BALTIMORE, MD—Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced that no charges will be filed against Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Kyle Hessler in connection with a fatal vehicle collision that occurred on April 20, 2024.
The decision comes after a thorough investigation by the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID).
The incident unfolded around 11:30 p.m. on Liberty Road when Deputy Hessler attempted to stop a speeding vehicle driven by Jamal Steele. Steele did not comply, leading to a brief pursuit.
Shortly after losing sight of Steele’s car, Deputy Hessler found that Steele had crashed head-on into an SUV while crossing into oncoming traffic.
The SUV’s driver, Kayla Rodriguez-Garcia, was pronounced dead at the scene, and her passenger sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Steele also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized.
Following an investigation that concluded on July 29, 2024, the IID determined that Deputy Hessler’s actions did not constitute a criminal offense under Maryland law, leading to the decision not to pursue charges in this tragic incident.
