President Of The Balt. Co. F.O.P. Accused Of Pulling Weapon On Driver
PARKVILLE, Md. (WJZ)—The Baltimore County police officer who heads their union is a suspect in a felony. Pulling his weapon and being intoxicated are just some of the allegations.
Mike Schuh has a look at what happened between the union chief and the driver of a sedan service.
Cole Weston has been in charge of the police union since the mid-90s. But early Thursday morning, according to police, he was drinking and pulled a gun on a man outside of his home.
The police report tells two stories. One of a sedan driver struck in the face by an intoxicated man who says he is a police officer who later pulls out and points his gun. The other: a police officer who denies pointing the weapon or striking the man and who says he suspected drug dealers in his parking lot.
Named in the report as a suspect for first-degree assault is Sergeant Cole Weston--the head of the county police union.
"Right now our Internal Affairs section is investigating this case," said Lt. Rob McCullough, Baltimore County Police spokesman. "We're also conducting a criminal investigation. That criminal investigation has been turned over to the State's Attorney Office for review."
A neighbor tells WJZ that their complex has two dead ends and because of that, oftentimes there is petty drug dealing.
Weston says that's what he suspected.
The sedan driver tells police he was waiting for a man to return with the cash to pay for his ride.
The officer who responded notes that the 911 operator advises that Weston sounded intoxicated.
"We do know at this time that he had been drinking on the night in question," McCullough said.
This is not Weston's first brush with the law. He'd been charged with a DUI more than a decade ago. More recently, a restraining order had been filed and withdrawn by a girlfriend.
Some officers have privately questioned why in a felony case weren't Weston's police powers suspended.
"It's very important in this case that we first review all the circumstances to ensure that an independent body agrees with all the facts of the case and warrant that it's necessary to suspend his powers," McCullough said.
Weston did not return WJZ's calls for comment.
Since the union made campaign donations to the Baltimore County State's Attorney, it's expected that another state's attorney in a different county will review this case.
