By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Baltimore residents turned out in droves on March 3 to recognize the life of Samuel “Big Sam” Brown, the Black man who died as a result of an encounter with the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD). On March 4, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Independent Investigation Division (IID) released the body footage camera of the officer involved in the encounter that led to Brown’s death.
The officer has now been identified as Derek Hadel, who has been with the BCoPD for nine years.
According to the OAG, Brown died on Feb. 27 from the injuries he sustained during the Feb. 16 police use of force incident that he was involved in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Md.
On Feb. 16 at approximately 3:30 a.m., a police officer responded to a call for a welfare check for a man sitting at a light for a prolonged time in the area of Security Boulevard and Whitehead Court, according to the OAG.
On the scene, the officer saw Brown in the vehicle. Brown exited the vehicle and approached the officer, which turned into a physical encounter, during which the officer used force. Brown then fell to the ground and suffered an injury. The officer provided medical aid until emergency medical services (EMS) arrived. Brown was then transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition until his death on Feb. 27.
The officer was not harmed during the incident, said the OAG.
Brown’s March 3 public viewing and funeral rites service, called a “janazah” for those of the Islamic faith, was held in West Baltimore City at the Wylie Funeral Homes on North Mount St.
A constant flow of people moved through the service to stand in line to view his body and give condolences to the family of the 56-year-old man.
Family and friends continue to demand justice for Brown.
“All we are looking for is answers on how a wellness check ended with a father of six being killed by the hands of police,” said Roberto “D.J. Quicksilva” Silva, a close friend of Brown, on behalf of the family.
Silva shared more about who Big Sam was.
“He’s a father, brother, an entrepreneur, a business owner, a caregiver, a friend and a loved one by many,” he said.
Several of Brown’s friends remember him as a big brother type to everyone and a man of the community.
“He was the big brother I never knew I needed,” said Chantay Wheeler, who knew Brown for roughly 20 years. “He always looked out for me, protected me, taking care of things behind the scenes I never even knew he was doing. That is who he was.”
“He did not deserve this, at all,” said Wheeler.
As of March 4, the Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General is still investigating the circumstances around the case.
The OAG asks anyone that may have information about this incident, including cell phone video or private surveillance footage, to contact the IID at (410) 576-7070 or by email at IID@oag.maryland.gov.