Two men arrested after Baltimore video shows bystanders kicking officer during Pennsylvania Avenue store incident
Arrests follow viral video of officer being assaulted
Two men were arrested after a cellphone video circulating online showed a Baltimore police sergeant on the ground during an attempted arrest while multiple people appeared to kick and strike him. Police said the incident occurred around midnight on a Friday night in West Baltimore, outside a business on the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Police identified the two adult suspects as Zayne Abdullah, 23, of Dundalk, and Donnell Burgess, 20, of Windsor Mill. Police said a 17-year-old was also arrested and charged in juvenile proceedings. Investigators said they were still seeking additional participants seen or described in connection with the assault.
What police say happened before the video begins
Charging documents described the encounter as beginning with the sergeant conducting a business check and attempting to disperse a group outside the store. Police alleged that during the interaction the sergeant made inadvertent physical contact with Abdullah, who then demanded an apology and spit in the sergeant’s face. Police said the sergeant attempted to take Abdullah into custody, leading to a struggle that moved to the sidewalk and then to the ground.
The circulating video does not show the earliest moments of the confrontation, but it captures the physical struggle and the involvement of bystanders. Police alleged the sergeant was punched, kicked, and pulled while trying to complete the arrest.
Charges and the role of video evidence
Police said Abdullah was charged with assault and resisting arrest.
Police said Burgess was charged with assault on police and resisting arrest.
A 17-year-old was charged as a juvenile in connection with the incident.
Police officials said there was no body-worn camera recording from the assaulted sergeant because the encounter began suddenly during a business check and the camera was not activated. The lack of body-camera footage became part of a broader public discussion about documentation and accountability during fast-moving encounters, particularly when a short bystander video becomes the primary widely viewed record.
In public statements at the time, city and police leaders described the assault as an unlawful attack on an officer engaged in routine duties and said those involved would face criminal consequences.
What comes next
The arrests shift the case from identification to adjudication. Prosecutors will need to prove individual conduct—who used force, who interfered, and who attempted to help or hinder the arrest—based on witness accounts, available surveillance, and the bystander footage. Defense attorneys may also challenge how the encounter began and whether police actions preceding the recorded clip were appropriate.
As of the latest publicly available case information tied to the video, investigators indicated the inquiry remained open as they worked to identify any additional suspects and gather further video from nearby cameras and witnesses.