Prince George’s County Police Department

Man Dies in Prince George's Police Custody After Knocking on Doors in Bowie

A man seen knocking on doors in a Bowie, Maryland, neighborhood with no clothes on died after having an apparent medical emergency in police custody, authorities say.

A ride-share driver said he saw a naked man going door-to-door in the 1400 block of Kings Manor Drive about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Prince George's County Police Chief Henry Stawinski said in a news conference. The driver told police the man seemed like he was under the influence of "something."

The man had stopped at the porch of one of the houses and was seen on a homeowner's doorbell surveillance system, police said. The homeowner was out of town, but the doorbell alerted her to the man's presence, and she tried to speak with him through the system. But the man was "incoherent," according to police.

Two officers arrived to the house and saw the man, 38-year-old Kevin Antonio Jessie, wearing only underwear and socks sitting in the doorway. Jessie was on the ground but was "moving around erratically," police said.

Officers spoke to Jessie and tried to calm him down, Stawinski said. As an ambulance arrived, Jessie became agitated, and officers handcuffed him before taking him to the ambulance for a medical evaluation, police said.

Medics treated Jessie and took his vitals for about 20 minutes before he went into "acute distress," police said.

Officers removed the handcuffs and medics performed CPR on Jessie for an extended period of time, police said. He died at the scene.

Police said Jessie lived in the neighborhood.

An autopsy is set for Monday to determine Jessie's cause and manner of death. 

Stawinski said an internal investigation is underway. 

Contact Us