ÿWPCY¢ ©??0ZNagnX“žUI_‰]µí,k~vêkIFnW[ÿÁÃ*™% žd·oÜ›Mü(UÝ"ÿòo “ª[‚ð\fÜT0'ñ›ê&måî?OVÄOáX Ëj`´<‹ëDáÜEhÎ Ö 3¾ØjêVÉ…%-èîí[Ìéþ;œt•‹ˆ½¯ø7wÑA˜Íu•ùtzý|j˜•ÿ–9{r.nŽÑ!/_NSXç׫8v«<YiÏz1PK¹èMAí×Ý ì`”Îhb†xZ g`»Ø¨‰ÿÚÀ·ÃkñߊÐ^("çY÷p=’U]¶Ån Ô(}b­Gñ2ŸÄæõ¤÷o# 0t­# 0^!& 0^( 0æÝ* 0^Ã, 0^!/ 0E1 0Ä2 02T4 0ú†4 0:€5 0Vº5 0\6 0l6 0t7 0£‹9 B*.< D3X< D+‹< 0¥¶< B[? 0þx? 06v@ 0¬@ 0:²A 0hìA 0FTB BšB B·BU6ÔBU< CU*FCÜ pCLPURb§f¥&ngËoC2qur)†vǯx„vz/ú{4)~®]‚± ˆq¼ŠUN-ŒH{ŒbÌÌÌÌdËŒ‰/Ÿ ¸ ›¾ ˜HP LaserJet 5MP,ð,,,,,ð0x  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ #U#™##E##v###r#hlzÁ((;]‚ ¯‚3|x#ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô€ŠŠž‹XXÔA€ð ðmarked€Trackerðð€is€a€¢Geo£€Tracker€with€police€striping,€the€Baltimore€City€PoliceÐ ° Ðshield€on€the€side€of€the€car,€and€a€red€light€on€the€roof.(((2¬5$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(%Ã$òòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó PagottoVittetoe€MELCAVAGEMelcavageMeierMeiklejohnJeffries  Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔThere€was€some€disagreement,€reflected€in€the€testimony,€about€the€status€of€theÐ ° Ðlicense€tag.€€Officer€Wagner€said€that€it€was€displayed€in€the€rear€windshield;€however,ÏOfficer€Pagotto€did€not€remember€the€Subaru€displaying€a€license€plate€at€all.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠžR#Ô(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular0¡†ÿÿ.NormalÔ S ÔÓ =jÓÓ†|°(°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H? AøCPF¨HKXM°OR`T¸VYh[À]`†ÓÓ†|°(°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H? AøCPF¨HKXM°OR`T¸VYh[À]`†Ó ØØ ýÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Ô_ÔÔ‡HŠŠž‹XXÔ€Article€23€of€the€Maryland€Declaration€of€Rights,€as€relevant,€provides:Ð ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ðIn€the€trial€of€all€criminal€cases,€the€Jury€shall€be€the€Judges€of€Law,€as€wellÏas€fact,€except€that€the€Court€may€pass€upon€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidenceÏto€sustain€a€conviction.ððÌÓ XìÓÓ XÞÓÌà  àFor€clarification€as€to€the€power€of€the€jury€to€judge€the€law,€see€òòStevenson€v.€Stateóó,Ð °  Ð289€Md.€167,€174„75,€423€A.2d€558,€562„64€(1980);€òòMontgomery€v.€Stateóó,€292€Md.€84,€89,Ð °  Ð437€A.2d€654,€657€(1981);€òòCalhoun€v.€Stateóó,€297€Md.€563,€611,€468€A.2d€45,€83„84€(1983);Ð °  ÐòòBrooks€v.Ô#†HXÞX‹ŠŠža#Ô€Ô‡HŠŠž‹XXÞÔStateóó,€299€Md.€146,€149,€472€A.2d€981,€983€(1984);€òòIn€re€Petition€for€Writ€ofÐ °  ÐProhibitionóó,€312€Md.€280,€318,€539€A.2d€664,€682€(1988).€€òòSee€alsoóó,€òòJenkins€v.€Smithóó,€38Ð °  ÐF.€Supp.€2d€417,€420€(Ô_Ô¢D.Md£Ô_Ô.€1999).€€In€òòStevensonóó,€the€Court€construed€the€broad€languageÐ °  Ðof€Article€23€as€only€giving€the€jury€limited€power€to€judge€all€aspects€of€the€law.€€Currently,Ïhowever,€the€juryððs€power€to€judge€any€of€the€law€is€nonexistent,€as€the€Court€opined,Ïð ð[Ô_Ô¢w]hat£Ô_Ô€it€all€boils€down€to€now€is€that€the€juryððs€right€to€judge€the€law€is€òòvirtuallyÐ °  Ðeliminatedóó;€the€provision,€as€we€have€construed€it,€basically€protects€the€juryððs€right€to€judgeÐ ° Ðthe€factsðð).€€òòIn€re€Petitionóó,€òòsupraóó,€312€Md.€at€318,€539€A.2d€at€682.Ð ° ÐÌà  àPrior€to€1950,€the€legal€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€was€a€question€exclusive€to€theÏjury,€and€was€not€subject€to€review€by€this€Court.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€€òòWorld€v.€Stateóó,€50€Md.€49Ð ° Ð(1878);€òòÔ_Ô¢Deibert£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€150€Md.€687,€133€A.€847€(1926);€òòÔ_Ô¢Rasin£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€153€Md.€431,€138Ð ° ÐA.€338€(1927);€òòWillie€v.€Stateóó,€153€Md.€613,€139€A.€289€(1927);€òòDavis€v.€Stateóó,€168€Md.€10,Ð ° Ð176€A.€281€(1935);€òòÔ_Ô¢Folb£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€169€Md.€209,€181€A.€225€(1935);€òòBerger€v.€Stateóó,€179€Md.Ð ° Ð410,€20€A.2d€146€(1941);€òòWilson€v.€Stateóó,€181€Md.€1,€26€A.2d€770€(1942);€òòMeyerson€v.Ð ° ÐStateóó,€181€Md.€105,€28€A.2d€833€(1942);€òòForeman€v.€Stateóó,€182€Md.€415,€35€A.2d€171Ð ° Ð(1943);€òòPeters€v.€Stateóó,€187€Md.€7,€48€A.2d€586€(1946);€òòTaylor€v.€Stateóó,€187€Md.€306,€49Ð ° ÐA.2d€787€(1946);€òòÔ_Ô¢Brack£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€187€Md.€542,€51€A.2d€171€(1947);€òòJones€v.€Stateóó,€188€Md.Ð ° Ð263,€52€A.2d€484€(1947);€òòAbbott€v.€Stateóó,€188€Md.€310,€52€A.2d€489€(1947);€òòSmith€v.€Stateóó,Ð ° Ð189€Md.€596,€56€A.2d€818€(1948);€òòÔ_Ô¢Slansky£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€192€Md.€94,€63€A.2d€599€(1949);òòÐ ° ÐHopkins€v.€Stateóó,€193€Md.€489,€69€A.2d€456€(1949);€òòappeal€dismissedóó,€339€U.S.€940,€70€S.Ð °  ÐCt.€797,€94€L.€Ed.€1357€(1950);€òòWinkler€v.€Stateóó,€194€Md.€1,€69€A.2d€674€(1949),€òòcert.Ð °! Ðdeniedóó,€339€U.S.€919,€70€S.€Ct.€621,€94€L.€Ed.€1343€(1950).€€A€review€of€the€history€of€theÐ °" Ð1950€Amendment€to€the€Maryland€Constitution,€Declaration€of€Rights,€Article€23Ï(previously€Article€15,€Section€5),€shows€that€the€reason€for€the€present€day€change€wasÏbecause€it€was€believed€that€common€jurors€came€ð ðfrom€all€classes€of€people,€whoseÏeducation€and€business€cannot€as€a€general€rule€have€qualified€them€to€decide€legal€questionsÏ.€.€.€.ðð€€Judge€Ô_Ô¢Stedman£Ô_Ô€Prescott,€Juries€As€Judges€of€the€Law:€Should€the€Practice€BeÏContinued?,€Address€Before€the€Maryland€State€Bar€Association€(June€24,€1955),€òòinóóÐ °($$ a ÐTransactions:€Maryland€State€Bar€Association,€60òòthóó€Annual€Meeting,€June€1955,€at€255„56.€Ð ° ÐTherefore,€because€of€the€restrictive€history€of€this€Courtððs€power€to€determine€theÏsufficiency€of€the€evidence€to€sustain€a€conviction,€it€should€sparingly€wield€the€power€toÏoverturn€a€jury€verdict.Ô#†HXÞX‹ŠŠžp#Ô 1Ñ#€$Xÿÿd#ÑØØ<††ÿÿ:Definition TÓ†|°(°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 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 ÓÓ†|°(°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H? AøCPF¨HKXM°OR`T¸VYh[À]`†ÓÔC  ÔÔ€XXXÔÔQ€6ô\  `$Times NewRomanQÔ d0djÿÿ.SampleÔ€XXXÔÔK€5<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔÔ€XXXÔÔQ€6ô\  `$Times NewRomanQÔ0ÿÿ.Strongò òó ó8djÿÿ6TypewriterÔ€ôôôÔÔK€5<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔÔ€XXXÔÔQ€6ô\  `$Times NewRomanQÔ4ÿÿ2Variableòòóó:ÿÿ8HTML MarkupÔB  ÔÔ ÿ ÔÔC  ÔÔ  Ô2 ÿÿ0CommentÔB  ÔÔC  Ôüÿ+ +dûÿX Xd<þ6X9`(Courier Newô\  `$Times NewRoman%ä2¼A`Arial Ò Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Ô_ÔÔ‡ŠŠž‹XXÔ€Indeed,€the€majority€today€purports€ð ðto€sit€as€a€jury€and€set€aside€the€lawful€juryððsÐ ° Ðfindings€of€fact.ðð€€òòAnderson€v.€Fulleróó,€455€U.S.€1028,€1033,€102€S.€Ct.€1734,€1737,€72€L.Ð ° ÐEd.€2d€150,€152€(1982)€(Burger,€C.J.,€OððConnor,€J.,€dissenting€in€denial€of€certiorari).€€InÐ ° ÐòòAndersonóó,€the€Court€decided€that€the€petitioner,€who€may€have€been€acting€as€a€lookout,€wasÐ ° Ðconvicted€by€insufficient€evidence,€which€did€not€prove,€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€theÐ ° E Ðpetitioner€intended€to€burn€a€home€and€cause€the€subsequent€death€of€two€children.€€TheÏevidence€in€òòAndersonóó€consisted€of€a€neighbors€testimony€that€she€saw€a€young€man€namedòòóóÐ ° ÐFuller,€along€with€a€few€other€boys,€standing€in€front€of€the€Turner€house€on€the€morningÏof€the€fire.€€A€14-year-old,€Coleman,€testified€that€he€saw€Fuller€and€Meadows,€both€youngÏmenòòóó,€behind€the€house.€€Coleman€further€testified€that€Fuller€looked€up€and€down€the€alleyÐ ° Ðwhile€Meadows€was€setting€the€fires.€€Fullerððs€mother€testified€that€he€was€home€asleep€untilÏ9€oððclock€on€the€morning€of€the€fire€and€therefore,€could€not€have€been€involved.€ÌÌà  àThe€dissenters€in€òòAndersonóó€noted,€òòid.óó€at€1031,€102€S.€Ct.€at€1735,€72€L.€Ed.€2d€at€151,Ð °  Ðthat€the€ð ðverdict€shows€the€jury€did€not€believe€Fullerððs€mother€and€accept€his€alibi€defense.€ÏThe€jury€obviously€accepted€as€true€the€testimony€of€Coleman€and€the€testimony€of€two€otherÏwitnesses€who€said€that€they€saw€Fuller€at€the€scene€on€the€morning€of€the€fire.ðð€€The€cautionÏof€that€dissent,€òòid.óó€at€1033,€S.€Ct.€at€1736„37,€72€L.€Ed.€2d€at€152,€directed€to€the€òòAndersonóóÐ °  Ðmajority,€is€also€an€appropriate€caution€to€the€majority€in€the€case€òòsubóó€òòjudiceóó:Ð °  ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ðIt€is€sheer€nonsense€to€suggest€that,€on€this€record,€the€12€jurors€actedÏirrationally.€With€all€respect,€I€suggest€that€the€.€.€.€majority€forgot€that€it€is€theÏfunction€of€the€jury€to€determine€who€is€telling€the€truth.€€Judges€betray€theirÏfunction€when€they€arrogate€themselves€over€the€legal€fact€finder.€€Either€weÏaccept€the€jury€system€with€the€risk€of€human€fallibility€or€we€ought€to€changeÏthe€structure€of€the€system€and€redefine€the€standard€of€review.€.€.€.€€TheÏ[courtððs€below]€did€not€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€theÏprosecution,€as€the€law€and€their€oaths€require.€€If€they€had,€they€could€notÏhave€rationally€concluded€that€the€jury€could€not€reasonably€reach€the€resultÏit€reached.€€Instead,€the€courts€Ô_Ô¢reweighed£Ô_Ô€Colemanððs€testimony,€noting€that€heÏwas€young,€that€he€had€been€placed€in€a€youth€house€because€he€ran€awayÏfrom€home,€and€that€he€attended€a€ððspecial€school.ðð€€Put€simply€--€and€bluntly,Ïas€this€case€demands€„€the€.€.€.€judges€who€set€aside€this€.€.€.€judgment€actedÏlike€jurors,€not€jurists.ððÔ#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓ üÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Ô_ÔÔ‡ŠŠž‹XXÔ€Article€23€of€the€Maryland€Declaration€of€Rights,€as€relevant,€provides:Ð ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ðIn€the€trial€of€all€criminal€cases,€the€Jury€shall€be€the€Judges€of€Law,€as€wellÏas€fact,€except€that€the€Court€may€pass€upon€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidenceÏto€sustain€a€conviction.ððÌÓ XëÓÓ XÝÓÌà  àFor€clarification€as€to€the€power€of€the€jury€to€judge€the€law,€see€òòStevenson€v.€Stateóó,Ð °  Ð289€Md.€167,€174„75,€423€A.2d€558,€562„64€(1980);€òòMontgomery€v.€Stateóó,€292€Md.€84,€89,Ð °  Ð437€A.2d€654,€657€(1981);€òòCalhoun€v.€Stateóó,€297€Md.€563,€611,€468€A.2d€45,€83„84€(1983);Ð °  ÐòòBrooks€v.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÞÔStateóó,€299€Md.€146,€149,€472€A.2d€981,€983€(1984);€òòIn€re€Petition€for€Writ€ofÐ °  ÐProhibitionóó,€312€Md.€280,€318,€539€A.2d€664,€682€(1988).€€òòSee€alsoóó,€òòJenkins€v.€Smithóó,€38Ð °  ÐF.€Supp.€2d€417,€420€(Ô_Ô¢D.Md£Ô_Ô.€1999).€€In€òòStevensonóó,€the€Court€construed€the€broad€languageÐ °  Ðof€Article€23€as€only€giving€the€jury€limited€power€to€judge€all€aspects€of€the€law.€€Currently,Ïhowever,€the€juryððs€power€to€judge€any€of€the€law€is€nonexistent,€as€the€Court€opined,Ïð ð[Ô_Ô¢w]hat£Ô_Ô€it€all€boils€down€to€now€is€that€the€juryððs€right€to€judge€the€law€is€òòvirtuallyÐ °  Ðeliminatedóó;€the€provision,€as€we€have€construed€it,€basically€protects€the€juryððs€right€to€judgeÐ ° Ðthe€factsðð).€€òòIn€re€Petitionóó,€òòsupraóó,€312€Md.€at€318,€539€A.2d€at€682.Ð ° ÐÌà  àPrior€to€1950,€the€legal€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€was€a€question€exclusive€to€theÏjury,€and€was€not€subject€to€review€by€this€Court.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€€òòWorld€v.€Stateóó,€50€Md.