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Demonte Ward-Blake is paralyzed after he was handcuffed and pulled him to the ground causing him to land on his neck according to The Washington Post. Police claim Ward-Blake was trying to flee after being stopped for allegedly operating a car with expired tags.

Law enforcement officials have called Ward-Blake’s injuries “grievous” and are now investigating the incident according to the newspaper. The 24-year-old’s family has hired the attorney who represented the family of Freddie Gray, who died in April 2015 after being injured while in police custody. William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr. helped negotiate a $6.4 million settlement with the city of Baltimore after Gray’s death. In an interview, Murphy said Ward-Blake has broken vertebrae in his neck and spine leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and unable to move his arms. The incident started around 5: 35 pm when an officer noticed an expired tag and walked to the car Ward-Blake was driving according to police. The officer reported that he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, which also had a 6-year-old girl inside.

When the officer tried to write down information, the driver started to shout and reached toward a console inside the car according to police. Officers would remove Ward-Blake from the car and handcuffed him. Police claim they attempted to escape and was stopped by an officer pulled him to the ground and hit his neck.

Charges of assault, resisting arrest, and possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana Ward-Blake has been charged, said a police spokesman, Cpl. Nicholas Clayton. However, since he is hospitalized the warrants have not been served. Prince George’s Police Chief Hank Stawinski called the incident a “horrible accident” and said he had no information that led him to believe the officers acted maliciously according to The Post.

Police claim dashboard cameras were operating, however, they didn’t capture the full encounter and that the officers did not have body cameras. Murphy added that the investigation is continuing. “We ask that you pray for Demonte and his family during this very difficult time,” he said.

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