![[VIRAL] Maryland Police Officer Suspended After Footage Shows Him Kissing a Female, Getting Into Patrol SUV](https://d.hngn.com/en/full/280989/viral-maryland-police-officer-suspended-after-footage-shows-him-kissing-female-getting-patrol.jpg?w=830&f=44e865808e31aa660fdd458f1884cfff)
An officer with the Prince George's County Police Department, Francesco Marlett, was suspended after a video went viral on social media.
Officer Marlett's police powers were suspended pending an investigation by the Prince George's County Police Department after a video captured a disturbing interaction between him and a young woman, as per NBC Washington.
Viral Video Leads to Suspension of Prince George's County Police Officer
The incident came to light when a video showing Officer Marlett kissing the female before entering the backseat of a patrol car began to circulate extensively across social media platforms.
The Prince George's County Police Department responded swiftly by suspending Marlett's police powers and investigating the incident's circumstances. The Prince George's County Police said, "PGPD Executive Command is aware of a video circulating on social media with one of our officers. As soon as we became aware of the situation earlier today, an investigation was launched to determine the circumstances."
The video, which received millions of views on platforms such as TikTok, was filmed by a man named Nelson O. According to Nelson O., he was playing soccer with his family and child in Carson Park in Oxon Hill when he observed Officer Marlett's suspicious behavior.
He recorded the interaction because something didn't seem right. It appeared that the female involved in the incident was in her early 20s. The disturbing aspect of the video was that Officer Marlett and the young woman remained in the backseat of the police cruiser for approximately forty minutes before departing the park separately.
Nelson O. expressed concern, especially given the presence of minors in the garden at the time. He stated, "It was concerning because there were children nearby. This is the person you're supposed to report suspicious activity to, but they're the ones engaging in dubious activity."
The video had been viewed millions of times on various social media platforms. Additionally, park witnesses verified that several families with children were present during the incident.
Concerns Arise Over Officer Marlett's Conduct
This incident raises concerns about Officer Marlett's conduct and its potential impact on public confidence in law enforcement. The dissemination of the video and Officer Marlett's subsequent suspension emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability in policing.
The situation with Officer Marlett becomes even more concerning when considering his previous history. The Baltimore Banner reported that Marlett had been suspended without pay in December 2015 and indicted on child abuse and assault allegations by a grand jury in May 2016.
According to media reports at the time, Marlett was accused of spanking the 3-year-old son of his girlfriend, causing the child to strike his head against the wall and lose consciousness.
Per Daily Mail, Marlett was conducting CPR on the unconscious toddler when the boy's mother entered the room. These prior allegations and the current suspension raise concerns about the Prince George's County Police Department's hiring and oversight practices.
Community members and advocates for accountability will closely monitor the outcome of the investigation into Officer Marlett's most recent actions. In the aftermath of this incident, there is a renewed demand for transparency, accountability, and efforts to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
This troubling incident is a stark reminder that a single officer's actions can significantly impact public perception and the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Those pursuing justice and accountability will closely observe the investigation into Officer Marlett's conduct.