€49Ð ° Ð(1878);€òòÔ_Ô¢Deibert£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€150€Md.€687,€133€A.€847€(1926);€òòÔ_Ô¢Rasin£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€153€Md.€431,€138Ð ° ÐA.€338€(1927);€òòWillie€v.€Stateóó,€153€Md.€613,€139€A.€289€(1927);€òòDavis€v.€Stateóó,€168€Md.€10,Ð ° Ð176€A.€281€(1935);€òòÔ_Ô¢Folb£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€169€Md.€209,€181€A.€225€(1935);€òòBerger€v.€Stateóó,€179€Md.Ð ° Ð410,€20€A.2d€146€(1941);€òòWilson€v.€Stateóó,€181€Md.€1,€26€A.2d€770€(1942);€òòMeyerson€v.Ð ° ÐStateóó,€181€Md.€105,€28€A.2d€833€(1942);€òòForeman€v.€Stateóó,€182€Md.€415,€35€A.2d€171Ð ° Ð(1943);€òòPeters€v.€Stateóó,€187€Md.€7,€48€A.2d€586€(1946);€òòTaylor€v.€Stateóó,€187€Md.€306,€49Ð ° ÐA.2d€787€(1946);€òòÔ_Ô¢Brack£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€187€Md.€542,€51€A.2d€171€(1947);€òòJones€v.€Stateóó,€188€Md.Ð ° Ð263,€52€A.2d€484€(1947);€òòAbbott€v.€Stateóó,€188€Md.€310,€52€A.2d€489€(1947);€òòSmith€v.€Stateóó,Ð ° Ð189€Md.€596,€56€A.2d€818€(1948);€òòÔ_Ô¢Slansky£Ô_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€192€Md.€94,€63€A.2d€599€(1949);òòÐ ° ÐHopkins€v.€Stateóó,€193€Md.€489,€69€A.2d€456€(1949);€òòappeal€dismissedóó,€339€U.S.€940,€70€S.Ð °  ÐCt.€797,€94€L.€Ed.€1357€(1950);€òòWinkler€v.€Stateóó,€194€Md.€1,€69€A.2d€674€(1949),€òòcert.Ð °! Ðdeniedóó,€339€U.S.€919,€70€S.€Ct.€621,€94€L.€Ed.€1343€(1950).€€A€review€of€the€history€of€theÐ °" Ð1950€Amendment€to€the€Maryland€Constitution,€Declaration€of€Rights,€Article€23Ï(previously€Article€15,€Section€5),€shows€that€the€reason€for€the€present€day€change€wasÏbecause€it€was€believed€that€common€jurors€came€ð ðfrom€all€classes€of€people,€whoseÏeducation€and€business€cannot€as€a€general€rule€have€qualified€them€to€decide€legal€questionsÏ.€.€.€.ðð€€Judge€Ô_Ô¢Stedman£Ô_Ô€Prescott,€Juries€As€Judges€of€the€Law:€Should€the€Practice€BeÏContinued?,€Address€Before€the€Maryland€State€Bar€Association€(June€24,€1955),€òòinóóÐ °($$  ÐTransactions:€Maryland€State€Bar€Association,€60òòthóó€Annual€Meeting,€June€1955,€at€255„56.€Ð ° ÐTherefore,€because€of€the€restrictive€history€of€this€Courtððs€power€to€determine€theÏsufficiency€of€the€evidence€to€sustain€a€conviction,€it€should€sparingly€wield€the€power€toÏoverturn€a€jury€verdict.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠžo#Ô KÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔIt€is€useful€to€sum€up€the€òòcurriculumóó€òòvitaeóó€of€the€various€òòdramatisóó€òòpersonaóó:€€MajorÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô,€a€former€instructor€at€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Training€Academy;€MajorÏFrance,€the€commanding€officer€for€the€Eastern€District,€Baltimore€Police€Department;ÏSergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô,€an€instructor€with€the€Firearms€Training€Unit€of€the€Education€and€TrainingÏDivision€of€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department;€Sergeant€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô,€a€former€instructor€atÏthe€Maryland€State€Police€Academy;€Mr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô,€a€retired€Captain€of€the€MontgomeryÏCounty€Police€Department,€who€had€been€involved€for€years€in€training€members€of€thatÏdepartment;€and€Mr.€Key,€a€defense€witness,€who€was€a€former€instructor€at€the€BaltimoreÏCity€Police€Academy€and€the€author€of€the€guidelines€in€question.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#Ô uÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔFor€example,€Sergeant€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô,€responding€to€the€question€whether,€in€his€opinionÐ ° Ðthe€respondent€violated€his€own€guidelines,€explained:ÌÓ XÓÓ XÓð ðRegarding€this€traffic€stop,€Sergeant€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô,€it€indicates€in€the€guidelinesÏthat€if€there€reaches€a€point€in€time€where€you€exercise€or€use€deadly€force,Ïcertain€criteria€should€be€satisfied.€€The€satisfaction,€or€to€satisfy€that,€theÏpolice€officer€should€notify€the€department€what€is€happening€at€the€location,Ïthe€information.€€The€police€officer€should€not€close€distance€at€that€time.€€IfÏthe€suspect€were€to€leave,€meaning€to€flee€or€to€drive€away€at€that€point,€theyÏare€not€to€pursue€or€to€chase,€however,€to€keep€them€under€observation€at€thatÏpoint.Ó?+ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°œX?ÓÌÓB.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ŒXBÓÓ  Ó*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*Ð °  € ЇÓ1Óð ðAt€the€time€that€Sergeant€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô€decided€to€draw€his€gun,€he€made€noÏnotification€to€his€partner€nor€to€any€other€police€officers€as€to€what€he€had€orÏwhat€he€could€be€involved€in.€€With€his€weapon€drawn,€he€decided€orÏindicated€in€his€report€that€he€closed€distance€in€an€attempt€to€control€PrestonÏBarnes€which€is€in€direct€violation€of€his€own€Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#ÔÔ‡ŠŠž‹XXÞÔguidelines.€€He€attempted€toÐ ° Ðcontrol€the€actions€of€this€person€physically€with€one€hand,€with€the€gun€in€theÏopposite€hand.€€This€goes€against€òòallóó€modern€police€standards€and€training.ððÔ#†XÞX‹ŠŠž#ÔÓ?+ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°°X?Ó ›Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔThe€ð ðslideðð€is€a€large€flat€housing€that€surrounds€both€the€barrel€of€the€gun€andÐ ° Ðother€internal€mechanisms.€€When€the€gun€is€fired,€the€ð ðslideðð€slides€to€the€rear,€ejecting€theÏspent€shell€and€then€springs€back€forward,€placing€another€cartridge€in€firing€position. ]Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔAs€we€have€seen,€the€respondent€testified€that€he€believed€the€car€that€he€stoppedÐ ° Ðhad€been€stolen.€€This€testimony€is€not€indicative€of€a€òòroutineóó€traffic€stop.€Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#Ô 9Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô€ŠŠž‹XXÔBecause€we€find,€òòinfraóó,€that€the€State€presented€insufficient€evidence€to€sustain€aÐ ° Ðconviction,€we€need€not€address€the€intermediate€appellate€courtððs€alternative€holding. Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔThe€passengers€in€the€Barnes€car€testified€to€the€respondentððs€use€of€his€serviceÐ ° Ðweapon.€€Mr.€Thompson€stated€that€the€only€reason€Preston€Barnes€was€scared€was€becauseÏthe€respondent€ð ðhopped€out€of€the€car€with€the€gun€in€his€hand.ðð€€The€other€passenger,€Mr.ÏAustin€added,€on€cross€examination:ÌÓ XÓÓ XÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€The€officer€you€saw€get€out€of€the€police€vehicle€withÏthe€gun€in€his€hand,€what€did€he€do?ÌÌð ð[MR.€AUSTIN]:€€He€went€to€the€driverððs€side€pointing€the€gun€at€him.ÌÌð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Driverððs€side€of€whose€car?ÌÌð ð[MR.€AUSTIN]:€€Prestonððs€car.ÌÌð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Okay.€€And,€you€say€he€did€what€with€the€gun?ÌÌð ð[MR.€AUSTIN]:€€He€was€pointing€it€at€him.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#Ôðð Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Ô_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔAs€we€are€required€to€do,€we€set€out€the€facts€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€State.€Ð ° ÐòòSeeóó€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€61€L.€Ed.€2d€560€(1979);€òòFerrisÐ ° Ðv.€Stateóó,€355€Md.€356,€368,€735€A.2d€491,€497€(1999);€òòWilson€v.€Stateóó,€319€Md.€530,€535,Ð ° Ð573€A.2d€831,€833€(1990).Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠža#Ô ½Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔð ðClosingðð€is€term€used€by€police€to€describe€the€final€stages€of€an€approach€towardÐ ° Ða€suspect.€€There€was€some€discrepancy€at€trial€as€to€exactly€at€what€point€ð ðapproachingððÏbecomes€ð ðclosing.ðð€€Various€experts€placed€the€distance€at€anywhere€from€an€armððs€lengthÏto€ten€feet€from€a€suspect.€ zÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔIn€reviewing€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€on€this€point,€we€accept€OfficerÐ ° ÐPagottoððs€version€of€this€part€of€the€encounter,€as€did€the€Court€of€Special€Appeals,€becauseÏit€is€the€only€version€in€evidence.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠžR#Ô %Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔIt€is€Ô_ÔuncontrovertedÔ_Ô€that€Preston€Barnes€was€attempting€to€flee€the€scene€and€that€theÐ ° ÐSubaru€was€moving.€€But,€as€òòSergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ôóó€testified„€ð ðI€think€Preston€Barnes€had€aÐ ° Ðreasonable€expectation€to€believe€that€he€would€not€be€shot€for€fleeing€from€a€simple€trafficÏstop.ððÔ#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#Ô *Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔThe€respondent€maintains€that€he€made€the€ð ðmove€into€ambushðð€because€the€carÐ ° Ðdoor€suddenly€ð ðsprung€open.ðð€€Curiously,€the€majority€adopted€the€respondentððs€version€ofÐ ° U Ðhow€the€car€door€opened€because€it€was€ð ðthe€only€version€in€evidence.ðð€__€Md.€__,€__€n.7,Ï__€A.2d€__,€__€n.7€(2000)€[slip€op.€at€__€n.7].€€On€the€contrary,€it€was€not€the€only€versionÏin€evidence€because€Mr.€Jackson€testified€that€òòthe€respondent€actually€opened€the€dooróó€andÐ ° Ðinitiated€the€ð ðmove€into€ambush.ðð€€Although€the€majority€initially€mentioned€the€existenceÏof€Mr.€Jacksonððs€testimony,€see€__€Md.€at€__,€__€A.2d€at€__€[slip€op.€at€__],€it€unfortunatelyÏneglected€to€adopt€that€version.€€According€to€the€correct€standard€of€review,€it€is€thatÏtestimony€which€should€have€been€accepted,€because€it€is€more€favorable€to€the€State.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠža#Ô ¤Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Ô_ÔÔ‡ŠŠž‹XXÔ€The€purpose€of€the€police€guidelines,€as€testimony€established,€is€to€determine€theÐ ° Ðreasonableness€of€police€conduct,€within€the€department€òòitselfóó:Ð ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ð[¢SGT£.€Ô_ÔMEIERÔ_Ô]:€The€purpose€of€these€guidelines€is€to€present€the€topic€of€theÏpolice€use€of€deadly€force€in€a€way€which€prepares€officers€to€make€quickÏsound€decisions€under€extremely€stressful€conditions.€€The€informationÏcontained€herein€is€consistent€with€and€in€support€of€General€Order€¢288C£„2,ÏRules€and€Regulations,€Rule€3,€Firearms.€€Officers€will€be€held€accountableÏfor€adhering€to€the€specific€requirements€of€this€guideline.ððÌÓ XPÓÓ XBÓÌà  àAnd€they€apply€throughout€the€department,€even€to€special€units:ÌÌÓ XÓÓ XÓð ð[THE€COURT]:€Does€an€officer€assigned€to€the€gun€squad,€if€I€might,€haveÏð"ð€are€there€different€expectations€of€that€officer€with€respect€to€training,Ïfulfillment€of€duties,€policy€of€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department?ÌÌð ð[MAJ.€Ô_Ô¢SHREVE£Ô_Ô]:€No,€not€at€all.€€Theyððre€all€expected€to€adhere€to€policiesÏand€procedure€[and€guidelines].ððÔ#†XÞX‹ŠŠž`#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ X¾ÓÓ X°Ó §Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔThe€colloquy€was€as€follows:Ð ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€Uh„huh,€but€when€the€cop€opened€the€door€his€handsÏwere€on€the€black€[dashboard].