Can I ask why you knew my ID? >> Yeah. Uh cuz uh 413 we're with uh subject in this situation. You need to be able to ID. >> Can you can you >> I don't have to hand my >> You're going to go to jail if you don't hand it to him because it's a field investigation. You're involved in a battery. >> Two co-workers, one reported punch and only one of them leaves in handcuffs. Deputies arrive at a food court pretzel shop on a battery call. A witness already naming the man who threw it. His answer is a single claim, self-defense. And everything now turns on whether the law will let it stand. >> That's what the original call. We're not >> Tell us what happened. >> First of all, my name is Deputy Houseki Mon County Sheriff's. Everything you say is recorded. Tell us your side of the story cuz there's always two sides of a story. >> First of all, you work for Annie Ans. >> You're an employee. Yes. >> Okay. Tell us what happened. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I can't talk to police, bro. You want my information? I'm giving you my information. >> Then we're detaining him until we get the other the manager story. >> I'm sorry. >> Because she just told me to leave. So, I was leaving. I just ordered a >> We don't know the story. We were just called here on a battery. We don't know if if >> that's what that's what we that's the call. >> So, turn on. >> Wait. Wait. So why is it prison? >> You're being detained right now. >> You can just He's As long as he's cooperative. He's like cooperative. Then we'll cough you up. Make a big scene. >> Take right here then. >> Relax. Let me Like I said, I have to get the other We don't know what happened. Okay. >> You didn't know what happened. Why did >> you're detained? You're being detained. >> You're not You're not under arrest yet. We have to go get the other side of the story. You don't want to give your side. So, I'm forced to go talk to the manager. All right. Sit tight. My partner will stay with you. So, is it Are you the manager? >> I'm the team leader. >> Okay. Were you the one that told him that he could leave? >> Huh? >> Were you the one that told him he could leave? >> Okay. I told him you need to go home. >> Because you're high. >> Cuz you're high. >> Yeah. Because he came out of the bathroom and he was like the And then when he got he like this and I told you go home. He said why? You know why? This is the second time that I told him. >> So we got a call that it was there was a battery like a fight. >> Yeah. >> He hit him. >> He he punched me in the face and mouth >> after she told him he go home. >> When I told her to go home >> Did you witness him punching him in the face? >> Yes, I saw him punch him. All of all the coworker saw him punch him. >> Okay. And then after he punched him, what happened? >> So I uh he went to the back. He I I took him to the front and then I I took the my guns and called the sheriff. >> Got it. >> And then he came out. I was standing right here. You you cannot go home. I'm calling the sheriff because we need to resolve this cuz you hit local work. That's what I said. And then he came out through the other door and start running. I said, "Don't go. Did you give me your badge?" >> Yes. I said, "Give me your best." When he came out, give you give me your best. You're a go. You're supposed to say, "I already called the sheriff. This needs to be soft." You hit what we >> could I get a picture of your ID your >> And you witnessed the punch. >> Yes. >> How many punches was it? >> It was one in his mouth and one in his head. >> So, two punches closed fit. >> Yes. Close. He was bending and he didn't. And my other coworker tried to separate. Hey, hey, hey, hey. >> So, we're going to take him down to our sub station. Um, is it safe to say >> with his badge? My partner's got it. Is it safe to say he's fired >> after this assault? >> No, I think he said I got to call my man my manager. >> Norally when you assault somebody, it's pretty much cut and he's getting high too. You said >> you said he was getting high in the bathroom. >> Yeah. >> So, I mean that's twice to the bathroom and then when I saw him come out to the bathroom, he was like, you see, >> got it. >> You just want to talk to him. Should we just take him downstairs? Uh, I think he's done. He doesn't want to talk to us. He doesn't want to give a statement. >> And she's saying that's the lead manager. She witnessed him punching him once in the chin and once in the top of the head. The other guy. >> We're going to go get his side and then we're going to come back and be tourists. I said then what? Like they trying to play me like a They said, "Well, it's his word to go." No, I know how this go. I'm the only one who's surrounded by officers right now. Come on now. So, what's going to happen? >> We're going to go uh we're rolling you down to our um our sub station >> by the bad office. >> Guys, I'm coming to the substation. >> So, we need you to hang up the phone. We're going to take you downstairs. >> All right. They're not trying to answer any more questions. >> I just told you we're going to take it ourselves. >> Let's worry about yourself here. [music] Am I going to risk it? >> Um, you're detained. >> I just answered your question. You answering a question? I answered it. >> Just have a seat right here in the blue chair. >> Have the phone and put your property up here cuz we don't car safety. >> Bummer. Um before I ask you anything, okay? Um I got to uh uh read you your uh your right to pay. You have the uh right to cons consult. Uh if you decide >> Wait, like this is a super duper serious question. Like you not playing with me right now. Like you dead serious, right? >> Dead serious with what? >> Like I just like for real. Like are you going to play with me right now? >> All right. Let me [snorts] just answer. Okay. Now with without a lawyer present uh you have the uh real realizing that you have these rights. Do you uh uh wish to make a statement? >> It was self-defense. I feel threatened. >> Okay. Anything else? >> I don't know. >> I missed what you said. I'm sorry. It was self-defense. I feel threatened. And how long have you worked for Annie? >> Some I can't say exactly. He's been a little over like it's been over four weeks. >> And the other guy has he how long has that? >> I don't know. >> Okay. Has there been a a conflict between you and him in the past or is this like the first time you guys had a alter key? Yeah. Have you guys had arguments in the past? >> No, I've had altercation or argument with anybody here. >> So, do you want to kind of uh uh tell us from uh start to uh finish uh what uh uh happened. >> Um so, my grandmother said this could be a citation or this could be an arrest, which I'm already under arrest, so I know it's not going to be a citation. And from the