Baltimore Police Officer Charged In Teen Stepson’s Murder; Attorney Says He Wanted ‘Suicide By Cop’; Wife ‘Feared For Life’ In Denied Protective Order

MILLERSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) — Anne Arundel County Police person present charged Baltimore City Police serviceman Eric Banks Jr., the stepfather of 15-year-old Dasan Jones, with the teen’s murder. It follows the aesculapian examiner’s uncovering the decease was a homicide by asphyxiation.

Charging documents successful lawsuit of Baltimore City constabulary serviceman Eric Banks—accused of sidesplitting his stepson and hiding the assemblage successful his attic. @wjz pic.twitter.com/gNGdsN02C5

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 14, 2021

Banks remains connected the unit with his constabulary powers suspended and is being held astatine the Anne Arundel County Detention Center.

“This is an perfectly heartbreaking, traumatic and horrific case. Our hearts ache for his grieving parent and his siblings,” Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad said.

Chief Awad “Our hearts ache.” @wjz #DasanJones pic.twitter.com/AUbHBsJrIt

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 14, 2021

On July 6, constabulary recovered Dasan’s assemblage hidden successful an attic crawlspace astatine Banks’ townhome successful Curtis Bay. Anne Arundel County’s constabulary main told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren that Banks tried to screen it up.

“I tin accidental with assurance that helium was precise deceptive,” Awad said.

Obituary posted for Dasan James Edward Jones. See https://t.co/K8YZqoWs28

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 9, 2021

Charging documents obtained by WJZ revealed that Dasan had injuries to his neck, look and mouth. Police recovered his wet, bloody apparel smelling of bleach successful a dresser drawer.

According to police, Banks became combative with a responding serviceman and tried to scope for the officer’s gun.

“During this altercation with police, Mr. Banks said, and I quote, “My beingness is over. Choke me. Choke me. Choke me,“ said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County constabulary spokesman.

Banks’ lawyer said his lawsuit plans to plead not guilty.

“My lawsuit adamantly denies being progressive successful the decease of DJ,“ defence lawyer Warren Brown told Hellgren.

Baltimore Officer Eric Banks’ lawyer said “there was a panic” aft his stepson died astatine his home…and aft constabulary came, helium tried to get them to leave. He says the serviceman planned to termination himself. Police accidental it was execution and Banks was intentionally “deceptive” @wjz pic.twitter.com/Owa3324dHk

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 14, 2021

“Circumstantially, we recognize however the state’s attorney’s bureau tin complaint a homicide here. The contented is what gave emergence to this asphyxiation — whether it was termination oregon homicide,” Brown said. “The young antheral and my lawsuit had spoken some successful the past astir suicide. In fact, erstwhile my lawsuit was arrested, helium was attempting a termination by bull hoping that helium was going to get shot.”

In charging documents, Dasan’s parent said her lad called her soon earlier his decease and determination was nary denotation thing was wrong.

READ MORE: Shocking Discovery: 15-Year-Old Dasan Jones' Body Was Found In The Wall Of His Stepfather's Curtis Bay Home

Warren Brown represents Baltimore City constabulary Officer Eric Banks, accused of murdering his stepson successful Anne Arundel County @wjz pic.twitter.com/kuUTVpcNd7

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 14, 2021

“It appears arsenic though determination was a panic. My client’s presumption is helium recovered his stepson dormant and that helium himself was anticipating committing suicide, wanting to beryllium recovered with his stepson. When constabulary came helium was hoping they would travel and spell and helium was going to perpetrate termination and beryllium recovered adjacent to his stepson,” Brown said.

He said his lawsuit had a “very bully relationship” with his stepson.

“The young man’s parent was going to beryllium moving to Arizona. Dasan did not privation to go. He wanted to enactment here. My lawsuit has raised him since helium was a small kid,“ Brown said.

He said Banks suffered from intelligence wellness issues “borne retired of work to his state successful Afghanistan successful combat. He saw horrible things, mislaid friends, saw people’s legs blown off.”

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison called Officer Banks’ actions “shocking to the conscience. This is simply a classical illustration of wherefore I person advocated for the autonomy and authorization to terminate officers erstwhile they are facing heinous transgression allegations.”

🚨 Baltimore City constabulary serviceman charged with stepson’s murder. Statement from Commissioner Harrison ⬇️ @wjz pic.twitter.com/F1RI67c4Xi

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 14, 2021

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott echoed that sentiment. “It’s disgusting. It’s a disgusting and cowardly act,” helium said.

Awad praised her officers’ behaviour astatine the country of the killing.

“At immoderate infinitesimal they could’ve accepted an reply that they were fixed [by Banks] and walked away, and they did not. They kept asking questions,” she said.

Baltimore City Officer Eric Banks’ woman wrote successful an exertion for a protective bid that she feared for her life. A justice denied 1 order. A 2nd bid was approved—but it was excessively late: Her lad Dasan was dormant earlier it was served. @wjz pic.twitter.com/l3uKflrJGc

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 14, 2021

Dasan’s parent filed respective protective orders against her husband, claiming helium was unsafe and stalking her. She wrote, “I americium successful fearfulness for my beingness and well-being due to the fact that Eric Banks keeps trying to control, travel and emotionally maltreatment myself and my sons.“

A justice denied the archetypal 1 filed successful precocious June.

A second-order was granted but was incapable to beryllium served due to the fact that Banks was already successful custody aft the find of Dasan’s body.

Banks’ constabulary powers had antecedently been suspended due to the fact that of the protective bid filing, Brown said.

Awad called for the assemblage to “uplift“ Dasan’s parent and “wrap their arms astir her.“

More than $12,000 has been raised for the family.

MORE NEWS: Funeral Services Held For 15-Year-Old Dasan Jones On Monday

Dasan loved to play the violin and was an honors pupil who had conscionable completed his freshman twelvemonth astatine Glen Burnie High School.