QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY — A State Trooper and the driver of a suspicious vehicle are being treated for injuries after an apparent assault and trooper-involved shooting in Queen Anne's County early Saturday.
The trooper is a four-year-veteran of the Maryland State Police. He is assigned to road patrol duties at the Centreville Barrack.
The suspect is identified as Deny (sic) R. Coursey, 44, of Centreville, Md. Both received treatment at a hospital in Baltimore and were released.
Coursey is being charged with first degree assault, second degree assault, fleeing and eluding police, violation of the Governor's Executive Order, obstructing and hindering, and reckless driving. He is being held without bond at the Queen Anne's County Detention Center.
Police say shortly before 3:00 a.m. Saturday, a trooper spotted a suspicious vehicle at the end of Rolph's Wharf Road near Chestertown. The trooper called in a description of a 2001 Chevrolet truck. Minutes later, the trooper called for backup.
The investigation indicates the trooper approached the truck on the passenger side and made contact with the driver, Coursey.
While talking with Coursey, the trooper saw what appeared to be a small amount of a suspected controlled dangerous substance in the center console. When the trooper confronted Coursey about this, he accelerated away, with the trooper being dragged by the vehicle.
The truck picked up speed as the trooper clung to the side. The trooper repeatedly told the driver to stop, but was ignored. In fear for his life, the trooper fired his weapon toward the suspect. At some point he became dislodged from the vehicle and fell where he was later found by backup troopers.
A lookout for the vehicle was broadcast and the vehicle was spotted by Queen Anne County Sheriff's Office deputies. A deputy reported the truck was driving through a field and eventually became stuck in a ditch.
As police headed to the scene, the trooper did not respond to calls on his radio. When officials arrived, they found the trooper lying in a ditch and saw the suspect vehicle was not at the scene. Police say the trooper may have been injured when he was dragged by a vehicle.
Deputies and troopers took the suspect into custody and found he had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the upper torso.
Investigators from the State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and crime scene technicians from the Forensic Sciences Division responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded and is leading the ongoing investigation, as is procedure in a trooper-involved shooting. Upon completion, the criminal investigation will be presented to the Queen Anne's County State's Attorney's Office for review.
Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Division investigators are also conducting an investigation. This investigation is procedure following a use of deadly force by a trooper.