sounds of it, it looks like you're already taking the other side. So, not only do I believe it's not really safe to get my side of the story, because then again, you just told me that anything I said or did will be held against me, not to help you. So, it sounds like regardless if I get my statement here or in court that I'm probably going to have to go to court. Plus, you already have me in cuffs and not the other guy. Plus, you basically, like I said, you already chose to take the other side. Did the other subject strike you at all? >> Did he hit you at all? >> Yes. >> What you answering questions? I don't >> What you're saying is What you're saying is you're done answering questions. >> I don't feel it's safe to do so. That's what I'm saying. Wait, I want to ask one more question before you get the I'm going to court regardless. Right. >> If I need a statement or not. >> All right. Well, it's going to be reviewed by the court commissioner and if the court commissioner finds probable cause, then the case will go forward. He could [snorts] say, "No, you know what? This isn't >> He's going to read the report." So, that's how it works. >> All right. >> We're going off witness statements. We're going off your statement, his statement, manager statement. >> Let me say this. So, I was falsely accused originally at the beginning of the day. It was a lady, I forgot her name. It's like sad or sad. Is she an [snorts] employee at any? >> Yeah, she works. Everybody I'm about to mention is up there. She I was falsely accused of stealing a cart. Y'all know what the cart is? Disposable the the weed carts. The disposable weed carts. >> Don't know what that is. >> Yeah. So that is so it's like a cartridge. It's a weed cart. So I was falsely accused of stealing Well, first >> how much is that of that item? >> Don't know the price depends on where she got it from. Very >> How much would you think approximately? Shoot depend like literally it's like I don't know when we first got there we was told that uh oh no no no so when we first got there we chilling or whatever we checking with her like usual day she goes back and she comes back in her purse um just um whoever went through at first I didn't even hear she said whoever went through my purse and took something they need to give it back I said what it say she took she said uh somebody took her pen they kept pointing the pen I said oh she got a cart so I didn't know you smoked she said it don't matter if smoke regardless or not. Oo. And then I could tell by just like the vibe she was already trying to accuse me. I ain't smoked nothing today. >> And what's that lady's name that that that was with? >> I was falsely accused by one of my co-workers. Her name is S or Shard. >> Okay. >> Of stealing her cartridge. Well, she didn't accuse me of nothing. She didn't accuse me of nothing. >> Uh but it was an error. So I'm like, "All right, I ain't got your car." So then like a few hours later feel like >> what time is it now? >> 4:00. >> So probably like 3:30, 3:40ish, I go in the bathroom to close my eyes for a little bit. Literally like 30 seconds or 2 minutes. I'm tired. I'm going 4 hours to sleep here. My bus ride is an hour and 30 minutes. Here I go. No, I'm tripping. Hour like 10 minutes. I go in the bathroom, close my eyes for a little bit. I doze off for like five, like 10 minutes. I doze off. Wake up. I go back in the morning. I've been dozing off, standing up all day in here. Dozing up, standing off all day here. Even earlier, uh, somebody said, "Oh, you just go in the back." Said, "No, I ain't no day. You got one." He said, "Man, no, you can't hit my I ain't steal nobody cart." And then if I went through a bag, why would I steal a card? Why would I go for a ID or a social security card to see if she got some cash? I ain't taking your cartridge, bro. And I'm not a thief. I'm not about to go through your purse. They had to go through her purse to get that. I guarantee you she go home. was probably she probably left it at home or in the bottom of her bag somewhere and she missed a go through your man. >> So then where where did the other guy come into play? Cuz he had nothing to do with what the manager said. He didn't have nothing to do with [snorts] the item missing from a purse. I said okay right now >> you're good. >> Last chance. Anything else? >> What do you mean last chance? I thought you just said I'm going to have it to the uh judge. That that's what you want to do? Okay. >> Have you recently ingested any drugs or alcohol? >> Not today. >> Yes. Not today, but yes. >> Okay. Not none today. >> Not today. >> Okay. >> No. I see I had a cow water this morning with a coworker. >> All right, Randy, you slide in here. Uh I don't know, maybe 15 minutes and we'll get you out of here. Okay. Just got to do the paperwork instead of you sitting in in a squad car uncomfortable. Okay. Under Terry versus Ohio, a brief detention needs only reasonable suspicion, not proof. That is why a name can be compelled while a full account still cannot. Probable cause for a warrantless arrest can rest on a single identified eyewitness describing a crime she saw firsthand. A named co-worker accountable for her words carries far more weight than an anonymous tip. That principle, not favoritism, is what places restraint on one person while the other stays free. A claim of self-defense spoken after a rights warning doubles as an admission that a blow was landed. Under Maryland law, self-defense fails the moment a witness names the first aggressor as the person invoking it. What remains is a set of choices that decided the afternoon long before any courtroom would. When an officer asks for identification during an active investigation, the law often compels an answer. The moment those questions turn to what happened, the legal obligation ends and the legal risk begins. Giving a name and then clearly invoking the right to silence is the line that separates cooperation from self-inccrimination. When it seems officers have already picked a side, the urge to explain runs highest and helps least. Words spoken after a rights warning can be used, and a self-defense claim can quietly confirm that a blow was struck. A real defense belongs in a courtroom beside an attorney, not in a substation chair minutes after an arrest. When two accounts collide, the law seldom splits the difference. It asks who struck first. A single credible witness to the opening punch can settle that question long before a trial begins. Answering an order to leave by walking out rather than with a fist is what keeps a workplace quarrel out of the criminal code. The punch took a second. The questions it set loose will outlast the shift by months. Somewhere between a name given and a story withheld, most of these cases are quietly decided.