Officer Tried To Steal Dead Woman's ID: Baltimore County Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A Baltimore County police officer has been indicted after authorities said he tried to steal a woman's identity. He had been dispatched to her house while on duty March 16 in response to a sudden death call, according to officials.

Police said a missing laptop led them to the officer in question, after family members filed a theft report for the device.

Deandre Ross, 26, of the 1400 block of Anglesea Street in southeast Baltimore, is charged with the following:

• Two counts of identity fraud, with theft from $1,500 to $25,000
• Theft from $1,500 to $25,000
• Attempted theft scheme from $1,500 to $25,000
• Five counts of attempted theft from $100 to under $1,500
• Attempted theft less than $100
• Misconduct in office

Ross, who has been a member of the Baltimore County Police Department for four years, has been suspended without pay following his indictment by a grand jury Monday, officials said.

He is being held without bail and has a bail review hearing slated for 1 p.m. Thursday in Baltimore County District Court, according to court records.

The police chief for Baltimore County issued a statement committing her department to integrity.

"Following a criminal investigation by our detectives and an indictment by a Baltimore County grand jury, a Baltimore County police officer was arrested, charged, and suspended without pay for allegations involving theft,” Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said in a statement. “We will work closely with the Baltimore County State’s Attorney throughout the criminal proceedings as we do in every criminal investigation. This incident is by no means representative of the fine work that your Baltimore County police officers perform on a daily basis. I can assure you that we remain committed to serving our communities with the utmost integrity and fairness."