A D.C. police officer who made international headlines after drawing his gun during a snowball fight should be suspended for 10 days, internal investigators have recommended.
Det. Michael Baylor didn’t fill out the correct paperwork after he stopped a man who he thought had tossed a snowball and “engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the reputation of the police force,” according to an internal police report of the incident.
Baylor attained international notoriety during a snowstorm on Dec. 19, 2009 when he passed through an Internet-organized snowball fight among residents. Driving home in his Humvee, Baylor’s vehicle was pelted with snowballs near the intersection of 14th and U Streets, NW.
Claiming that he was afraid for his safety, he drew out his service pistol. Someone in the crowd called 911 and someone else videotaped the incident, turning a neighborhood frolic into an international forum on police conduct.
After other officers arrived but didn’t handcuff Baylor, the crowd grew angrier, the internal police report shows, hurling more snowballs and insults. They also shouted, “You don’t bring a gun to a snowball fight.”
Amid the conflict, Baylor grabbed environmental lawyer Daniel Schramm and briefly snatched his identification, thinking he had tossed an offending snowball. Schramm was later released without charge, but Baylor is now being disciplined for failing to file a report on Schramm’s detention.
Among those who were most vocal in condemning Baylor was Chief Cathy Lanier, who said that Baylor’s conduct was “totally inappropriate” and vowed “swift action” and “discipline.”
Police union Chair Kris Baumann said Baylor was unfairly ridiculed.
“People were manipulated by this story,” he said. “Everybody rushed to judgment, including the chief. And you can’t do that if you’re the police.”
Neither Lanier’s spokeswoman nor city Attorney General Peter Nickles responded to requests for comment.
Schramm, the snowballing lawyer whom Baylor grabbed initially after he was pelted by snowballs, declined immediate comment.