ÌÌð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€His€hands€were€on€the€black,€not€on€the€steering€wheel.€ÏNow,€which€version€are€you€telling€the€jury€today?ÌÌð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€It€was€in€front€of€him€ð"ð€they€was€in€front€of€him.€€TheyÏwas€in€front€of€him.€[Officer€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô]€could€see€his€hands.ððÔ#†XÞX‹ŠŠžb#Ô gÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔOfficer€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô€testified€he€believed€his€trigger€finger€was€along€the€slide„€insteadÐ ° U Ðof€where€it€should€have€been,€under€the€trigger€guard.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠža#Ôx  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular >Ñ#€Xÿÿd#ÑÑ €J ÑØØ- ù- ZÝ ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔBut€there€was€also€ample€evidence€from€which€the€jury€could€have€inferred€theÐ ° Ðrespondentððs€guilt.€€Of€significance€in€that€regard€is€evidence€contradictory€to€theÏrespondentððs€version€of€the€events,€thus€undermining€the€respondentððs€credibility.€€TheÏrespondent€contended€that€his€weapon€accidentally€discharged€when€he€hit€his€hand€againstÏthe€vehicle€as€it€sped€away,€and€as€he€was€falling€to€the€ground.€€But€the€jury€had€before€itÏtestimony€indicating€that€perhaps€the€respondentððs€gun€did€not€discharge€accidentally.ÌÌà  àFirst,€Sergeant€Donald€Kramer,€a€firearms€expert,€testified€that€ten€and€a€half€poundsÏof€pressure€was€needed€to€be€exerted€on€the€trigger€of€the€respondentððs€service€weaponÏbefore€it€would€release.€€Such€a€blow,€of€ten€and€a€half€pounds€of€pressure€on€a€concentratedÏarea,€should€leave€a€bruise.€€However,€Major€France,€a€26€year€police€veteran„€trained€toÏobserve,€nor€Major€Shreve,€a€31€year€police€veteran„€also€trained€to€observe,€saw€any€signsÏof€injury€to€the€respondentððs€hands€directly€after€the€shooting.€ÌÌà  àSecond,€Sergeant€Kramer€testified€that€when€an€officer€shoots€while€falling€down,Ïas€the€respondent€maintained€he€did,€the€trajectory€of€a€bullet€will€be€in€an€upward€direction.€ÏThe€Deputy€Chief€Medical€Examiner€testified€that€the€angle€of€the€single€bullet€was€slightlyÏdown€through€the€window,€not€up.€€ÌÐ °   Ðà  àThird,€the€respondent€testified€that€the€increased€speed€of€the€car€òòcausedóó€theÐ ° Ðð ðaccidental€discharge.ðð€€In€contrast,€Mr.€Jackson€testified€that€it€was€the€ð ðaccidentalÏdischargeðð€which€òòcausedóó€the€increased€speed€of€the€car:Ð ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€Well,€the€whole€time,€like€I€say€the€car€was€still€drifting,Ïthe€officer€was€beside€the€car€still€trying€to€get€him€to€stop€it.ÌÌð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Okay.€€what€happened€after€he€pulled€off?ÌÌð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€I€heard€a€shot.ÌÌð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€And,€what€happened€when€you€heard€the€shot€or€justÏafter€you€heard€the€shot?ÌÌð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€Well,€Preston€said€ððoh,€Ô_ÔshitÔ_Ô.ðð€€Then€thatððs€the€last€I€heardÏand€then€the€car€started€„€the€car€started€speeding€up.ÌÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠža#ÔÔ‡ŠŠž‹XXÞÔÐ ° ÐÓ¿ ÓÌð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€We€didnððt€start€going€fast€òòuntilóó€Preston€was€shot.ððÐ ° ÐÓ XSÓÓ XEÓà  àà ` àÌ€€€€€€€€€€€Additionally,€there€was€evidence€of€other€violations€of€police€regulations,€theÏtendency€of€which€is€to€suggest€that€the€respondent€attempted€to€cover€up€his€recklessÏdeviations€from€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Guidelines.€€Exemplary€of€this€evidence€is€thatÏinvolving€the€respondentððs€failure€to€notify€his€supervisor€that€he€had€been€involved€in€aÏshooting,€the€respondentððs€leaving€the€scene€of€the€shooting,€the€respondentððs€failure€to€goÏdirectly€to€headquarters€from€the€scene€„€while€placing€unofficial€telephone€calls€andÏconducting€unofficial€meetings€on€street€corners€and€the€fact€that€the€respondent€waitedÏnearly€three€weeks€before€giving€an€official€statement€of€his€version€of€the€eventsÏsurrounding€the€shooting.€€The€jury€heard€testimony€concerning€each€of€these€acts€and€theÏexplanation€as€to€why€there€were€violations.€€ÌÌà  àThere€was€even€conflict€concerning€why€the€respondent€left€the€scene€of€the€shooting.€ÏHe€testified€that€he€left€the€scene€because€he€feared€for€his€safety€due€to€the€ð ðhostileðð€natureÏof€ð ðabout€twentyðð€citizens.€€But,€the€jury€heard€testimony€from€Major€France€that€perhapsÏthe€hostility€was€fabricated€or€perceived.€€Major€France€stated€that,€although€people€didÏform,€he€did€not€recall€a€crowd€being€there€initially€ð ðat€that€time.ðð€€He€also€stated€that€peopleÏformed€ð ðten€to€fifteen€minutes€[later]€and€the€people€who€formed€I€later€found€out€who€theyÐ °($$ Ðwere.€€So€there€were€people€coming€to€the€location€from€other€places.ðð€€Sergeant€Parker,€theÏrespondentððs€immediate€supervisor,€also€testified€that€a€crowd€of€maybe€twenty,€includingÏpolice€officers,€formed,€but€significantly€indicated€that,€as€far€as€he€was€concerned,€ð ðthereÏwasnððt€anything€unusual€about€[the]€crowd.ðð€¹Ó XÓÓ XÓÌÓ XÓÓ XöÓÔ#†XÞX‹ŠŠž #Ô Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý›€€Ô‡ŠŠž‹XXÔJackson€and€Austin€testified€that€Pagotto€had€aimed€his€gun€at€Barnes€prior€to€theÐ ° Ðdischarge€in€an€attempt€to€get€Barnes€to€bring€the€car€to€a€stop;€however,€neither€witness€wasÏable€to€determine€if€Pagotto€aimed€his€gun€at€Barnes€when€it€discharged.H ‘Ý ƒ ¬5$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ݛԇŠŠž‹XXÔ€€The€reckless€endangerment€statute€has€been€recodified€as€Maryland€Code€(1957,Ð ° Ð1996€Repl.€Vol.,€2000€Supp.)€Article€27,€ðð€12A„2,€effective€October€1,€1996,€and€wasÏamended€by€1997€Maryland€Laws€Ch.€32€and€1999€Maryland€Laws€Ch.€34.Ô#†XÞX‹ŠŠžP#ÔÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ݛԀŠŠž‹XXÔÔ‡ŠŠž‹‹ŠŠžÔñ#ñÑ€÷*Ññ#ñÌCircuit€Court€for€Baltimore€CityÌCase€Nos.€196079001/296159015„16ÌÒÀ°ÒòòÓ  ÓIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OFÐ ° ÐMARYLANDóóÐ ° ÐÌNo.€99ÌÌSeptember€Term,€1999ÌÓÉÓÌÌßA€,) °°xdEÀ¯hAßÐ °  ÐÌÌÓ  ÓSTATE€OF€MARYLANDÌÌv.ÌÌSTEPHEN€PAGOTTOÌÌÓ  ÓßA€,) °°xd$EÀ¾hAßÐ ¿ ÐÌà0  àBell,€C.J.Ð (#(# Ðà0  à¢Eldridge£Ð (#(# Ѐ€€€€€€€€*RodowskyÌà0  àRakerÐ (#(# Ðà0  àWilnerÐ (#(# Ðà0  àCathellÐ (#(# Ðà0  àHarrell,Ð (#(# ÐÌÓ  ÓJJ.ÌÌßA€,) °°xd$EÀÍ"hAßÐ Î"  ÐÌOpinion€by€Raker,€J.ÌBell,€C.J.,€dissentsÌÌßA€,) °°xd$EÀÜ&hAßÐ Ý&-"% ÐÌFiled:Ô#†ŠŠž‹‹ŠŠž;#Ô€€€November€16,€2000Ð ì'<#' ÐÒ<ÀÒ*Rodowsky,€J.,€now€retired,€participated€in€the€hearingÏand€conference€of€this€case€while€an€active€member€of€thisñ #ñÏñ #ññ #ñCñ #ññ #ñCñ #ñourt;€after€being€recalled€pursuant€to€the€Constitution,ÏArticle€IV,€Section€¢3A£,€he€also€participated€in€the€decisionÏand€adoption€of€this€opinion.ò òÐ ì,<(, ЇÒ°<Òœñ #ñÐ  ° Ðñ #ññ #ñÒ°<Òñ #ñ›Ó  Óó óÓÓÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ€I HÑà  àRespondent,€Stephen€Pagotto,€a€sergeant€with€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department,Ð ° Ðwas€convicted€of€involuntary€manslaughter€and€two€counts€of€reckless€endangerment€inÏviolation€of€Maryland€Code€(1957,€1992€Repl.€Vol.)€Article€27,€ðð€120(a)׃Q×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€following€a€juryÐ ° Ðtrial€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Baltimore€City.€€Pagotto€noted€a€timely€appeal€to€the€Court€ofÏSpecial€Appeals,€contending€that€the€State€presented€legally€insufficient€evidence€at€trial€toÏsustain€his€convictions.€€The€Court€of€Special€Appeals€agreed€with€Pagotto€and€reversed€theÏjudgment€of€conviction.€€òòSee€Pagotto€v.€State,€óó127€Md.€App.€271,€732€A.2d€920€(1999).€€WeÐ °  Ðgranted€the€Stateððs€petition€for€a€writ€of€certiorari.€€We€shall€hold€that€the€evidence€wasÏinsufficient€to€support€Pagottoððs€convictions.€€Accordingly,€we€shall€affirm€the€judgment€ofÏthe€Court€of€Special€Appeals.ÌÓ  ÓI.ÌÓ  Óà  àWe€are€mindful€that,€in€an€appeal€based€upon€insufficiency€of€evidence,€it€is€not€theÏfunction€of€the€appellate€court€to€undertake€a€review€of€the€record€that€would€amount€to€aÏretrial€of€the€case.€€òòSee€State€v.€Albrechtóó,òò€óó336€Md.€475,€478,€649€A.2d€336,€337€(1994).Ð ° ÐRather,€we€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€and€theÏjudgment€can€be€reversed€only€if€we€find€that€no€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€theÏessential€elements€of€the€crime.€€òòSeeóó€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,òò€óó443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,Ð °$  Ð61€L.€Ed.€2d€560€Ô% €P Ô(1979);€òòAlbrechtóó,€336€Md.€at€478,€649€A.2d€at€337.€€Fundamentally,€ourÐ °&"" Ðconcern€is€not€with€whether€the€trial€courtððs€verdict€is€in€accord€with€the€weight€of€theÐ °($$ ÐÑI HÑâ IâÑ8€ÞXXdìXXdì8ÑÑ€JÑØØâ IâÑ  Ñevidence,€òòsee€Jacksonóó,òò€óó443€U.S.€at€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€61€L.€Ed.€2d€560,€but€only€withÐ d Ðwhether€the€verdict€was€supported€by€sufficient€evidence€„„€evidence€which€could€fairlyÏconvince€a€rational€trier€of€fact€of€the€defendantððs€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€òòSeeÐ d  ÐAlbrechtóó,òò€óó336€Md.€at€479,€649€A.2d€at€337.Ð d  Ðà  àIn€other€words,€in€a€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€challenge,€the€appellate€court€is€notÏto€ask€whether€it€believes€that€the€evidence€at€trial€established€guilt€beyond€a€reasonableÏdoubt.€Rather,€the€court€only€asks€ð ðwhether,€after€viewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÏfavorable€to€the€prosecution,€òòanyóó€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€essentialÐ d Ðelements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòJacksonóó,€443€U.S.€at€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,Ð d Ð61€L.€Ed.€2d€560.€€òòSee€Albrechtóó,€336€Md.€at€479,€649€A.2d€337„38;€òòOken€v.€Stateóó,€327€Md.Ð d Ð628,€661,€612€A.2d€258,€274€(1992).€ÌÓ  ÓII.ÌÓ  Óà  àThe€facts€of€this€case€are€undisputed€until€the€critical€moments€leading€up€to€theÏdischarge€of€Respondentððs€weapon.€€Sergeant€Pagotto€and€his€partner,€Officer€StephenÏWagner,€were€both€assigned€to€the€Gun€Recovery€Unit€of€the€Baltimore€City€PoliceÏDepartment€(hereinafter€ð ðDepartmentðð).€€The€mission€of€the€Gun€Recovery€Unit€was€toÏremove€guns€from€the€streets€of€Baltimore€City.€€Each€officer€assigned€to€this€unit€wasÏtrained€to€look€for€people€with€certain€characteristics€that€police€profiles€indicated€wereÏmore€likely€to€carry€guns.€€The€Gun€Recovery€Unit€frequently€used€¢pretextual£€traffic€stopsÏto€accomplish€their€mission.€€òòSeeóó€òò¢Whren£€v.€United€Statesóó,€517€U.S.€806,€813,€116€S.€Ct.Ð d,&& Ð1769,€135€L.€Ed.€2d€89€(1996)€(holding€no€Fourth€Amendment€violation€if€police€haveÏprobable€cause€to€believe€driver€of€automobile€is€violating€traffic€regulation,€but€the€stop€isÏto€accomplish€some€other€investigative€purpose).Ìà  àThe€incident€in€question€occurred€on€the€night€of€February€7,€1996.€€Officers€PagottoÏand€Wagner€were€assigned€to€the€Northeastern€District€of€Baltimore€in€an€area€called€ð ðLittleÏEastern.ðð€€This€area€was€selected€because€it€has€a€high€concentration€of€narcotics€traffickingÏand€gun€related€violence.