Settlement reached in death of man shot by Maryland cop while handcuffed in patrol car

LARGO, Md. – A legal settlement agreement has been reached in the death of a man who authorities say was fatally shot by a Maryland police officer while he was handcuffed in a patrol car.

The settlement for the January shooting of William Howard Green, 43, was announced Sunday in a statement by Gina Ford, a spokesperson for the Office of the County Executive in Prince George’s County.

The statement said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will announce details about the settlement agreement at a news conference Monday. She will be joined by Green family attorney Billy Murphy and members of the family.

Prince George’s County Police Cpl. Michael Owen Jr., the officer accused of shooting Green, was arrested in January on charges of second-degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

A police report from January said the shooting happened after Owen handcuffed Green, of Washington, D.C., behind his back and placed him in his patrol car after responding to a traffic accident and finding him sleeping in his vehicle, apparently under the influence of an unknown substance.

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Police initially said there were witness reports of a struggle inside the police cruiser but investigators didn’t find any evidence of a fight between Owen and Green before Green was shot in the front passenger seat.

A prosecutor, Renee Joy, said in January that Green posed “absolutely no threat.” Owen is Black. Police wouldn’t specify Green’s race in January, citing department policy.

Owen was denied bond in January by a judge who said he found convincing evidence that the officer posed a danger to the community. Defense attorney Jonathon Scruggs said in January that Owen is an ordained minister and doesn’t pose a danger.

The state’s attorney’s office confirmed to The Associated Press that jury selection in the case was scheduled to begin in March 2021.

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