Gregory Mussmacher, Civil Rights Violation, Maryland 2004

Baltimore Cop Sentenced for Abusing Juvenile

Baltimore, MD – In a shocking case of police brutality, former Baltimore Police Department officer Gregory Mussmacher was sentenced to five years in prison for violating the civil rights of a juvenile arrestee.

The brutal incident occurred in April 2004, when Mussmacher used his police-issued baton to strike a handcuffed and shackled juvenile in the head and face. Following the incident, Mussmacher was tried for assault and was convicted in state court, however that conviction was later reversed. Federal authorities took over the case and charged three officers, including Mussmacher, for civil rights and obstruction violations.

“The power that accompanies a police officer’s badge does not give the officer the right to violate the civil rights of those in his or her custody,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute any officer who abuses their power and violates the public trust in this way.”

Mussmacher was convicted by a jury in May 2010 for physically abusing the juvenile and for obstructing justice to cover up the incident. The other two officers, Guy Gerstel and Wayne Thompson, pleaded guilty before trial and testified against Mussmacher.

“Any police officer who abuses a suspect, writes false reports and obstructs justice must be held accountable,” said Rod J. Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “This case is an embarrassment to the many officers who earn our confidence by performing their duties with honor and integrity.”

Gerstel, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation, will be sentenced on November 18, 2010. Thompson, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction charge, was sentenced on September 30, 2010, to serve 6 months of home detention. This case was investigated by the Baltimore Division of the FBI, and was prosecuted by Civil Rights Division Attorneys Forrest Christian, Jeff Blumberg and Kevonne Small, with the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

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