Police have arrested the owner of a vehicle they believe struck and killed a 40-year-old officer with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police late on New Years Eve. The hit-and-run incident in South Baltimore took the life of Courtney G. Brooks a 13-year veteran of the force. He was part of a traffic detail near the intersection of Interstates 95 and 395 near Exit 53 when he was struck at about 1120 p.m. according to the authority. Brooks was pronounced dead at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Several hours later at 605 a.m. police found a green 1994 Ford Explorer — with significant front-end damage a cracked windshield and a temporary Delaware tag — at the Flying J truck stop in North East. Less than half an hour later officers arrested the SUVs owner Kerri King at her home in nearby Elkton . Chief Marcus Brown who heads the transportation authority police said King had not been charged in Brooks death but was being held on a failure-to-appear warrant following a DUI arrest in September. Shes a person of interest Brown said. After Kings arrest she asked for an attorney Brown added but he could not say whether alcohol was a factor in the accident which remains under investigation. When he was hit Brooks had been working on a traffic detail intended to stop trucks from going into downtown Baltimore during the New Years Eve fireworks celebrations. Brooks aided by at least 30 flares placed in the road to alert motorists was alone at the time of the accident his two partners having taken a break Brown said. Brooks who had three children and lived in Carroll County loved the job he was doing Brown said. He was really an inspiration to everyone who worked with him the chief added. Brooks graduated from the transportation authoritys police academy in 1994 and was a member of the forces Commercial Vehicle Safety Unit according to Kelly L. Melhem a spokeswoman for the authority. Governor Martin OMalleys office released a statement today saying that Brooks death last night as thousands gathered to celebrate the New Year is a somber reminder of the courageous work done by law enforcement officers throughout our state — at the state and local level — to keep the citizens of Maryland safe. My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Brooks his children and his entire family as well as with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police family during this very painful and sad time OMalley said.
