Maryland officials release body-worn camera video in fatal Baltimore County police use-of-force incident

Video released after Woodlawn encounter; investigation remains open

Maryland authorities have released body-worn camera video and identified those involved in a deadly police use-of-force incident that began in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, on Feb. 16, 2026. The release includes the name of the man who died, 56-year-old Samuel Brown of Owings Mills, and the involved officer, Baltimore County Police Officer Derek Hadel, a nine-year veteran assigned to the Operations Bureau.

The encounter occurred in the early morning hours near Whitehead Court and Security Boulevard. Brown later died on Feb. 27, 2026, after being hospitalized following the incident. The circumstances leading to Brown’s death remain under investigation by the state’s Independent Investigations Division, the unit responsible for examining police-involved incidents in Maryland that result in death or injuries likely to lead to death.

What the footage depicts

The released body-worn camera recording shows an officer approaching a vehicle stopped at a traffic light, where Brown is seated behind the wheel. During the interaction, Brown exits the vehicle after an exchange with the officer. The footage then shows physical contact between the officer and Brown, including the officer pushing Brown backward more than once. Brown is seen responding with a physical gesture toward the officer’s arm, followed by the officer striking Brown. Brown falls to the ground and hits his head on the pavement.

Within minutes, additional officers and emergency personnel arrive and render medical aid. The video includes graphic content tied to the fall and the immediate aftermath.

Public release amid community demands

The release followed public calls from Brown’s relatives, friends, and community advocates seeking the video and additional information about the incident. Those requests included demands for transparency and accountability as Brown remained hospitalized and after he died.

How critical-incident video is handled in Maryland

Maryland’s independent investigative structure for police-involved deaths and life-threatening injuries was established as part of statewide police accountability reforms enacted in 2021. The state unit’s work typically includes collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing available recordings, including body-worn camera video when it exists.

Separately, local agencies in Maryland operate under public-records requirements and departmental policies that govern how body-worn camera recordings may be released, with redactions sometimes required to protect privacy or sensitive investigative information.

What happens next

The state investigation into the Feb. 16 encounter remains ongoing. The investigative unit has asked anyone with information to come forward as it continues to examine the events leading up to Brown’s injury and subsequent death.

• Date of incident: Feb. 16, 2026 (Woodlawn, Baltimore County)
• Date of death: Feb. 27, 2026
• Identified decedent: Samuel Brown, 56, of Owings Mills
• Identified officer: Derek Hadel, Baltimore County Police, nine-year veteran

The investigation remains open, and the released video represents only one part of the evidence being reviewed.