County police commanders investigated over riot orders

The investigation into police conduct during the March 4 riot in which several students were beaten by police has spread to the e-mails and text messages of high-ranking officers at the scene, Prince George's County Police said.

Investigators are working to determine if orders from the county commanders at the scene — overseeing more than 100 officers in riot gear and many on horseback — directly led to alleged police brutality against students whose charges were later dropped, county police spokesman Maj. Andy Ellis said.

State investigators are also studying whether anyone attempted to cover up anything that occurred as police attempted to clear thousands of students celebrating a men's basketball victory over Duke who were blocking Route 1 and Knox Road, Ellis said.

Ellis said he didn't believe investigators were acting on any particular concern or looking for anything specific.

"All of that is part of the investigation," Ellis said. "There's a lot of community concern about what happened that night, so the investigation is very thorough."

Ellis has also said officers' efforts were poorly documented during the chaotic period, specifically reports on people who were detained without charges in temporary holding facilities that included Ritchie Coliseum. The investigation was first reported in The Washington Post.

The state's attorney's office — which is working with the FBI and county internal affairs detectives — is reviewing electronic communications sent between commanders from both the night of the riot and later in April, when a video was released showing officers beating an unarmed student with batons, according to the Post.

Four officers from the incident are still stripped of police powers and are either on administrative leave or on desk duty, Ellis said.

Ellis said it was unclear how long the investigation will last,but that it should absolutely be finished before March. Officers involved cannot be charged with any crimes after a year has passed.

Representatives of the county state's attorney's office could not be reached for comment.

Of the 28 people arrested during the riot, nearly all have had their charges dropped and none have been convicted. Five with active charges are still awaiting a day in court.

Several civil suits against the county police department are expected to come out of the incident, including that of senior John McKenna's.

McKenna appeared in a widely distributed amateur video that shows him being beaten by police officers as he lay crumpled on the ground. William Wang, 23, is also reportedly considering a suit; police claim Wang sustained injuries to his head and face when he fell evading authorities, but Wang's attorney says he was knocked unconscious by police after asking them why they were pepper-spraying students.

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