FBI probes traffic stop of black agent in Maryland

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Maryland police officers are expressing outrage over the FBI's decision to open a civil rights investigation into a traffic stop of a black FBI agent by a white officer in Prince George's County, outside of Washington.

An armed black agent assigned to the Washington FBI field office, Jerry Young, was handcuffed and briefly detained on July 19. A police report says Young's vehicle was stopped because he was towing a trailer without taillights.

"I can confirm we have opened a civil rights case. It's a preliminary investigation," said FBI spokesman Barry Maddox in Baltimore. The police department in Prince George's County also confirmed that it had been formally notified of the probe.

But the decision to investigate was blasted by John Bartlett, president of the county's chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

"We're outraged by the unprofessional conduct of this agent," Bartlett said.

In his report, Officer R.A. Hines said that after he was stopped, Young told the patrolman that he was an FBI agent and his badge and gun were in the vehicle.

Hines said when he asked about a bulge in Young's trousers pocket, the agent replied, "That's only a set of keys.". However, when the patrolman frisked Young, he found a 38-caliber handgun in the pocket, the report says.

"He put our officer's life at risk, and worse, he put his own life at risk," Bartlett said.

Young was handcuffed until police were able to positively identify him as an FBI agent. He was given his handgun and told he could leave.

Police say Young was incensed and went directly to the police station to complain. The agent vowed to get even, according to Sgt. Jerome Brooks, who wrote a report on the incident. Brooks' report says Young decided not to file a formal complaint but vowed revenge.

"Tell that officer I'll see him again. Tell him I'll get him. One way or another I'll get even with him," Brooks' report quotes Young as saying.

The FBI field office where Young works confirmed his employment but referred inquiries to the Baltimore office handling the investigation.

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