€€Pagotto€and€Wagner€were€dressed€in€plain€clothes€that€evening,Ïalthough€they€were€driving€a€ð ðmarked€Tracker,ðð¢×ƒ ×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€making€them€easily€identifiable€as€policeÐ d Ðofficers.Ìà  àAt€approximately€8:30€p.m.,€the€two€officers€spotted€a€white€Subaru€in€the€2600€blockÏof€Kirk€Avenue.€€Although€the€officers€stopped€the€car€because€the€license€was€displayedÏimproperly,€they€both€testified€that€their€subjective€motive€in€stopping€the€car€was€to€lookÏfor€guns.׃×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€According€to€Sergeant€Pagotto,€they€decided€to€stop€this€particular€car€becauseÐ d Ðit€was€in€a€high€drug€and€gun€area€and€looked€suspicious.€€Officer€Pagotto€explained€theÏsignificance€of€the€license€tag:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA€lot€of€times€people€who€are€going€to€conceal€what€they€areÏdoing€like€dealing€narcotics€or€doing€a€drive„by€shooting€orÏeven€if€it€is€a€stolen€car,€guns€and€narcotics€are€synonymousÐ d&  Ðwith€each€other,€and€they€just€.€.€.€[remove€the€tag]€to€concealÏtheir€identification.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓà  àIn€response€to€the€officersðð€signal€to€stop,€the€Subaru€pulled€over€on€the€2700€BlockÏof€Kirk€Avenue.€€Sergeant€Pagotto€stopped€the€Tracker€about€ten€feet€behind€the€Subaru.€ÏBoth€officers€left€the€Tracker€and€began€to€approach€the€Subaru.€€Officer€PagottoÏapproached€the€driverððs€side€and€Officer€Wagner€approached€the€passengerððs€side.€€ThreeÏpeople€were€in€the€Subaru:€Preston€Barnes,€Damien€Jackson,€and€Ali€Austin.€€OfficerÏWagner€testified€that,€as€they€approached€the€car,€he€noticed€that€all€three€persons€were€ð ðveryÏexcited€and€moving.ðð€Officer€Pagotto€testified€that,€when€he€was€about€five€feet€from€theÏback€of€the€car,€he€saw€the€driver€of€the€car,€Preston€Barnes,€tilt€his€head€back€and€drop€hisÏshoulder.€€As€part€of€his€training€for€the€Gun€Recovery€Unit,€Pagotto€had€been€instructedÏthat€movements€such€as€these€were€consistent€with€the€picking€up€of€a€weapon€or€the€placingÏof€one€under€the€seat.€It€was€at€this€time€that€Pagotto€withdrew€from€his€holster€his€policeÏweapon,€a€¢Glock£€17€automatic.Ìà  àDamien€Jackson,€testifying€for€the€prosecution,€stated€that,€earlier€that€evening,€theÏthree€men€in€the€car€had€stopped€to€pick€up€ten€bags€of€ð ðReady€Rock,ðð€a€form€of€cocaine.ÏHe€further€testified€that,€when€the€police€signaled€for€them€to€pull€over,€Preston€BarnesÏexclaimed,€ð ðOh€¢shit£,€Iððm€dirty,ðð€referring€to€the€fact€that€he€was€carrying€drugs.€€Barnes€wasÏon€probation€for€a€drug€conviction,€and€Jackson€testified€that€Barnes€knew€that€any€newÏconvictions€would€constitute€a€violation€of€probation€and€could€result€in€a€minimum€of€fiveÏyears€in€prison.Ð d-'' Ðà  àJackson€also€explained€an€escape€plan€that€he€and€Barnes€had€worked€out€in€case€theyÏwere€ever€caught€in€such€a€situation.€€The€plan€was€that,€if€they€were€stopped€while€carryingÏdrugs,€they€would€pull€the€car€over€and€bring€it€to€a€stop.€€The€officers€would€thenÏpresumably€stop€their€vehicle€and€begin€to€approach€the€car.€€When€the€officers€came€closeÏto€the€car,€Barnes€would€ð ðrev€upðð€the€engine€and€take€off.€€The€two€figured€that€they€wouldÏbe€able€to€make€a€clean€getaway€by€the€time€that€the€officers€made€it€back€to€their€vehicle,Ïstarted€it,€and€began€pursuit.€€It€appears€that€it€was€this€plan€that€Barnes€was€attempting€toÏimplement€on€the€night€in€question.Ìà  àAs€the€two€officers€approached€the€car,€it€began€drifting€forward€slightly.€€OfficerÏWagner€originally€believed€that€it€was€drifting€because€the€car€had€parked€on€a€downslopeÏalong€Kirk€Avenue.€€Both€officers€were€yelling€orders€at€the€driver€of€the€car€ð ðto€stop,€putÏon€the€brake,€put€the€car€in€park.ðð€€Sergeant€Pagotto€then€arrived€at€the€driverððs€side€doorÏwith€his€weapon€drawn€in€his€right€hand.€€Two€separate€versions€of€the€precise€events€fromÏthis€point€forward€were€provided€by€Sergeant€Pagotto,€on€the€one€hand,€and€Damien€JacksonÏand€Ali€Austin,€on€the€other€hand.Ìà  àDamien€Jackson€testified€that,€when€Sergeant€Pagotto€arrived€at€the€driverððs€sideÏdoor,€Pagotto€opened€the€door€and€then€stepped€back€two€or€three€feet€from€the€car.€€HeÏfurther€testified€that,€as€Pagotto€stepped€back€from€the€door,€Pagotto€was€yelling€at€BarnesÏto€ð ð[¢s]top£€the€car,€stop€the€car,€or€I€am€going€to€shoot.ðð€€It€was€at€this€point€that€BarnesÏshifted€from€park€to€drive€and€pressed€down€on€the€gas€pedal.€€Because€there€was€a€carÐ d,&& Ðparked€in€front€of€the€Subaru,€Barnes€had€to€move€the€car€toward€the€center€of€Kirk€AvenueÏand€Sergeant€Pagotto.€€As€he€did€so,€Jackson€and€Austin€heard€a€shot,€then€heard€BarnesÏexclaim,€ð ðOh€¢shit£,ðð€and€slump€over.€€The€car€proceeded€to€crash€into€a€parked€car€down€theÏstreet.€€When€it€did€so,€both€Jackson€and€Austin€fled€the€scene.Ìà  àSergeant€Pagottoððs€testimony€differed€slightly.€€He€testified€that,€as€he€approached€theÏcar,€he€withdrew€his€gun€from€the€holster,€holding€it€in€his€right€hand€with€his€finger€on€theÏslide€of€the€gun.׃<×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€He€then€took€another€two€or€three€steps,€and,€when€he€neared€the€door,€theÐ d  Ðdriver€opened€the€door€slightly.€€Sergeant€Pagotto€had€seen€a€training€video€that€instructedÏofficers€to€be€cautious€when€a€car€door€opens€slightly€because€many€officers€had€been€killedÏin€similar€situations.€€Fearing€that€he€was€about€to€be€ambushed€by€Barnes,€he€instinctivelyÏmoved€forward€to€attempt€to€grab€Barnesððs€arm.€€Pagotto€testified€that€he€had€been€trainedÏto€go€into€an€ambush€because€it€draws€other€fire€towards€the€attacker.Ìà  àPagotto€struggled€with€Barnes€with€his€left€hand€while€his€police€weapon€remainedÏoutside€the€vehicle€in€his€right€hand,€along€his€side.€€Barnes€managed€to€rip€his€arms€awayÏfrom€Pagotto€and€toward€the€console.€€Fearing€that€Barnes€was€going€for€a€gun,€PagottoÏattempted€to€disengage€himself€from€the€car.€€Pagotto€testified€that,€at€this€point,€he€wasÏstuck€halfway€in€the€car€with€his€feet€outside€of€the€car€while€the€car€was€rolling€forward.€ÏWhen€Pagotto€heard€the€engine€start,€he€yelled€to€Wagner€to€ð ðget€the€Tracker,ðð€meaning€theÐ d("" Ðpolice€vehicle.€€Pagotto€testified€that€he€was€then€able€to€free€himself€of€the€Subaru€justÏbefore€Barnes€put€the€car€into€gear.€€When€the€Subaru€moved€out€toward€him,€his€handÏstruck€the€side€of€the€car,€knocking€him€to€the€ground,€and€causing€his€gun€to€discharge.€ÏOfficer€Wagner€testified€that€it€was€while€he€was€getting€the€Tracker€that€he€heard€the€shot.€ÏHe€turned€around€to€see€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€body€falling€forward€from€a€position€against€theÏcar.Ìà  àThe€bullet€entered€the€left€rear€passenger€window€through€the€lower€left€hand€corner.ÏIt€passed€between€the€post€that€separates€the€front€and€rear€door€and€the€driverððs€seat.€€It€thenÏstruck€the€body€of€Preston€Barnes€just€under€his€left€armpit€and€continued€through€his€chest,Ïpiercing€his€heart€and€lung.€€The€trajectory€of€the€lethal€bullet€was€consistent€with€SergeantÏPagottoððs€testimony.ÌÓ  ÓIII.ÌÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àThe€chief€question€in€this€case€is€whether€Pagottoððs€conduct€on€that€night,Ïð ðconsidering€all€of€the€factors€of€the€case,€was€such€that€it€amounted€to€ððwanton€or€recklessÏdisregard€for€human€life.ðððð€€òòDuren€v.€Stateóó,€203€Md.€584,€589,€102€A.2d€277,€280€(1954)Ð d" Ð(quoting€òòMaryland€v.€Chapmanóó,€101€F.€Supp.€335,€341€(1951)).€€òòSee€Albrechtóó,òò€óó336€Md.€atÐ d$ Ð500,€649€A.2d€at€348.€€As€such,€we€must€determine€if€the€State€produced€sufficient€evidenceÏfrom€which€a€rational€trier€of€fact€could€conclude€that€Pagotto€had€not€acted€as€ð ða€reasonableÏâ âpolice€officer,€similarly€situated.ðð€€òòAlbrechtóó,òò€óó336€Md.€atòò€óó501,€649€A.2d€at€349.Ð d*$$ Ðà  àThe€State€argues€that€Pagotto€was€grossly€negligent€by€violating€Baltimore€CityÏâ âPolice€Department€guidelines€in€three€respects:€(1)€closing€on€the€victim€with€his€gunÏdrawn;׃A×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€(2)€attempting€a€one„armed€vehicular€extrication€with€his€gun€in€the€other€hand;€andÐ d  Ð(3)€placing€his€trigger€finger€on€the€slide€of€the€gun,€rather€than€under€the€trigger€guard€asÏhe€approached€the€decedentððs€car.€€Pagotto€contends€that€each€of€these€acts€was€reasonableÏunder€the€circumstances.Ìà  àEach€side€presented€several€expert€witnesses.€€The€State€called€four€key€witnesses€asÏexperts€on€police€procedure.€€They€were€Major€Francis€Melcavage,€a€former€instructor€at€theÏBaltimore€City€Training€Academy€and€an€expert€in€defense€tactics€and€use€of€force;€SergeantÏCraig€Meier,€a€member€of€the€Firearms€Training€Unit€of€the€Baltimore€City€Police€EducationÏand€Training€Division€and€an€expert€in€the€use€of€force€and€firearms;€Sergeant€TimothyÏVittetoe€of€the€Maryland€State€Police,€an€expert€in€use€of€force,€defense€tactics,€policeÏtraining,€and€police€procedures;€and€John€L.€Meiklejohn,€an€expert€in€defense€tactics,Ïtraining€points€and€procedures,€standards€of€police€conduct,€and€use€of€force.€€We€shallÏreview€the€evidence€presented€at€trial,€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,€to€determineÏif€any€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€convicted€the€defendant€of€the€crimes€charged.¹Ó}4ÓÓ  ÓA.Ð d&  ÐÓ  Óà  àThe€first€alleged€grossly€negligent€act€is€that€Pagotto€closed€on€the€victim€with€hisÏgun€drawn.€€It€is€first€important€to€note€that€three€of€the€Stateððs€experts€stated€that€they€didÏnot€feel€that€it€was€inappropriate€for€Pagotto€to€draw€his€gun€when€he€did;€the€only€problemÏwas€that€he€should€not€have€closed€with€his€gun€drawn.€€Sergeant€Meier€testified€that€anÏofficer€is€justified€in€drawing€his€weapon€anytime€that€he€has€a€reasonable€belief€that€thereÏis€a€threat€of€death€or€serious€injury€to€himself€or€others€and€that€Sergeant€Pagotto€was,Ïtherefore,€justified€in€drawing€his€weapon€when€he€did.€€He€testified,€however,€that€it€isÏinappropriate€for€an€officer€to€close€with€his€weapon€drawn€and€that€it€is€a€violation€ofÏgeneral€police€guidelines.€€Once€Pagotto€perceived€a€threat,€he€should€have€returned€to€hisÏcar€and€called€for€backup,€rather€than€closing€on€Barnes.€€He€explained€that€the€rationale€forÏthe€policy€is€the€concern€that,€should€the€officer€come€too€close€to€a€suspect,€he€couldÏbecome€engaged€in€a€struggle€and€accidentally€discharge€his€weapon.Ìà  àJohn€Meiklejohn€corroborated€Sergeant€Meierððs€testimony,€stating€that€Pagotto€wasÏjustified€in€drawing€his€weapon,€but€should€have€retreated€to€his€vehicle€upon€perceiving€aÏthreat.€€Sergeant€Vittetoeððs€testimony€differed€only€slightly.€€He€testified€that,€once€PagottoÏperceived€a€threat,€he€should€not€have€drawn€his€weapon,€should€not€have€continued€toÏclose,€and€should€have€sought€cover:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€[¢H]e£€should€have€stopped€closing€as€soon€as€heÏdetermined€or€apprehended€a€danger,€correct?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[VITTETOE]:€As€he€approached€and€he€made€theÏdetermination€that€the€actions€of€the€driver€could€either€put€hisÏlife€in€jeopardy€and/or€his€partnerððs,€indicated€in€his€report,€hisÐ d-'' Ðactions€of€closing€should€have€ceased€at€that€point.