Baltimore, MD – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced Friday that no criminal charges will be filed against Gaithersburg Police officers involved in the December 24, 2024, in-custody death of Marvin Salamanca Garcia.
The decision follows an eight-month investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID), which concluded that the officers did not violate state law during their encounter with Salamanca Garcia.
According to the investigation, officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 10:28 p.m. reporting a man causing a disturbance in the 300 block of Summit Avenue. They encountered Salamanca Garcia in the entryway of an apartment building, where he was covered in blood, behaving erratically, and speaking incoherently. Witnesses and officers reported that he was moving in a way that caused blood to spatter, prompting officers to physically restrain him.
While held on the ground as medics were en route, Salamanca Garcia lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Officers administered medical aid until emergency personnel arrived. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead two days later on December 26.
The IID reviewed body-worn camera footage, medical examiner reports, and witness statements as part of its investigation. The Attorney General’s Office concluded there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against the officers involved.
The Gaithersburg Police Department has not released further comment regarding any potential internal review.
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Key Points
- No charges will be filed against officers involved in Marvin Salamanca Garcia’s in-custody death in Gaithersburg
- The incident occurred on December 24, 2024; Garcia died two days later at a hospital
- The Attorney General’s investigation found no criminal wrongdoing under Maryland law
Officers who restrained a bleeding, erratic man on Christmas Eve will not face prosecution, Maryland’s top law enforcement official ruled.
