Off-duty officer charged in home assault

EDGEWOOD, Md. (WMAR) - An off-duty Baltimore City Police officer has been charged with second degree assault following an incident that occurred near his home in Harford County.

Officer Roberto Santiago-Pagan, a 10-year veteran of the Baltimore City Police force was served with a criminal summons charging him with second degree assault.

On Tuesday, Harford County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of Boxelder Drive and Wingleaf Court to see two men standing over another man, later identified as Carson Hutton.

According to the charging documents, one of the men, Santiago-Pagan, identified themselves as a Baltimore Police officer and told them he saw a drug transaction take place.

Santiago-Pagan told police that he had confronted Hutton, who was in the back seat of a Dodge Neon, which was believed to be involved in the drug transaction. Santiago-Pagan stated that as Hutton got out of the Neon, he attempted to run, but he had caught up with him and 'brought him to the ground, to detain him', says the documents.

However, witnesses and Hutton had a different story to tell. Witnesses say they saw Santiago-Pagan come to the Neon, yelling and saying not 'to deal drugs on this street, or the next time he would call police.'

Witnesses also said that Santiago-Pagan and Hutton argued, but Santiago-Pagan had pulled Hutton out of the car, slammed him against it and then slammed him to the ground. Witnesses also said that Santiago-Pagan pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Hutton's face.

Hutton told police that he was whit his friends when they pulled into the area to see his ex-girlfriend when he saw someone that owed him money. Hutton stated he spoke with that person and got back into the car.

At that time, Hutton says, Santiago-Pagan started yelling at him saying that he was going to get his gun and Hutton was there to buy drugs. Hutton says Santiago-Pagan "ripped him from the car, slammed him to the ground, and put a gun to his face," says the documents.

Hutton says he was previously injured in a car accident and that the incident with Santiago-Pagan had re-injured those parts.

About 2 hours later a Baltimore Police Internal Investigator arrived and took Santiago-Pagan firearm and gave it to Sheriff's officials for "safekeeping".

No charges have been filed against Hutton, as investigators found marijuana on the street but could not link it to him.

Santiago-Pagan has been suspended from the Baltimore City Police force pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. A spokesperson says Santiago-Pagan will also face an additional internal investigation with BPD.