his skull.”

— Billy Murphy, Attorney representing Brown's family

What’s next

The Independent Investigations Division (IID) is investigating the officer's use-of-force incident, and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has said police body-worn camera footage is typically released within 20 business days of an incident.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has sparked renewed calls for greater transparency and accountability around police use-of-force policies, particularly in cases where serious injuries or death occur. The release of the body camera footage will be crucial in understanding what happened and determining if the officer's actions were justified.