€€Two€thingsÏhe€should€have€done:€disengaged€making€greater€distance€andÏalso€¢seeked£€an€area€of€cover€or€concealment€for€his€protectionÏand€also€notify€his€partner€of€what€he€was€dealing€with€at€thatÏpoint€so€his€partner€could€better€defend€himself.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ~CÓà  àThe€one€State€witness€with€a€different€opinion€was€Major€Francis€Melcavage.€€HeÏtestified€that,€while€it€is€inadvisable€for€an€officer€to€close€with€a€weapon€in€hand,€it€isÏinadvisable€only€because€of€the€danger€that€it€poses€to€the€officer€and€that€an€officer€may,Ïtherefore,€do€so€if€he€chooses:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€So€it€would€be€in€your€mind€a€violation€of€aÏpolicy€or€guideline€to€come€within€five€or€six€feet€of€a€subjectÏwith€your€gun€drawn€if€you€suspected€they€had€a€weapon?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€I€donððt€think€that€policy€has€even€beenÏdelineated.€€I€wouldnððt€say€it€was€a€violation€of€policy,€I€wouldÏsay€it€was€probably€inadvisable€action.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€Well,€but€there€is€a€policy€that€you€are€familiarÏwith€that€you€should€not€close€with€your€weapon€in€your€hand,Ïright?€€Isnððt€that€what€you€are€saying?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€No,€not€that€I€am€aware€of.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€All€right.€€So€you€can€close€with€a€weapon€inÏyour€hand?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€Yes.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓà  àThe€defense€presented€several€witnesses€addressing€the€question€whether€SergeantÏPagotto€was€reasonable€in€closing€with€his€weapon€drawn.€€Detective€Jeffries,€an€originalÏmember€of€the€Gun€Recovery€Unit€and€an€expert€in€defensive€strategies€and€Gun€RecoveryÏUnit€practices,€testified€that,€while€the€Department€has€a€guideline€to€the€contrary,€an€officerÐ d-'' Ðmust€determine€if€it€is€appropriate€to€close€with€a€drawn€gun€on€a€case„by„case€basis€and€thatÏit€is€within€the€officerððs€discretion€to€do€so€if€he€deems€it€appropriate.€€In€addition,€heÏtestified€that€he€has€been€in€twenty„five€to€fifty€situations€in€which€he€or€someone€that€heÏwas€working€with€had€closed€with€a€drawn€gun.€€Lieutenant€Charles€J.€Key,€author€of€theÏguidelines€that€Pagotto€had€allegedly€violated,€also€testified€for€the€defense.€€He€stated€thatÏPagotto€had€violated€the€guideline€against€closing€with€a€drawn€gun.€€He€went€on€to€state,Ïhowever,€that€guidelines€are€discretionary€and€that€Pagotto€had€acted€reasonably€under€theÏcircumstances.ÌÓ–KÓÓ  ÓÓÓB.ÌÓ  Óà  àThe€second€alleged€violation€is€that€Pagotto€attempted€a€one„armed€vehicularÏextrication€with€his€gun€in€the€other€hand.€€The€only€testimony€that€described€any€contactÏbetween€Preston€Barnes€and€Sergeant€Pagotto€was€from€Sergeant€Pagotto.€€He€characterizedÏthis€confrontation€in€a€far€different€light€than€that€in€which€the€State€had€characterized€it.€ÏAccording€to€Sergeant€Pagotto,€he€did€not€attempt€to€extricate€Preston€Barnes;€rather,€he€wasÏattempting€to€defend€himself€from€what€he€felt€was€an€oncoming€attack.€€Pagottoððs€testimonyÏon€direct€examination€was€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€What€was€the€next€thing€you€did€after€pullingÏthe€gun€from€the€holster?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€I€took€about€two€or€three€more€steps€toward€theÏcar,€and€got€to€about€the€back€door€on€the€driverððs€side.€.€.€.€Ï[¢T]hat£€is€when€the€door€sprung€open.Ð ` x` x Ðâ âÐ d,&& Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€What€were€you€thinking€when€that€door€sprungÏâ âopen?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€I€was€thinking€I€was€going€to€get€shot.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€Why?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€Because€I€have€had€training€and€saw€videosÏwhere€a€.€.€.€door€would€open€up€.€.€.€and€there€would€be€aÏshotgun€right€inside€the€door€.€.€.€the€shotgun€goes€off€and€killsÏthe€officer.€€I€also€saw€a€video€showing€officers€being€killed€asÏthey€approached.€€I€just€thought€at€that€point€in€time,€I€wasÏgoing€to€get€killed.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*ÌÌÓ  Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€Why€didnððt€you€turn€and€run€back€to€theÏTracker?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€I€didnððt€think€of€it€at€the€time.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€What€did€you€do€instead?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€I€went€towards€the€driver.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€And€why€did€you€do€this?Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*ÌÌÓ  Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€It€was€the€best€plan€of€attack€that€way€to€go€inÏand€get€¢ahold£€of€him.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€And€what€are€you€basing€that€on€when€you€sayÏit€was€the€best€plan€of€attack?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[PAGOTTO]:€Years€of€experience,€and€all€the€time€in€aÏpossible€ambush€situation,€I€was€always€trained€to€go€into€theÏambush,€drawing€any€fire€towards€that€person.€€It€was€justÏinstinct,€I€mean,€I€pushed€the€door€out€of€the€way€and€grabbedÏhis€hand.Ðd-''` x` x Ѐà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐd` x` x ÐÓÓà  àMajor€Melcavageððs€testimony€was€most€critical€of€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€attemptedÏextrication.€€Major€Melcavage,€who€teaches€control€tactics€and€vehicular€extrications€at€theÏpolice€academy,€stated€that€an€officer€should€always€holster€his€weapon€before€attemptingÏto€remove€a€driver.€€He€testified:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[STATEððS€ATTððY]:€If€you€have€a€gun€in€your€hand€and€youÏintend€to€remove€a€driver€from€a€vehicle€through€the€use€of€aÏcontrol€tactic,€what€should€you€do€with€the€weapon?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€You€would€have€to€holster€the€weapon.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[STATEððS€ATTððY]:€And€why€is€that?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€Because€you€need€two€hands€to€gain€controlÏof€an€individual€or€to€apply€a€technique€as€taught€at€the€academyÏas€I€taught.€€And€by€keeping€the€gun€in€the€situation,€you€areÏunnecessarily€endangering€yourself.€€They€can€take€the€gunÏfrom€you€just€as€well,€the€subject€could€take€the€gun€from€youÏjust€as€well€as€you€using€it€on€them,€or€the€gun€could€go€off€andÏyou€could€injure€innocent€bystanders,€yourself,€or€the€subject.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[STATEððS€ATTððY]:€Okay.€€Would€that€fact€change€whether€theÏvehicle€was€stationary€or€moving?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€No,€sir.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[STATEððS€ATTððY]:€If€you€have€your€weapon€drawn€and€it€isÏnot€safe€to€holster€it€in€order€to€use€the€control€tactic,€whatÏshould€you€do?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[MELCAVAGE]:€It€is€not€safe€to€holster€them,€you€need€toÏseek€cover€and€call€for€assistance,€call€for€other€officers.€€YouÏhave€to€disengage.Ð ` x` x Ðâ âÐ d+%% ÐÓ9]Óà  àSergeant€Vittetoe€testified€on€this€subject€as€well.€€He€stated€that€an€officer€shouldÏâ âalways€holster€his€weapon€before€struggling€with€a€suspect€because€two€hands€are€neededÏto€control€a€suspect.€€In€addition,€the€holstered€weapon€protects€against€the€eventuality€that€Ïthe€weapon€could€be€used€against€the€officer.€€He€was,€therefore,€of€the€opinion€thatÏSergeant€Pagotto€should€not€have€attempted€to€reach€into€the€car€with€a€gun€in€one€of€hisÏhands.€€On€cross€examination,€however,€Sergeant€Vittetoe€testified€that,€prior€to€1994,ÏMaryland€State€Police€Officers€were€permitted€to€grab€a€suspect€with€one€hand€while€theÏofficer€had€the€service€weapon€in€the€other€hand.Ìà  àDetective€Kenneth€Jeffries,€testifying€for€the€defense,€stated€that€it€is€within€anÏofficerððs€discretion€whether€to€attempt€to€extricate€a€suspect€with€a€drawn€gun.€€LieutenantÏKey€testified€that€the€guidelines€are€designed€for€departmental€use€only€and€are€not€to€beÏused€as€a€basis€for€criminal€charges.€€He€further€testified€that,€in€evaluating€officers,€theÏDepartment€gives€the€officers€wide€discretion€in€applying€the€guidelines.ÌÓ  ÓC.ÌÓ  Óà  àThe€final€alleged€violation€is€that€Sergeant€Pagotto€had€his€finger€on€the€slide€of€theÏgun€rather€than€below€the€trigger€guard€as€required€by€Baltimore€City€Police€guidelines.ÏMajor€Melcavage€testified€that€the€current€Baltimore€City€Police€Department€guidelinesÏrequire€an€officer€to€place€his€trigger€finger€below€the€trigger€guard.€€He€further€testified,Ïhowever,€that,€when€Sergeant€Pagotto€was€trained€in€1980,€the€Department€issued€revolvers.€ÏThe€guidelines€at€that€time€did€not€address€the€location€or€placement€of€the€officerððs€triggerÐ d,&& Ðfinger.€€He€also€stated€that€the€Department€first€issued€a€guideline€with€respect€to€the€triggerÏfinger€in€1990,€when€the€Department€switched€to€the€¢Glock£€17.€€He€testified€that,€in€1990,Ïpolice€officers€were€taught€to€keep€their€trigger€finger€on€the€slide€of€the€gun.€€AccordingÏto€Major€Melcavage,€this€standard€was€changed€to€the€current€one€sometime€in€1993€orÏ1994.€€Sergeant€Meir€essentially€corroborated€the€testimony€of€Major€Melcavage€in€thisÏrespect€and€also€stated€that€Baltimore€City€is€the€only€police€department€in€Maryland€that€hasÏthis€particular€requirement.Ìà  àCaptain€Meiklejohn€testified€that€Montgomery€County€officers,€unlike€the€officersÏin€Baltimore€City,€are€still€trained€to€keep€their€trigger€finger€on€the€slide€of€the€weapon.€€HeÏfurther€testified€that€the€reason€that€Montgomery€County€officers€are€taught€to€keep€theirÏfinger€on€the€slide€is€because€keeping€the€finger€below€the€trigger€guard€can€slow€reactionÏtime€in€a€critical€situation.€€Sergeant€Vittetoe€also€testified€as€to€the€Maryland€State€PoliceÏDepartmentððs€practices€in€this€regard:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[DEF.€ATTððY]:€And€isnððt€it€true€that€the€Maryland€State€PoliceÏDepartment€trains€their€officers€to€also€keep€their€finger€in€aÏready€position€along€the€slide€of€the€gun€as€opposed€to€underÏthe€trigger€guard,€correct?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[VITTETOE]:€That€is€correct,€maððam.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓà  àLieutenant€Key,€author€of€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department€guidelines€requiringÏthe€placement€of€the€trigger€finger€below€the€trigger€guard,€testified€for€the€defense.€€HeÏtestified€that€Baltimore€City€is€the€only€police€department€in€the€State€that€requires€theÏplacement€of€the€trigger€finger€below€the€guard.€€He€further€testified€that,€because€SergeantÐ d-'' ÐPagotto€had€originally€been€trained€to€keep€his€trigger€finger€on€the€slide€of€the€gun,€hisÏð ðmuscle€memoryðð€would€have€caused€him,€in€a€stress€situation,€to€go€back€to€his€originalÏtraining€and€past€experience.€€He€testified:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àYour€body€trains€itself€to€do€certain€things.