Baltimore City prosecutors have dropped all charges against a man accused in the fatal hit-and run of a 65-year-old man.
Prosecutors said Wednesday they didn?t have enough evidence against Montay Jackson, 35, of Baltimore, who allegedly ran over Charles Erdman on the 5800 block of Erdman Avenue after Erdman attempted to exchange information with him after a fender bender.
“Justice has not been served, but I?m praying that it will be one day,” said Lynette Barber, 40, Erdman?s only child.
Outside Baltimore City Circuit Court, Barber got choked up when remembering her father: How he nicknamed her “Stinky,” loved trips to Deep Creek Lake, and idolizedDale Earnhardt Sr.
“He was very caring,” Barber said. “My fondest memory was dancing at the father-daughter dance at my wedding.”
Jackson, of the 600 block of Yale Avenue, whose Ford Explorer had stolen tags, got into a fender bender with Erdman in the parking lot of Erdman Auto Parts ? where Erdman worked ? on March 3, according to charging documents.
Jackson “became agitated and stated he had to go,” Homicide Detective Frank Miller wrote in his report. “… Mr. Erdman requested the information again and the driver stated he had to go get it and he got back in the Ford Explorer and started to pull off. Mr. Erdman, who was already in front of the Ford Explorer, put his hands up and requested the driver to stop again. At that time, the driver of the Explorer accelerated striking Mr. Erdman with the truck.”
As Jackson ran over Erdman, Erdman?s vest became caught on the undercarriage of the sport utility vehicle, causing him to be dragged beneath it, police said.
Another employee of Erdman Auto Parts screamed “Stop! Please stop!” and the driver halted, opened his door and looked under the car at Erdman. Jackson then accelerated again, running Erdman “completely over,” according to charging documents.
Erdman?s co-worker was not able to identify the driver, prosecutors said.
During their investigation, police received an anonymous letter that identified Jackson by name as the driver. Jackson?s picture was picked out of a photographic array by a witness who police said they would produce at trial.
“This is such a tragic case,” Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for the Baltimore City State?s Attorney?s Office. “It?s very disappointing that we were so close. We needed someone to put him behind the wheel.”
Chief among the problems for prosecutors was the letter, Burns said.
“I?m sorry that poor man got killed,” the letter said, before naming Jackson as the driver who killed Erdman.
But detectives were never able to find the letter?s author, hurting their case, Burns said.
Barber said she?s now holding out hope that someone will pick up the phone and give authorities the evidence they need to get justice for her father.
“The only way anything is going to happen is if it falls in their lap.”
