A Prince George’s County police officer was arrested and charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault after firing his service weapon at a man in Charles County while off-duty.
On Feb. 23, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Crain Highway and Budds Creek Road in Newburg for reports of shots being fired at a moving vehicle, charging documents say.
Charles County emergency communications received ongoing updates from the caller, who said that he was following the shooter in his vehicle on Budds Creek Road. A detective was able to locate both of the vehicles, and they came to a stop on Ryceville Road in Mechanicsville.
The alleged shooter, David Hardester, 42, of Mechanicsville, cooperated with responding officers and was detained after a felony stop was conducted, according to charging documents.
The document says an officer asked Hardester where he was coming from and he said, “Down there at the Aqualand neighborhood. I was just going to talk with him.”
Hardester was asked how he knew the man he allegedly shot at, to which he told officers that his wife knew him, the document says.
Officers talked to the other man who said Hardester was going to meet him at his house and that he was expecting a fight with him because Hardester was aware that the man was talking to his estranged wife, according to charging documents.
The man told officers that he believed they would have a fist fight and “get it over with as men,” charging documents say.
The two met in a parking area by the man’s residence and began arguing when the man began to walk away. When his back was turned, he heard a loud gunshot, felt a “whiz” allegedly from a bullet go past him and ran from Hardester, the document says.
Upon taking Hardester into custody, police allegedly located live ammunition and Hardester’s 9 mm handgun, which was later determined to be his service weapon.
According to the charging documents, Hardester’s driver’s door had damage consistent with a gunshot entering the door panel from inside the truck and exiting out the door.
Officers were able to obtain video footage that was consistent with the victim’s story.
Hardester’s estranged wife came to the scene at Ryceville Road and informed officers that before the alleged shooting Hardester had assaulted her at her home in St. Mary’s County after finding out about her new relationship, charging documents say.
Hardester informed her that he was going to go to the man’s house and allegedly grabbed her, slammed her into a wall and left the residence. Hardester’s estranged wife took the opportunity to warn the man that Hardester was coming, the document says.
Currently, Hardester is suspended without pay, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Most Popular
Comments / 0