€€That€applies€in€thisÏsituation€because€if€over€the€years,€and€in€this€case€13€years,Ïyour€finger€is€alongside€the€slide,€you€cannot€eradicate€thisÏmuscle€memory€in€.€.€.€20€or€30€minutes€worth€of€training.€€ItÏjust€wonððt€happen.€€Heððs€going€to€go€back€and€do€what€he€didÏin€a€stress€situation,€what€heððs€trained€himself€to€do€mostÏfrequently.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓHe€continued€that,€due€to€these€circumstances,€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€placement€of€his€fingerÏalong€the€slide€of€the€weapon€was€reasonable.ÌÓ  ÓD.ÌÓ  Óà  àBased€on€this€testimony,€the€trial€judge,€in€denying€the€motion€for€judgment€ofÏacquittal,€concluded€that€the€evidence€was€sufficient€to€send€the€case€to€the€jury€on€theÏcharges€of€involuntary€manslaughter€and€reckless€endangerment.€€The€trial€judge€stated:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€think€the€evidence€that€has€been€submitted€so€far€has€beenÏstrong,€certainly€permissible€to€conclude€beyond€a€reasonableÏdoubt€that€there€was€gross€negligence€and€recklessness€in€theÏdefendantððs€conduct.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓ€à  àThe€intermediate€appellate€court€found€that€the€State€had€failed€to€meet€its€burden€ofÐ d% Ðproduction€with€respect€to€gross€negligence€and€reversed€the€judgment.€€The€court€held:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[T]he€evidence€shows€three€or€four€possible€deviations€from€orÏviolations€of€departmental€guidelines€of€the€Baltimore€CityÏPolice€Department.€€It€shows€that€the€actions€of€SergeantÏâ âPagotto€may€well€have€contributed€to€the€creation€of€aÐ d,&& Ðdangerous€confrontation€between€himself€and€Preston€Barnes.€ÏIt€shows€what€may€be€a€case€of€actionable€civil€negligence.Ð ` x` x Ðâ âà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àWe€hold€that€it€does€not€show,€however,€such€a€departureÏfrom€the€norm€of€reasonable€police€conduct€that€it€may€fairly€beÏcharacterized€as€"extraordinary€and€outrageous."€€We€hold€thatÏit€does€not€show€on€the€part€of€the€law€enforcement€officer,Ïeven€if€guilty€of€some€negligence€in€the€performance€of€hisÏduties,€a€òòmens€¢rea£óó€that€qualifies€as€a€"wanton€and€abandonedÐ d  Ðdisregard€of€human€life."€€The€burden€of€production€withÏrespect€to€gross€criminal€negligence€was€not€satisfied.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓMxÓòòPagottoóó,€127€Md.€App.€at€357,€732€A.2d€at€965„66.€€The€court€based€this€conclusion,€in€part,Ð d  Ðon€the€fact€that€the€prosecution€had€failed€to€present€evidence€that€the€violation€of€a€policeÏguideline€amounted€to€an€action€that€was€not€that€of€a€ð ðreasonable€police€officer€similarlyÏsituatedðð€or€evidenced€a€ð ðwanton€or€reckless€disregard€of€human€life.ðð€€The€court€stated:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAll€of€the€testimony€of€all€of€the€experts,€save€one,€madeÏno€mention€of€a€key€link€in€the€chain€of€logic€that€was€anÏindispensable€but€unspoken€part€of€the€Stateððs€case.€€EvenÏgranting,€òòarguendo,óó€the€failure€of€an€officer€to€follow€aÐ d Ðdepartmental€guideline,€what€is€the€significance€of€such€aÏfailure?€€The€missing€premise€was€vital€to€the€validity€of€theÏStateððs€ultimate€syllogism€of€guilt.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòId.óó€at€325,€732€A.2d€at€948.€€The€only€witness€to€testify€as€to€the€significance€of€an€officerððsÐ d! Ðfailure€to€follow€departmental€guidelines€was€Lieutenant€Charles€Key,€an€expert€for€theÏdefense€and€author€of€the€relevant€guidelines.€€Judge€Moylan,€writing€for€the€intermediateÏappellate€court,€pointed€out€that€Key€testified€that€the€police€guidelines€are€used€for€internalÏâ âevaluations€of€the€officer€only€and€are€highly€discretionary.Ð d)## Ðà  àThe€Court€of€Special€Appeals€also€found,€in€the€alternative,€that€Preston€Barnes€hadÏremoved€Sergeant€Pagotto€from€the€field€of€proximate€cause€by€attempting€his€getaway.€€TheÏcourt€stated:Ìâ âÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAs€a€completely€alternative€holding,€we€also€concludeÏthat€when€Preston€Barnes€put€into€motion€his€predeterminedÏtactic€of€attempting€a€vehicular€getaway€from€the€detentionÏscene,€that€criminal€act€on€his€part€constituted€an€independentÏintervening€cause€that€resulted€in€his€own€death.Ð ` x` x ÐÌòòId.€óóat€358,€732€A.2d€at€966.׃>×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð d  ÐÌÓÓà  àWe€turn€now€to€determine€if€the€evidence€was€legally€sufficient€to€convince€a€rationalÏtrier€of€fact€of€Officer€Pagottoððs€guilt€of€involuntary€manslaughter€and€recklessÏendangerment€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ÌÓ  ÓIV.ÌÓ  Óà  àUpon€our€independent€review€of€the€record€in€this€case,€we€conclude€that€the€CourtÏof€Special€Appeals€was€correct€in€its€determination€that€there€was€insufficient€evidence€toÏsupport€Pagottoððs€convictions.€€Specifically,€we€conclude€that€Pagottoððs€actions€on€the€nightÏof€February€7,€1996,€when€viewed€in€their€totality,€were€neither€grossly€negligent€norÏreckless.Ìà  àAt€the€close€of€the€Stateððs€case,€the€trial€court€granted€Pagottoððs€motion€for€judgmentÏof€acquittal€with€respect€to€the€charge€of€voluntary€manslaughter.€€The€trial€court€found€thatÐ d("" Ðthe€State€had€presented€no€evidence€from€which€a€rational€jury€could€find€that€Pagotto€hadÏintentionally€killed€Preston€Barnes.€€Thus,€the€case€went€to€the€jury€on€the€charge€ofÏinvoluntary€manslaughter.Ìà  àInvoluntary€manslaughter€is€a€common€law€felony€in€Maryland.€€It€is€defined€asÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àan€unintentional€killing€done€without€malice,€(1)€by€doing€someÏunlawful€act€endangering€life€but€which€does€not€amount€to€aÏfelony,€or€(2)€in€negligently€doing€some€act€lawful€in€itself,€orÏ(3)€by€the€negligent€omission€to€perform€a€legal€duty.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòAlbrechtóó,€336€Md.€at€499,€649€A.2d€at€347.€€The€charge€in€this€case€is€predicated€upon€theÐ d  Ðnegligent€doing€of€some€lawful€act.€€For€the€conviction€to€lie,€however,€the€State€must€proveÏmore€than€mere€negligence.€€The€Sate€must€show€a€greater€degree€of€negligence€or€ð ðgrossððÏnegligence.€€òòSee€id.óó;€òò¢Duley£€v.€Stateóó,òò€óó56€Md.€App.€275,€289,€467€A.2d€776,€796€(1983);€òòMillsÐ d Ðv.€Stateóó,€13€Md.€App.€196,€200,€282€A.2d€147,€149€(1971).Ð d Ðà  àIn€order€for€the€accusedððs€conduct€to€constitute€gross€negligence,€ð ðthe€conduct€mustÏmanifest€'a€wanton€or€reckless€disregard€of€human€life.ððððòò€€Dishman€v.€Stateóó,€352€Md.€279,Ð d Ð291,€721€A.2d€699,€704€(1998)€(quoting€òòAlbrechtóó,€336€Md.€at€499,€649€A.2d€at€348).€€òòSeeÐ d! ÐDuren€v.€Stateóó,òò€óó203€Md.€584,€590,€102€A.2d€277,€280€(1954).€€In€other€words,€the€accusedððsÐ d# Ðconduct,€under€the€circumstances,€must€manifest€such€a€gross€departure€from€what€wouldÏbe€the€conduct€of€an€ordinary€and€prudent€person€so€as€to€amount€to€a€disregard€of€theÏconsequences€and€an€indifference€to€the€rights€of€others.€€òòSee€Albrecht,óó€336€Md.€at€500,€649Ð d)## Ðâ âA.2d€at€348;€òòDurenóó,€203€Md.€at€590,€102€A.2d€at€280.Ð d+%% Ðà  àThe€defendant€was€also€charged€with€two€counts€of€reckless€endangerment€of€the€twoÏâ âpassengers€in€the€car:€Damien€Jackson€and€Ali€Austin.€€While€involuntary€manslaughterÏrequires€the€death€of€a€person,€reckless€endangerment€does€not€require€that€any€actual€harmÏoccur€to€another.òò€€See€Minor€v.€Stateóó,€326€Md.€436,€442,€605€A.2d€138,€141€(1992).Ð d  ÐMarylandððs€reckless€endangerment€statute,€codified€at€the€time€of€this€incident€as€MarylandÏCode€(1957,€1992€Repl.€Vol.)€Article€27,€ðð€120(a),€provided,€in€pertinent€part,€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAny€person€who€recklessly€engages€in€conduct€that€creates€aÏsubstantial€risk€of€death€or€serious€physical€injury€to€anotherÏperson€is€guilty€of€the€misdemeanor€of€reckless€endangermentÏand€on€conviction€is€subject€to€a€fine€not€exceeding€$5,000€orÏimprisonment€not€exceeding€5€years€or€both.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓThis€statute€is€aimed€at€deterring€the€commission€of€potentially€harmful€conduct€before€anÏinjury€or€death€occurs.€€òòSee€Minoróó,€326€Md.€at€442,€605€A.2d€at€141.€€The€statute€wasÐ d Ðenacted€ð ðto€punish,€as€criminal,€reckless€conduct€which€created€a€substantial€risk€of€deathÏor€serious€physical€injury€to€another€person.€€It€is€the€reckless€conduct€and€not€the€harmÏcaused€by€the€conduct,€if€any,€which€the€statute€was€intended€to€criminalize.ðð€€òòId.€óóat€441,€605Ð d  ÐA.2d€at€141.€€Thus,€the€focus€is€on€the€conduct€of€the€accused.€€The€test€to€determineÏwhether€a€defendantððs€conduct€was€reckless€isÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àwhether€the€appellantððs€misconduct,€viewed€objectively,€was€soÏreckless€as€to€constitute€a€gross€departure€from€the€standard€ofÏconduct€that€a€law„abiding€person€would€observe,€and€therebyÏcreate€the€substantial€risk€that€the€statute€was€designed€toÏpunish.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòId.€óóat€443,€605€A.2d€at€141.Ð d,&& Ðà  àA€defendantððs€conduct€is€typically€measured€against€the€conduct€of€an€ordinarilyÏprudent€citizen€similarly€situated.€€Where€the€accused€is€a€police€officer,€however,ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àthe€reasonableness€of€the€conduct€must€be€evaluated€not€fromÏthe€perspective€of€a€reasonable€civilian€but€rather€from€theÏperspective€of€a€reasonable€police€officer€similarly€situated.€€AsÏthe€intermediate€appellate€court€explained:Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xàUnder€almost€all€circumstances,€the€gratuitousÏpointing€of€a€deadly€weapon€at€one€civilian€byÏanother€civilian€would€almost€certainly€beÏnegligence€òòper€seóó,€if€not€gross€negligence€òòper€seóó.Ð d  ÐA€police€officer,€on€the€other€hand,€is€authorizedÏand,€indeed,€frequently€obligated€to€threatenÏdeadly€force€on€a€regular€basis.€€The€standard€ofÏconduct€demanded€of€a€police€officer€on€duty,Ïtherefore,€is€the€standard€of€a€reasonable€policeÏofficer€similarly€situated.Ð ¸ ¸  ÐÌòòÓÓAlbrecht,€óó336€Md.€at€501,€649€A.2d€at€349€(citations€omitted)€(quoting,€in€part,€fromÐ d ÐòòAlbrecht€v.€State,óó€97€Md.€App.€630,€642,€632€A.2d€163,€169€(1993)).Ð d Ðà  àThe€theory€of€the€prosecution€was€that€the€conduct€at€issue€was€identical€for€theÏcharges€of€involuntary€manslaughter€and€reckless€endangerment.€€The€prosecution€wasÏpredicated€upon€the€theory€that€Sgt.€Pagottoððs€conduct,€i.e.,€the€alleged€violations€ofÏdepartmental€guidelines,€was€both€a€gross€departure€from€the€standard€of€conduct€that€aÏreasonable€police€officer€similarly€situated€would€observe,€thereby€creating€a€substantial€riskÏof€death€or€serious€physical€injury€to€the€two€passengers,€as€well€as€such€grossly€negligentÏconduct€that€manifested€a€wanton€or€reckless€disregard€of€human€life.€€Therefore,€under€theÏcircumstances€presented€herein,€if€we€find€that€the€evidence€provided€by€the€State€wasÐ d,&& Ðlegally€insufficient€to€sustain€a€conviction€for€manslaughter,€then€the€evidence€was€alsoÏinsufficient€to€sustain€a€conviction€for€reckless€endangerment.ÌÓ  ÓV.ÌÓ  Óà  àWe€emphasize€again€that,€in€reviewing€for€legal€sufficiency€of€the€evidence,€we€areÏnot€sitting€as€the€trier€of€fact.