CAMBRIDGE, Md.- Maryland State Police say a Cambridge police officer is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while a search is under way for a suspect who may be wounded following an officer-involved shooting early Sunday morning.
Police have identified the suspect as Demetrice D. Demby, 39, of the 700-block of Douglas Street in Cambridge. Police have reason to believe Demby may be injured and seeking treatment. Anyone who may have had contact with him or has knowledge of his location is urged to call 911. Investigators are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for Demby and charges are pending.
MSP said that for safety reasons, the two Cambridge Police Department officers who fired their weapons in this incident are not being identified at this time. One of the officers is undergoing treatment at a hospital for injuries to his arms and legs, which include a broken ankle. Authorities said his injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening. The other officer was not injured.
According to MSP, two other Cambridge police officers were also at the scene but did not fire their pistols and were not injured.
MSP said the police-involved shooting occurred at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, on the roadside in the 500-block of Leonard Lane. They said Cambridge Police Department Chief Kenneth Malik requested the investigation be conducted by MSP. State Police Homicide Unit investigators are conducting the investigation, which is standard procedure in police-involved shootings.
Through preliminary investigation, MSP have discovered that shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sunday, two officers with the Cambridge Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a 1995 Chevrolet truck for a traffic violation in the 500-block of Leonards Lane in Cambridge. MSP said Demby was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.
According to MSP, the observations and investigation of the officers during the traffic stop led them to request a K-9 unit to respond and scan the vehicle for possible drug violations. As the K-9 scan was being executed, Demby accelerated the truck and is believed to have driven directly at one of the officers while he was in front of the truck. MSP say that officer, fearing for his life, fired his pistol at Demby. A second officer, fearing for the life of his fellow officer, also fired his pistol. Both officers were carrying department-issued .40-caliber Glock pistols, according to MSP.
The officer in front of the truck then dove away as the truck passed him. MSP said it is unknown at this time if his injuries were sustained from the truck striking him, from the fall as he dove out of the way, or both.
According to MSP, Demby continued to accelerate away, fleeing the scene. The Cambridge police officers pursued Demby in his truck, but lost him within minutes.
A short time later, Demby's abandoned truck was located on Muir Street, a few blocks away from the traffic stop. MSP said the vehicle had damage consistent with gunshots and investigators saw what appeared to be blood in the vehicle. At this time, MSP say it is not known if the blood is Demby's, or if he was injured by a shot fired by police.
MSP investigators are in the process of obtaining search warrants to further the investigation. They are being assisted in their continuing investigation by uniformed officers and investigators from the Cambridge Police Department. The Dorchester County State's Attorney also responded to the scene and will continue to be consulted by investigators during the ongoing investigation into this incident. Upon completion of the MSP investigation into the police-involved shooting, it will be presented to the State's Attorney's Office for review.
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