Chief Lando on the Morning news ExpressThe public has a chance to see body-cam video from last year’s shootings of two Frederick Police Officers. Police Chief Jason Lando says the video was released to provide for accountability and transparency in all incidents involving the department.
On February 11th, 2022, Officers Bryan Snyder and Kristen Kowalsky were dispatched to the area of Key Parkway near Waverly Drive for a suspicious individual who had a gun. They approached Dominique Lewis who was sitting on an electric box. At first, Lewis refused their inquires, but then he shot Officers Snyder and Kowalsky. They returned fire. The video has the sound of multiple gunshots.
On Friday last week, at a Frederick County Circuit Court hearing, Lewis was found guilty of the shootings, but not criminally responsible. Judge Julie Stevenson Solt ordered Lewis to be placed in a secure mental health institution until he is no longer determined to be a danger to the community and himself. A medical expert with the Maryland Department of Health determined Lewis’ mental condition was so compromised, he didn’t understand what he was doing.
Chief Lando called the outcome of this case “disappointing.”
“When this incident occurred, we pledged accountability, transparency, and to give the community some answers,” says Chief Lando, during the video. “But our first duty was to ensure a fair trial to everyone involved in this case, and releasing footage at the time of the incident risked tainting the jury. Today, the case is now concluded. The Frederick Police Department is releasing this footage in compliance with our departmental policy on events of significant public interest.”
The video is posted on the Frederick Police website which is part of the Frederick City website. (See Video here
