BALTIMORE, MD – The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of the Attorney General today released dashboard and body-worn camera video from the vehicle crash following a police pursuit that occurred around 10 p.m. on October 21, 2021, in Wicomico County. The decedent was identified as Jamaal Parish Mitchell of Salisbury.
The incident occurred after Private First Class Christopher Denny of the Salisbury Police Department observed a car at the intersection of Delaware Ave. and West Salisbury Pkwy. operating without lights and swerving. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver, identified as Mitchell, failed to stop. The officer pursued the car out of concern that the driver was impaired. After turning onto Queen Ave., the car struck a Wicomico County Sheriff’s cruiser operated by Deputy David Munir.
The car continued on Queen Ave. and struck a second vehicle at the intersection of Queen Ave. and Duchess Drive. The second collision caused Mitchell to lose control of the car, and the car entered a yard on Duchess Drive, striking a parked vehicle and a tree. Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene. The video linked above contains video and audio captured by the in-car camera from the Salisbury officer, and body-worn camera footage from both the Salisbury officer and the Wicomico sheriff’s deputy.
The IID will generally release body camera footage or dashboard camera footage within 14 days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 14 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to redact the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.