BALTIMORE — The Baltimore City Police Department announced Friday that it has terminated Officer Robert Parks.
On Thursday, Parks was convicted of second-degree assault, three counts of misconduct in office, and reckless driving in connection with an October 2025 incident.
He was also charged with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault but was found not guilty on those charges.
Related: Officer found not guilty of attempted murder after nearly hitting man with car
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said that although he respects the court's decision, Parks "seriously threatened the life of the victim and the general public."
"As in any case, we will now prepare to advocate for an appropriate sentence that reflects the defendant's serious actions," said State's Attorney Bates. "Police officers are entrusted with tremendous authority and an obligation to protect the public by making decisions on the job that prioritize safety. When an officer instead engages in reckless conduct that threatens the lives of our residents, it undermines the critical trust between law enforcement and the community. These convictions, particularly the three counts of misconduct in office, will place Officer Parks on our office's Do Not Call List."
The incident occurred on October 28. On that day, Parks approached a group of people gathered near a liquor store at the corner of Pimlico Road and Wylie Avenue.
According to charging documents, Parks told the group: "It's getting a little hot, guys. I just need you guys to take a lap, you know?"
Antrell Smith was among the group—the person Parks specifically called out once the group began walking away.
When Smith declined to speak with Parks, the officer stated, "All right, I'm just gonna call the dogs and come get you."
Parks then got back into his marked police vehicle and told the dispatcher he had "one running."
A viral video showed Parks driving onto the sidewalk and later through a chain-link fence in pursuit of Smith.
"From the moment we became aware of this incident, I made it clear that what we saw was disturbing, and the conduct was not consistent with our standards or the expectations we have for our officers," said Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley. "Today's termination reflects our commitment to accountability and to ensuring that the men and women who serve this city uphold the law, our policies, and the trust placed in them by the community. We will continue to hold our officers accountable when their actions fall short of those standards."
"BPD officers take an oath to protect the residents of our city, and this individual clearly failed to live up to that oath," said Mayor Brandon Scott. "As always, we will not hesitate to hold anyone accountable who endangers the safety of our communities, especially those sworn to protect them. I want to thank both the Police Department and the State's Attorney's Office for their work on this case, and reiterate our shared commitment to constitutional policing and continued trust building between BPD officers and our residents."
BPD says it remains committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining the highest standards of conduct for its members.
A sentencing date for Parks has not yet been set.
