Published on: Thursday, February 02, 2012

By Jim Davis

Prince George’s County Police officers arrested a man allegedly involved in Prince George’s County’s first police shooting of the year.

Around 4 a.m. Jan. 22, patrol officers responded to the 2600 block of  Keating Street in Temple Hills after a female called the county’s 911 call center to report a domestic violence dispute. Upon arrival, officers observed an adult, who police have identified as Joseph Andoh Quarm, 30, attempting to leave the residence. Officers stopped Quarm to question him, but he threw a punch at one of the officers and fled on foot, running toward a parked car.

Officers were able to stop Quarm leaving the area and attempted to arrest Quarm, but he resisted arrest. During the attempted apprehension, officers used pepper spray and a taser to restrain the suspect. However, during the struggle, Quarm attempted to disarm one of the officer’s guns. At that point, an officer discharged her firearm at the suspect. It is unknown if Quarm was struck, but he fled the scene in his vehicle.

“We were able to recover the vehicle a short time later, but Quarm was not in the area,” said Cpl. Henry Tippett, Prince George’s County Police Department spokesman.

Last year, Prince George’s County Police Department had a total of 16 police-involved shootings. Six of the departmental shootings were fatal.