€€Rather,€we€only€determine€if€any€rational€trier€of€fact€couldÏhave€found€Pagotto€guilty.€€The€Court€of€Special€Appeals€found€that€each€of€the€StateððsÏalleged€violations€of€departmental€guidelines,€at€best,€amounted€to€an€actionable€case€in€civilÏnegligence.€€We€agree.Ìà  àWith€respect€to€Pagottoððs€placement€of€his€trigger€finger€on€the€slide€of€the€gun,€theÏCourt€of€Special€Appeals€found€that€the€evidence€presented€was€insufficient€to€support€aÏcharge€of€involuntary€manslaughter.€€The€court€stated:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àWe€hold€that€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€placement€of€his€triggerÏfinger€along€the€ð ðslideðð€of€his€¢Glock£€automatic,€whetherÏconsidered€alone€or€in€combination€with€any€other€factor,€doesÏnot€remotely€generate€a€òòprima€facie€óócase€of€gross€criminalÐ d Ðnegligence.€€We€are€not€substituting€our€weighing€of€theÏevidence€for€that€of€the€jury.€€We€are€holding,€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw,€that€the€burden€of€production€as€to€gross€criminalÏnegligence€was€not€satisfied€so€as€even€to€permit€the€jury€toÏconsider€such€a€charge.€€Although€Sergeant€Pagotto€may€notÏhave€followed€a€recently€imposed€and€geographically€uniqueÏguideline,€his€action€in€that€regard€was€not€inherently€wrong€orÏof€a€òò¢malum£„in„seóó€character.Ðd'!!` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àHad€a€Maryland€State€Trooper€or€a€Baltimore€CountyÏOfficer,€for€instance,€ridden€along€with€Sergeant€Pagotto€onÏFebruary€7,€1996,€and€engaged€in€precisely€the€same€conductÏthat€Sergeant€Pagotto€did,€that€State€Trooper€or€County€OfficerÏwould€have€been€acting€with€complete€propriety€with€respect€toÏthe€placement€of€the€trigger€finger€on€a€weapon.€€Had€SergeantÐ d-'' ÐPagotto€himself€placed€his€trigger€finger€on€the€ð ðslideðð€of€hisÏweapon€on€February€7,€1993,€instead€of€on€February€7,€1996,€heÏwould€then€have€been€acting€with€complete€propriety.€€ExceptÏfor€a€criminal€violation€of€a€local€municipal€or€countyÏordinance,€precisely€the€same€act€under€precisely€the€sameÏcircumstances€cannot€be€a€crime€in€Baltimore€City€but€not€aÏcrime€in€Baltimore€County.€Ð ` x` x ЀÌÓ'£ÓòòPagotto,óó€127€Md.€App.€at€310„11,€732€A.2d€at€941.òò€óó€The€Stateððs€logic€leads€to€theÐ d Ðconclusion€that€a€police€officer€placing€his€finger€on€the€slide€of€the€weapon€is€criminallyÏnegligent€behavior€if€committed€by€a€Baltimore€City€Police€Officer€in€Baltimore€City,€butÏacceptable,€non„criminal€behavior€if€committed€by€any€other€police€officer€anywhere€elseÏin€the€State.€€The€Court€of€Special€Appeals€was€correct€in€concluding€that€this€result€isÏillogical.Ìà  àWe€also€agree€with€the€Court€of€Special€Appealsðð€€conclusion€that€Sergeant€PagottoððsÏact€of€closing€with€a€drawn€gun€was€not€criminally€negligent.€€The€intermediate€appellateÏcourt€held:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àEven€assuming€that€ð ðclosingðð€to€within€a€few€feet€ofÏPreston€Barnes€constituted€ordinary€civil€negligence,€there€wasÏnothing€in€the€appellantððs€behavior€to€suggest€ð ða€wanton€orÏreckless€disregard€for€human€life.ðð€€He€approached€anÏinherently€dangerous€confrontation€with€his€weapon€in€hand.Ð ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àHindsight,€indeed,€revealed€that€Sergeant€PagottoððsÏsuspicions€and€fears€were€well„grounded.€€Although€SergeantÏPagotto€did€not€know€it€at€the€time,€Preston€Barnes€was€almostÏcertainly€committing€a€felony€in€his€presence„„the€possession€ofÏcocaine€with€intent€to€distribute.€€Rather€than€risk€a€violation€ofÏprobation,€Preston€Barnes€was€poised,€just€as€the€Sergeant€drewÏnear,€to€initiate€a€high€speed€getaway,€wantonly€running€downÏSergeant€Pagotto€in€the€process€if€need€be.€€If€in€a€stress„ladenÏsituation€and€for€his€own€self„protection€Sergeant€PagottoÐ d-'' Ðviolated€a€departmental€guideline,€he€did€not€thereby€commit€anÏact€of€gross€negligence.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓy¬ÓòòIdóó.€at€318,€732€A.2d€at€945.Ð d  Ðà  àThe€final€alleged€violation€of€Department€guidelines€was€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€so„calledÏone„armed€vehicular€extrication.€€The€Court€of€Special€Appeals€found€that€Sergeant€PagottoÏhad€not€violated€this€guideline€and,€even€if€he€had,€it€was€not€behavior€that€could€legally€riseÏto€the€level€necessary€to€sustain€a€conviction€of€involuntary€manslaughter.€€The€court€statedÏin€this€regard:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€testimony€of€both€Major€Melcavage€and€SergeantÏVittetoe€dealt€with€the€subject€of€vehicular€extrication€as€anÏabstract€academic€or€training€exercise.€€Self„evidently,€one€canÏwrestle€with€an€opponent€more€effectively€with€two€hands€thanÏwith€one.€€Thatððs€the€school€situation.€€They€analyzed€theÏproblem€as€if€Sergeant€Pagotto€had€moved€forward€òòab€initioóóÐ d Ðwith€a€pre„formed€and€deliberate€plan€to€perform€a€one„armedÏvehicular€extrication.€€Their€opinions€had€no€pertinence€to€anÏinstinctive,€split„second€reaction,€actual€or€hypothetical,€whereÏthe€right€hand€is€already€holding€a€weapon€and€where€a€car€doorÏsuddenly€opens,€a€foot€or€two€away,€in€front€of€oneððs€face.€€TheÏinstantaneous€reaction€either€to€ð ðmove€into€the€ambushðð€or€toÏattempt€to€retreat€to€the€cover€of€the€police€cruiser€is€somethingÏthat€is€not€concerned€with€the€schoolroom€paradigm€of€a€modelÏvehicular€extrication.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€*ÌÌÓ  Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€appellantððs€version׃B×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€of€this€part€of€the€encounterÐ d'!! Ðdoes€not€permit€a€finding€that€the€Baltimore€City€PoliceÐ d("" ÐDepartment€guideline€as€to€vehicular€extrication€had€beenÏviolated.€€Even€assuming,€òòarguendoóó,€that€there€had€been€aÐ d Ðviolation,€however,€that€would€be,€at€most,€a€òòprima€facieóó€caseÐ d Ðof€ordinary€civil€negligence.€€Assuming€that€this€is€a€case€inÏwhich€an€officer€might€be€civilly€liable€for€negligence,€thereÏwas€insufficient€evidence€of€the€type€of€wanton€and€abandonedÏindifference€to€human€life€required€to€meet€the€incrementalÏburden€of€production€that€must€be€satisfied€before€a€jury€canÏconsider€the€issue€of€gross€criminal€negligence.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ½²ÓòòIdóó.€at€320„22,€732€A.2d€at€946„47.€€We€agree€with€the€Court€of€Special€Appeals€that€theÐ d  Ðevidence€presented€at€trial,€as€a€matter€of€law,€was€insufficient€to€support€a€conviction€ofÏinvoluntary€manslaughter€or€reckless€endangerment.€€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€behavior€simplyÏdid€not€evidence€a€ð ðwanton€or€reckless€disregard€for€human€life.ððÌà  àIn€arguing€for€legal€sufficiency,€the€State€relies€heavily€on€òòState€v.€Albrechtóó,€336€Md.Ð d Ð475,€649€A.2d€336€(1993).€€The€State€contends€that€òòAlbrechtóó€is€dispositive€of€the€instant€caseÐ d Ðbecause€ð ð[¢l]ike£€òòAlbrechtóó,€Pagottoððs€case€involves€issues€of:€a€police€officerððs€use€of€hisÐ d Ðservice€firearm;€the€officerððs€placement€of€his€finger€with€respect€to€that€service€weapon;€theÏofficerððs€aiming€of€his€service€weapon€at€the€victim;€and,€the€officerððs€resort€to€use€hisÏservice€weapon€under€circumstances€in€which€the€victim€presented€no€threat€to€the€officer.ðð€ÏIn€òòAlbrechtóó,€a€Montgomery€County€Police€officer€was€convicted€of€involuntaryÐ d$ Ðmanslaughter€and€two€counts€of€reckless€endangerment€when€the€shotgun€he€was€holdingÏaccidentally€discharged,€killing€one€woman.€€This€Court€held€that€the€evidence€wasÏsufficient€to€warrant€a€conviction€for€both€involuntary€manslaughter€and€recklessÏendangerment.€€We€conclude,€however,€that€òòAlbrecht€óóis€distinguishable.Ð d,&& Ðà  àWhile€these€two€cases€are€facially€similar,€there€are€several€key€factors€present€inÏòòAlbrechtóó€that€are€not€present€in€this€case.€€In€òòAlbrechtóó,òò€óówe€noted€five€factors€which€elevatedÐ d ÐAlbrechtððs€behavior€from€ordinary€civil€negligence€to€gross€criminal€negligence.€€We€stated:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€State€adduced€sufficient€testimony€from€which€the€trialÏcourt€could€have€concluded€that€a€reasonable€MontgomeryÏCounty€police€officer€would€not€have€acted€as€Albrecht€did€onÏthis€occasion,€in€drawing€and€racking€a€shotgun€fitted€with€aÏbandolier€and€bringing€it€to€bear,€òòwith€his€finger€on€the€trigger,óóÐ d  Ðon€an€unarmed€individual€who€did€not€present€a€threat€to€theÏofficer€or€to€any€third€parties,€in€a€situation€where€nearbyÏbystanders€were€exposed€to€danger.Ð ` x` x ÐÓ¯ÁÓÌòòId.€óóat€505òò,€óó649€A.2d€at€350„51.Ð d Ðà  àNot€one€of€the€five€factors€that€we€specifically€identified€in€òòAlbrechtóó€is€present€in€thisÐ d Ðcase.€€The€first€factor€we€noted€in€òòAlbrecht€óówas€the€drawing€and€racking€of€a€shotgun€fittedÐ d Ðwith€a€bandolier.€€Sergeant€Pagotto,€however,€drew€a€standard€issue€police€handgun€with€noÏalterations.€€The€second€factor€in€òòAlbrechtóó€was€bringing€the€gun€to€bear€on€the€victim.€€TheÐ d ÐState€produced€no€evidence€that€Officer€Pagotto€was€aiming€his€gun€at€Preston€Barnes€whenÏit€discharged.׃O×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€third€factor€we€found€of€particular€importance€in€òòAlbrechtóó€wasÐ d" ÐAlbrechtððs€placement€of€his€trigger€finger€on€the€almost€universally€prohibited€position€ofÏdirectly€on€the€trigger€of€the€gun.€€Officer€Pagotto,€in€contrast,€had€his€finger€on€the€almostÏuniversally€accepted€position€of€the€slide€of€the€gun.€€The€fourth€factor€was€the€fact€thatÐ d("" ÐOfficer€Albrecht€had€ascertained€that€the€victim,€Rebecca€¢Garnett£,€was€not€armed€and€noÏlonger€presented€a€threat€to€him€at€the€time€his€gun€discharged.€€Preston€Barnes,€however,Ïstill€presented€a€substantial€threat€to€Officer€Pagotto.€€Barnes€was€inside€a€car€with€his€handsÏhidden€from€view,€and€was€in€the€midst€of€an€escape€attempt€when€Officer€Pagottoððs€gunÏdischarged.€€The€final€key€factor€we€noted€in€òòAlbrechtóó€was€that€several€adults€and€childrenÐ d Ðwere€standing€directly€behind€the€victim€when€she€was€shot.€€The€confrontation€in€this€case,Ïby€contrast,€took€place€at€night€on€an€empty€city€street.€€Based€on€these€distinctions,€theÏCourt€of€Special€Appeals€concluded:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThis€case,€key€factor€by€key€factor,€is€the€diametricÏopposite€of€òòAlbrechtóó.€€The€contrast,€moreover,€highlights€theÐ d Ðdeficiency€of€the€evidence€of€gross€negligence€in€this€case.ÏEven€in€òòAlbrechtóó€the€evidence€was€close.€€Here,€it€did€not€getÐ d Ðclose.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓËÓòòPagottoóó,€127€Md.€App.€at€334,€732€A.2d€at€953.€€We€agree€with€the€intermediate€appellateÐ d Ðcourt€and€find€that€the€Stateððs€reliance€on€òòAlbrechtóó€to€sustain€its€convictions€against€OfficerÐ d ÐPagotto€is€misplaced.Ìà  àThe€Supreme€Court€has€explained,€albeit€in€the€context€of€a€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983€action,Ïbut€equally€apposite€herein,€the€proper€prospective€from€which€we€must€view€a€policeÏofficerððs€use€of€force:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€ð ðreasonablenessðð€of€a€particular€use€of€force€must€beÏjudged€from€the€perspective€of€a€reasonable€officer€on€theÏscene,€rather€than€with€the€20/20€vision€of€hindsight.