BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland State Police are investigating a mother’s accusations that troopers laughed at her son and took videos after his boat fell off its trailer onto a road in Cambridge earlier this month.
The agency said the investigation was spurred by a post the woman wrote on Facebook on Wednesday detailing allegations against the troopers and the towing company that removed the boat from an intersection on U.S. Route 50.
Jane Bailey told The Associated Press on Friday that her son, Christopher Bailey, recently faced a series of setbacks and was humiliated by the actions of the troopers and the company. He took his own life Sunday.
“My intent was to let those guys know that when they see a Maryland citizen on the road in the state, you never know what burden that person has on them,” Bailey said of her Facebook post. “They need to think about their demeanor when they are dealing with people… The humiliation he felt with the way he was treated that day killed him.”
Bailey said her son wanted to be a successful crabber. He was driving back from the Dorchester County area, where he had gone to fish for crabs, when the boat fell May 18.
Police said the three troopers who responded to the scene did not post pictures or videos on social media. One trooper took photos in case a crash report had to be filed.
“An independent witness has indicated all troopers on the scene were professional and no one was making fun of or laughing at Mr. Bailey,” police said in a statement adding that the boat was full of water. “There was an attempt by troopers and others on the scene to move the boat to try and get a tow strap under it, but that was impossible.”
Bailey also decried the towing company, Bradshaw’s Towing, for engaging in price gouging and posting on its Facebook page a photo of the boat still on the road and his son with his arms outstretched. She said people left mean-spirted comments.
“They allowed people to post comments criticizing this kid and laughing at him in a public forum for something that wasn’t his fault,” she said.
Company owner Roy Bradshaw declined to comment Friday. The company explained its pricing on Facebook on Wednesday and said it regularly posts photos and information as examples of the abilities of the crew and equipment.
“We did not laugh at, nor did we fault Mr. Bailey,” according to the statement.
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