Prosecutors Rest Case Against Officer Accused of Choking Teen

By Bryan P Sears

The prosecution Wednesday rested its case against a Baltimore County police officer accused of fatally choking a Randallstown teen. 

Deputy State’s Attorney Robin Coffin called two final witnesses—an assistant state medical examiner and a training officer from the Baltimore County Police Department.

Sgt. Owen Watson, a self-defense instructor for the Baltimore County Police Department, told the jury that the department no longer teaches the hold Ofc. James Laboard is accused of using on 17-year-old Christopher Brown because of the risk of death, according to a report by WBAL television.

During cross examination by Laboard’s attorneys, Owen was asked about what an officer should do when faced with deadly force and Owen responded: “You must do whatever it takes to get home,” according to the station’s report.

After that question, a man, believed to be a member of the Brown family, began to shout at Laboard in the courtroom. He was then escorted out, according to the television report.

In the opening day of the trial, Coffin called a dozen witnesses including teens who were with Brown, who was a Randallstown High School student and member of the football and wrestling teams, on the night of his death. Brown was with a group of eight teens who smoked marijuana and later threw rocks at doors, knocked over trashcans and vandalized cars, the teens admitted. The teens that testified called the actions “rampaging” or “getting reckless."

None of the witnesses called testified to seeing Laboard apply the chokehold. A 79-year-old woman who called 911 at the time of the incident witnessed Laboard laying on top of Brown in an attempt to detain him until police arrived. An officer who was first to arrive on scene testified that Laboard was holding the teen down on the ground with his hand and a knee on the shoulder or arm of the teen.

Dr. Melissa Brassell, an assistant state medical examiner, testified that while Brown had few external injuries, he had substantial internal injuries. 

Brassell testified that Brown had internal hemorrhaging in his eyes and neck consistent with a neck restraint, according to a report by the Baltimore Sun.

A defense expert testified that Brown’s death was consistent with asphyxia due to chest compression, according to the newspaper report.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations before the weekend.