Medical Examiner Rules Samuel Brown's Death a Homicide

The 56-year-old Owings Mills man died days after being punched by a Baltimore County police officer.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:14pm

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The State Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the death of Samuel Brown, a 56-year-old Owings Mills man, a homicide. Brown died days after being punched by a Baltimore County police officer during an encounter on February 16th. The officer involved, Derek Hadel, has been placed on leave as the investigation continues.

Why it matters

This case raises concerns about use of force by police and the handling of encounters with civilians, especially those involving potential mental health issues. The release of the medical examiner's findings adds to the scrutiny on the incident and the actions of the officer involved.

The details

According to the police report, officers responded to a call about someone asleep at the wheel around 3:30 a.m. on February 16th. During the encounter, Officer Derek Hadel punched Samuel Brown. Brown later died from his injuries. The Brown family's attorney has said the body-camera footage shows the officer defying use-of-force and de-escalation policies.

  • On February 16, 2026, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m.
  • Samuel Brown died days after the incident on February 16th.

The players

Samuel Brown

A 56-year-old man from Owings Mills, Maryland who died after being punched by a Baltimore County police officer.

Officer Derek Hadel

A 9-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department who was involved in the incident with Samuel Brown and has been placed on leave during the investigation.

Maryland Office of the Attorney General

The state agency that released the body-camera footage of the incident between Officer Hadel and Samuel Brown.

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What’s next

The investigation into the incident and Officer Hadel's actions is ongoing. The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Hadel to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the ongoing need for police departments to thoroughly review use-of-force policies, provide robust de-escalation training, and ensure accountability when encounters with civilians result in injury or death.