ANNAPOLIS — New details about a late-night collision in the Eastport neighborhood have intensified scrutiny of how Annapolis police handled an encounter with state Sen. C. Anthony Muse, a Prince George’s County Democrat and pastor.
Officers say senator admitted to "one drink"
Police confirmed late Friday that officers reviewing body-worn camera footage learned Muse told them he had consumed alcohol during an interaction the department initially described as having produced "no crime reported to Annapolis Police that required an investigation." The department said the vehicle’s owner "stated he had one drink," and that the owner called another licensed driver to retrieve the SUV.
"The owner of the vehicle stated he had one drink. The owner called someone to pick up the vehicle. A licensed driver retrieved the vehicle."
The department also said officers did not encounter Muse in the driver’s seat. That account conflicts with surveillance video and witness recollections obtained by Spotlight on Maryland and shared with WBFF, which show a parking enforcement officer speaking to Muse while he was behind the wheel.
How the encounter unfolded
The collision occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Aug. 3 on Severn Avenue, while the General Assembly was in special session. Muse has told reporters that the passenger-side mirror of his Land Rover Defender struck the mirror of a parked car. He said he later returned, apologized to the vehicle’s owner and provided insurance information.
Spotlight on Maryland reviewed surveillance footage and published a photo an anonymous source provided that appears to show Muse getting into his vehicle after it came to rest. That image and other recordings prompted the Annapolis Police Department to re-examine officers’ body-worn camera recordings and update its account.
What police did — and did not — do
According to the department’s updated statement, after being told by Muse that he had one drink, officers allowed a licensed driver to take the SUV from the scene rather than impounding the vehicle or taking additional investigative steps. The department initially characterized the incident as not rising to the level of a criminal investigation.
That decision — combined with the department’s earlier claim that officers did not find Muse in the driver’s seat — has raised questions from journalists and residents about consistency in the department’s handling of on-scene procedures and whether standard protocols for collisions involving potential impairment were followed.
- Time: Shortly after 8 p.m., Aug. 3 — collision on Severn Avenue in Eastport.
- People involved: Sen. C. Anthony Muse; owner of the parked vehicle; Annapolis parking enforcement and police officers.
- Police action: Officers reportedly documented that Muse said he had one drink; a licensed driver later retrieved Muse’s SUV.
| Time | Reported action |
|---|---|
| Shortly after 8 p.m., Aug. 3 | Collision between Muse’s Land Rover and a parked car on Severn Avenue |
| After initial contact | Muse reportedly apologized and left insurance information with vehicle owner |
| Following surveillance review | Police confirm Muse told officers he had one drink; licensed driver retrieved the vehicle |
Transparency and public trust
Advocates for policing transparency and some residents say the sequence of events, as publicly described, raises concerns about whether officers followed established collision and impairment protocols and whether the department was initially forthcoming about what happened.
Police departments typically evaluate collisions for possible criminal conduct, including impaired driving, depending on observable signs and statements by drivers. In this case, witnesses and video evidence prompted follow-up reporting that produced a revised police account.
Questions remaining
Several questions remain unanswered in published reports: what specific investigative steps officers took on scene, whether sobriety assessments were performed or offered, what role Annapolis parking enforcement played in the interaction, and why the department initially described the incident as producing no reportable crime before revising its statement after media inquiries.
Statewide and local leaders have increasingly faced scrutiny when law enforcement interactions involve elected officials. The heightened attention here reflects broader public interest in equal application of traffic enforcement and post-crash procedures.
What this means for residents
For Annapolis drivers and neighborhood residents, the episode underscores the importance of clear police communication after collisions and the need for consistent procedures when alcohol may be involved. Those concerned about the department’s handling can seek updates through official Annapolis Police Department press releases and public records requests, and local elected officials may request reviews of the department’s collision response practices.
As of the latest update from Spotlight on Maryland and WBFF, police have not announced any disciplinary or procedural changes related to this incident.
— Priya Chandrasekaran, State Correspondent
