BERLIN– Almost a year after a fatal car crash involving a Maryland state trooper and two local teenagers, police have concluded their investigation.
On Nov. 8 trooper Nicolas Hager struck 16-year-old Tymeir D. Dennis and his then 17-year-old brother Tyheim D. Bowen on Route 113 in Berlin. Dennis died in the accident and Bowen sustained serious injuries, leading to the amputation of one of his legs. The trooper was driving an unmarked police car on a routine patrol when the accident occurred.
The mother of the two boys, Tynise Bowen, witnessed the crash. Hager returned to work four days later.
Tymeir’s father, Quentin Dennis, read the investigation report.
“There are some things that concern me as far as the investigation with the police officer – the way it was handled and who handled it,” he said. “I felt like it should have been another agency handling the investigation since it involved one of their officers.”
Dennis said he would prefer a third party look into the matter, and that he was not aware of Hager receiving any disciplinary action.
“I’m not satisfied with the findings (in the report),” Dennis said. “I think it was an uneven job. The officer wasn’t even charged with a speeding ticket or anything. I think at least speeding or something – when you have a fatality and another young man that lost a limb, some charges have to come out of that.
“I’m going to push for someone else to take a look at it – an outside agency,” Dennis continued. “I’m not saying that anything went wrong with it, but I felt like someone else should have done it because it involved one of their officers. When it involved one of your own you should have someone else look at it.”
His next step, Dennis said, was to set up a meeting with the State’s Attorney Office.
“They’re saying that the findings were just and that and they felt like no wrongdoing was done and no charges were filed,” he said. “I think you kind of have to start there and figure out what’s going on and what avenues you can take.
“Right now the officer knows what happened,” Dennis continued. “He never said anything and he probably can’t say anything because of circumstances, but sometimes you just wonder. You want to sit down and ask him what really happened and find out some things.”
Berlin will hold a Unity in the Community day on Saturday, September 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Dr. William Henry Park and Stephen Decatur Park, honoring Tymeir and raising funds for Tyheim.
Dennis has not had any conversations with the town of Berlin regarding the accident and said he will not be attending Unity in the Community due to a previous engagement. He did provide a brief update on Tyheim.
“I see him just every now and then,” he said. “He says he’s doing fine, but I guess a lot of this still has a big toll on him.”
The Bayside Gazette submitted a formal written request in order to obtain the full investigation report on Monday.
On Nov. 8 trooper Nicolas Hager struck 16-year-old Tymeir D. Dennis and his then 17-year-old brother Tyheim D. Bowen on Route 113 in Berlin. Dennis died in the accident and Bowen sustained serious injuries, leading to the amputation of one of his legs. The trooper was driving an unmarked police car on a routine patrol when the accident occurred.
The mother of the two boys, Tynise Bowen, witnessed the crash. Hager returned to work four days later.
Tymeir’s father, Quentin Dennis, read the investigation report.
“There are some things that concern me as far as the investigation with the police officer – the way it was handled and who handled it,” he said. “I felt like it should have been another agency handling the investigation since it involved one of their officers.”
Dennis said he would prefer a third party look into the matter, and that he was not aware of Hager receiving any disciplinary action.
“I’m not satisfied with the findings (in the report),” Dennis said. “I think it was an uneven job. The officer wasn’t even charged with a speeding ticket or anything. I think at least speeding or something – when you have a fatality and another young man that lost a limb, some charges have to come out of that.
“I’m going to push for someone else to take a look at it – an outside agency,” Dennis continued. “I’m not saying that anything went wrong with it, but I felt like someone else should have done it because it involved one of their officers. When it involved one of your own you should have someone else look at it.”
His next step, Dennis said, was to set up a meeting with the State’s Attorney Office.
“They’re saying that the findings were just and that and they felt like no wrongdoing was done and no charges were filed,” he said. “I think you kind of have to start there and figure out what’s going on and what avenues you can take.
“Right now the officer knows what happened,” Dennis continued. “He never said anything and he probably can’t say anything because of circumstances, but sometimes you just wonder. You want to sit down and ask him what really happened and find out some things.”
Berlin will hold a Unity in the Community day on Saturday, September 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Dr. William Henry Park and Stephen Decatur Park, honoring Tymeir and raising funds for Tyheim.
Dennis has not had any conversations with the town of Berlin regarding the accident and said he will not be attending Unity in the Community due to a previous engagement. He did provide a brief update on Tyheim.
“I see him just every now and then,” he said. “He says he’s doing fine, but I guess a lot of this still has a big toll on him.”
The Bayside Gazette submitted a formal written request in order to obtain the full investigation report on Monday.