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September 18, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. MAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULTING A FEDERAL OFFICER
GREENBELT, Maryland - Charles Aaron Cooper, age 21, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced today to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with his conviction by U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said, "Mr. Cooper used his car to assault two Park Police officers. It is fortunate that the Park Police officers did not suffer more serious injuries."
According to testimony at trial, U.S. Park Police officers stopped Cooper on February 8, 2006 on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Maryland for a traffic violation. One officer stood at the driver's door questioning Cooper, who was sitting in the driver's seat with his engine running and appeared “extremely nervous.” Cooper suddenly put his car in drive, aimed the car at an officer and accelerated. The officer had to jump back to avoid being hit. The second officer, standing at the passenger side door, reached into and tried steering the car to avoid hitting his partner, yelling at Cooper to stop the car. Instead, Cooper accelerated, dragging the officer half-in the car as it traveled up the ramp to Route 450, and trying to dislodge him. The officer managed to pull himself completely into the car, and the two struggled for control of the wheel. Cooper jumped out of the still-moving car as it got to Route 450, scaled a 10-foot fence and fled. The car finally stopped when it crashed into a six-inch curb on the median on Route 450 and became disabled. The officer suffered bruises to his legs and shoulder, and received medical treatment.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the U.S. Park Police for their investigative work in this case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Hollis R. Weisman, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—September 18, 2006