A man who was critically injured during an October encounter with Anne Arundel County Police officers died Thursday, according to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.
On Dec. 6, the Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General began an investigation because 21-year-old Lavaughn Coleman, of Crofton, had injuries that likely caused his death, according to a news release from the office.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, Anne Arundel officers responded to the 900 block of Waugh Chapel Way in Gambrills for a report of two men in a vehicle with guns and drugs, the release says. When officers arrived, they ordered the two men out of the vehicle.
The other suspect complied with handcuffs. Coleman initially complied with officers’ commands, but, as an officer, identified as Cpl. A. Stallings, attempted to place him in handcuffs, he stood up and ran, striking the officer and knocking off his body-worn camera, according to the release.
Stallings pursued Coleman and commanded him to stop before using a Taser, the release says. Coleman was struck and fell to the ground, hitting his head. Officers used medical aid and requested emergency medical services. Coleman was taken to a local hospital and, later, to an area trauma center before he died Thursday.
Stallings, whose full name was not released by the Attorney General’s Office, has 10 years of law enforcement experience and is assigned to the county police’s Burea of Patrol. He has remained on full duty status during the investigation, Anne Arundel Police spokesperson Marc Limansky said.
Anne Arundel Police reported the event to the Attorney General’s Office on Oct. 29.
The IID generally releases body camera footage within 20 business days of an event it is investigating. That timeline may be extended due to technical issues, if investigators need additional time for interviews or to allow for family members to view the video before it becomes public.
The footage in the Oct. 29 tasing is tentatively set for release on or before Jan. 5, though the release may be delayed as the office continues to conduct interviews, an Attorney General’s Office spokesperson said.
