A Prince George's County Police Corporal is suspended from the department and facing criminal charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on a woman in a case of road rage.
James Thornley, an 18-year veteran officer, got into a confrontation with a woman at the intersection of Chinquapin Round Road and Forest Drive near his home in Annapolis, Maryland, in late August, according to charging documents.
The documents say the woman got out of her car and approached the officer's vehicle.
“Why are you trying to kill me?” she said, according to the documents.
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Thornley allegedly replied: “Get your fat **ss back in the car or I’m going to f*cking shoot you."
Thornley was off duty but still in uniform at the time and was pointing his service weapon, according to Prince George's County police.
According to charging documents, the victim reported Thornley's license plates to Annapolis Police.
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Investigators came to his home, and during an interview Thornley admitted to pointing his gun at the woman and told investigators he told her to “Get the [EXPLITIVE] away from my vehicle.”
Thornley faces first- and second-degree assault, firearm and reckless endangerment charges. He was suspended from the department without pay.
The incident is the latest in a string of misconduct issues in the Prince George's County Police Department, which settled a discrimination lawsuit in July. Officers of color complained of racial discrimination, retaliation and unfair promotion practices. The settlement cost taxpayers more than $17 million.
In August, the investigation into an officer in the fatal shooting of a man who was wearing handcuffs last year led to fraud charges against several officers, according to authorities.
Another officer was charged in late August for allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man during a traffic stop.
In September, an officer was suspended for crashing his vehicle into someone's yard and walking away in a hit-and-run crash.