€.€.€.WithÏrespect€to€a€claim€of€excessive€force,€the€same€standard€ofÏreasonableness€at€the€moment€applies:€ð ðNot€every€push€orÏshove,€even€if€it€may€later€seem€unnecessary€in€the€peace€of€aÐ d-'' Ðjudgeððs€chambers,ðð€violates€the€Fourth€Amendment.€€TheÏcalculus€of€reasonableness€must€embody€allowance€for€the€factÏthat€police€officers€are€often€forced€to€make€split„secondÏjudgments„„in€circumstances€that€are€tense,€uncertain,€andÏrapidly€evolving„„about€the€amount€of€force€that€is€necessary€inÏa€particular€situation.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ~ÎÓòòGraham€v.€Conneróó,€490€U.S.€386,€396„97,€109€S.€Ct.€1865,€104€L.€Ed.€2d€443€(1989)Ð d  Ð(internal€citations€omitted).Ìà  àIn€hindsight,€perhaps€Sergeant€Pagotto€should€have€acted€differently€on€the€night€ofÏFebruary€7,€1996.€€His€actions€ð ðin€circumstances€that€are€tense,€uncertain,€and€rapidlyÏevolvingðð€may€even€amount€to€ordinary€civil€negligence,€but€they€are€not€such€a€grossÏdeviation€from€the€actions€of€an€ordinary€police€officer€similarly€situated€so€as€to€evidenceÏthe€ð ðwanton€or€reckless€disregard€for€human€lifeðð€necessary€to€support€a€conviction€in€thisÏcase.€€We€hold,€therefore,€that€Sergeant€Pagottoððs€conduct€cannot,€as€a€matter€of€law,€riseÏto€the€level€of€gross€negligence.€€His€convictions€for€involuntary€manslaughter€and€recklessÏendangerment€must€be€reversed.ÌÒÀ°ÒÓÓòòJUDGMENT€OF€THE€COURT€OF€SPECIALÐ d! ÐAPPEALS€AFFIRMED.€€COSTS€TO€BE€PAIDÏBY€THE€MAYOR€AND€CITY€COUNCIL€OFÏBALTIMORE.óóñ#ñÐ d$ ÐÌÌñ#ññ#ñÒ°ÀÒñ#ññ#ñÌñ#ññ#ñDissenting€Opinion€follows:ñ#ññ#ñÌÌÌÌÌÐ d-'' ÐÑ÷*Ñâ âØØâ âÑ  Ññ#ññ#ñÔ_ÔÑ€5ÅÑÔ‡XÞX‹ŠŠžÔÌÌÓÓÔ#†ŠŠž‹XXÞÖ#ÔDissenting€opinion€by€Bell,€C.J.Ð <Ø Ðà  àThe€majority€today€decides€that€evidence€pertaining€to€an€incident,€in€which€PrestonÏBarnes€was€killed€allegedly€as€the€result€of€the€violation,€by€police€officer€Stephen€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_ÔÏ(ð ðthe€respondentðð),€of€three€police€departmental€guidelines;€was€legally€insufficient€toÏsustain€the€jury€verdict€convicting€the€respondent€of€involuntary€manslaughter€and€twoÏcounts€of€reckless€endangerment.€€To€reach€its€decision,€the€majority€purports€not€to€haveÏweighed€the€evidence,€but€to€have€neutrally€concluded€that€the€respondentððs€conduct,€judgedÏfrom€the€perspective€of€a€reasonable€police€officer,€similarly€situated,€was€neither€grosslyÏnegligent€nor€reckless.€€òòSeeóó€__€Md.€__,€__,€__€A.2d€__,€__€(2000)€[slip€op.€at€__].Ð <Ø Ðà  àThe€respondentððs€conduct€as€a€police€officer€is€directly€in€question€here.ñ#ññ#ñØØñ#ññ#ñ׃@×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€theÐ <Ø Ðnight€of€February€7,€1996€the€respondent€conducted€a€vehicle€stop€of€a€car€being€driven€byÏPreston€Barnes.€€The€respondent€testified€that€he€thought€the€car€may€have€been€stolenÏbecause€of€the€placement€of€the€license€plate€tag.€€The€respondent€also€testified€that,€at€aboutÏfive€steps€from€the€vehicle,€he€saw€activity€that€caused€him€to€fear€for€his€safety€andÏtherefore€draw€his€weapon.€€Thus,€he€approached€Preston€Barnes,€with€his€service€weaponÏdrawn,€and€instructed€Mr.€Barnes€to€stop€the€now€drifting€vehicle.€€This€method€of€approachÏwas€referred€to€as€ð ðclosing€on€the€suspect.ððÐ <(Ø!" ÐÑ5ÅÑâ âÑ8€ÞXXdìXXdì8ÑØØâ âÑ  Ññ#ññ#ñÛÛñ#ññ#ñà  àSubsequently,€when€Preston€Barnes€ignored€the€respondentððs€instructions€to€stop€theÐ ° Ðvehicle,€the€respondent€then€reached€into€the€vehicle€and€attempted€to€extricate€Mr.€BarnesÏwith€his€free€hand.€€This€method€of€extrication€was€referred€to€as€a€ð ðcontrol€tactic.ðð€€Ìà  àAt€some€point€during€the€control€tactic,€the€respondentððs€weapon€discharged€and€Mr.ÏBarnes€was€fatally€wounded.€€An€autopsy€revealed€that€Mr.€Barnes€was€wounded€whileÏeither€placing€his€hands€up€defensively€to€protect€his€face€from€an€onslaught,€or€placingÏthem€on€the€steering€wheel€in€plain€view€of€the€respondent.€€Ìà  àThe€respondent€was€charged€with€violation€of€three€police€departmental€guidelines:Ïclosing€on€a€suspect€with€a€drawn€weapon;€attempting€to€control€a€suspect€with€one€hand,Ïwith€his€weapon€drawn;€and€improper€placement€of€his€finger€on€the€weaponððs€trigger,Ïrather€than€its€trigger€guard.€€In€Maryland,€a€violation€of€police€guidelines€òòmayóó€be€the€basisÐ ° Ðfor€a€criminal€prosecution,€which€may,€in€turn,€result€in€a€criminal€conviction.€€òòSeeóó€òòAlbrechtÐ ° Ðv.€Stateóó,€336€Md.€475,€502„03,€649€A.2d€336,€349€(1994)€(holding€that€police€officer€couldÐ ° Ðbe€held€criminally€liable€for€conduct€not€in€compliance€with€standard€police€guidelines,Ïprocedures€or€practices).€€Thus,€to€be€sure,€while€a€violation€of€police€guidelines€is€notÏnegligence€òòperóó€òòseóó,€it€is€a€factor€to€be€considered€in€determining€the€reasonableness€of€policeÐ °" Ðconduct.€€òòSeeóó€òòWilliams€v.€Mayor€&€City€Council€of€Baltimoreóó,€359€Md.€101,€139„40,€753Ð °$  ÐA.2d€41,€61„62€(2000);€òòAlbrechtóó,€336€Md.€at€502„03,€649€A.2d€at€349„50;€òòBoyer€v.€Stateóó,Ð °&"" Ð323€Md.€558,€591,€594€A.2d€121,€137€(1991);€òòLudwig€v.€Andersonóó,€54€F.3d€465,€472€(8thÐ °($$ ÐCir.€1995);€òòSamples€v.€City€of€Atlantaóó,€916€F.2d€1548,€1551€(11th€Cir.€1990);€òòÔ_Ô¢Kladis£Ô_Ô€v.Ð °*&& ÐÔ_Ô¢Brezek£Ô_Ôóó,€823€F.2d€1014,€1019€(7th€Cir.€1987);€òòÔ_Ô¢Peraza£Ô_Ô€v.€Ô_Ô¢Delameter£Ô_Ôóó,€722€F.2d€1455,€1456€(9thÐ ° ÐCir.€1984).Ô_Ԣ׃E×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£Ô_Ô€€Ð ° Ðà  àAs€to€the€first€violation,€it€was€alleged€that€closing€on€a€suspect€could€result,€as€it€didÏin€this€case,€in€a€discharge€of€the€weapon,€thereby€killing€the€suspect.€€The€second€allegedÏviolation€was€charged€because€officers€were€taught€to€control€suspects€with€two€hands€andÏmoreover,€in€a€vehicle€situation,€attempting€a€control€tactic€with€a€drawn€weaponÏunnecessarily€endangered€all€passengers€in€the€vehicle.€€Finally,€Baltimore€City€PoliceÏDepartment€guidelines€specifically€mandate€that€a€police€officerððs€trigger€finger€be€placedÏunder€the€trigger€guard,€in€order€to€prevent€an€ð ðaccidentalðð€discharge€and,€consequently,€theÏâ âpossibility€of€an€unnecessary€killing.Ð ° Ðà  àThe€majority€quickly€dismisses€each€of€alleged€violations€of€police€guidelines.€Ïâ âRegarding€closing€with€a€drawn€weapon,€the€majority€adopts€the€view€of€the€Court€ofÏSpecial€Appeals€that€the€respondent€approached€an€inherently€dangerous€situation€and€if,€ð ðinÏa€stress„laden€situation€and€for€his€own€self„protection€Sergeant€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô€violated€aÏdepartmental€guideline,€he€did€not€thereby€commit€an€act€of€gross€negligence.ðð€€òòÔ_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô€v.Ð °  ÐStateóó,€127€Md.€App.€271,€318,€732€A.2d€920,€945€(1999).€€As€to€the€one„armed€vehicularÐ °  Ðextrication€attempt,€the€majority€again€embraces€the€intermediate€appellate€courtððs€position:ÓÓ¹Ó XÓÓ XÓð ðThe€testimony€of€both€Major€Ô_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô€and€Sergeant€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô€dealt€with€theÏsubject€of€vehicular€extrication€as€an€abstract€academic€or€training€exercise.€ÏSelf„evidently,€one€can€wrestle€with€an€opponent€more€effectively€with€twoÏhands€than€one.€€Thatððs€the€school€situation.€€They€analyzed€the€problem€as€ifÏSergeant€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô€had€moved€forward€òòabóó€òòinitioóó€with€a€pre„formed€andÐ ° Ðdeliberate€plan€to€perform€a€one„armed€vehicular€extrication.€€Their€opinionsÏhad€no€pertinence€to€an€instinctive,€split„second€reaction,€actual€orÏhypothetical,€where€the€right€hand€is€already€holding€a€weapon€and€where€aÏcar€door€suddenly€opens,€a€foot€or€two€away,€in€front€of€oneððs€face.€€TheÏinstantaneous€reaction€either€to€ððmove€into€the€ambushðð€or€to€attempt€to€retreatÏto€cover€of€the€police€cruiser€is€something€that€is€not€concerned€with€theÏschoolroom€paradigm€of€a€model€vehicular€extrication.ððÌÌÓ X¡íÓÓ X“íÓÓ€íÓòòÔ_ÔPagottoÔ_Ôóó,€127€Md.€App.€at€320„22,€732€A.2d€at€946„47.€€On€the€last€issue,€the€respondentððsÐ ° Ðplacement€of€his€trigger€finger€on€the€slide€of€his€service€weapon„€and€ultimately€the€trigger,Ïthe€majority€concludes€that€because€some€police€departments€permit€that€finger€placement,Ïthen€the€conduct€cannot€be€reckless€or€negligent.Ô_Ԣ׃8×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£Ô_ԀР°$  Ðœà  àI€cannot€agree€with€the€majority.€€Rather€than€review€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidenceÏas€it€is€charged€with€doing,€it€improperly€weighs€the€evidence€considered€by€the€jury.€Ïâ âAlthough€appellate€courts€have€the€power€and€are€now€expected€to€ð ðpass€upon€[review]€›theÐ ° Ðsufficiency€of€the€evidence€to€sustain€a€conviction,ðð€€òòMd.€Const.€art.€23óó,Ô_Ôñ#ñ¢×ƒ9×ñ#ññ#ñ׃×ñ#ñÝ ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£Ô_Ô€that€review€doesÐ ° Ðâ ânot€involve€weighing€the€evidence.€€When€an€appellate€court€reviews€the€sufficiency€of€theÏevidence€needed€to€sustain€a€conviction€obtained€as€the€result€of€a€criminal€trial,€rather€thanÏmeasuring€the€weight€of€the€evidence€to€ascertain€whether€the€State€has€proved€its€caseÏbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt,€it€determines€whether€there€was€òòanyóó€relevant€evidenceÐ °  Ðconsidered€by€the€jury€which€would€sustain€a€conviction.€€òòSeeóó€òòÔ_ÔBrileyÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€212€Md.€445,Ð °  Ð129€A.2d€689€(1957);€òòClarke€v.€Stateóó,€238€Md.€11,€207€A.2d€456€(1965);€òòÔ_ÔPressleyÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,Ð °  Ð244€Md.€664,€224€A.2d€866€(1966);€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔDeversÔ_Ôóó,€260€Md.€360,€272€A.2d€794,€òòcert.Ð °  Ðdeniedóó,€404€U.S.€824,€92€S.€Ct.€50,€30€L.€Ed.€2d€52€(1971),€òòoverruled€in€part€byóó,€òòIn€reÐ ° ÐPetition€for€Writ€of€Prohibitionóó,€312€Md.€280,€539€A.2d€664€(1988).€€Indeed,€as€even€theÐ ° Ðmajority€acknowledged,€review€by€the€appellate€court€is€limited€to€viewing€the€evidence€inÏthe€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,€to€ascertain€whether€ð ðòòanyóó€rational€trier€of€fact€couldÐ ° Ðhave€found€the€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòJackson€v.Ð ° ÐVirginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789,€61€L.€Ed.€2d€560€at€573€(1979);€òòBedfordÐ ° Ðv.€Stateóó,€293€Md.€172,€175,€443€A.2d€78,€80€(1982).€€Quite€recently,€this€Court€noted€that,Ð ° Ðin€reviewing€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€to€sustain€a€criminal€conviction,€ð ðòò[w]e€do€notÐ °  Ðmeasure€the€weight€of€the€evidenceóó;€rather,€our€concern€is€only€whether€the€verdict€wasÐ °" Ðsupported€by€sufficient€evidence,€direct€or€circumstantial,€which€could€fairly€convince€a€trierÐ °$  Ðof€fact€of€the€defendantððs€guilt€of€the€offenses€charged€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòTaylorÐ ° Ðv.€Stateóó,€346€Md.€452,€457,€697€A.2d€462,€464€(1997)€(emphasis€added).Ð ° Ðà  àIn€a€review€of€the€sufficiency€of€evidence,€it€is€not€the€place€of€this€Court€to€weighÏthe€finder€of€facts€„€the€juryððs€„€credibility€determination€or€any€of€the€reasonable€inferencesÏflowing€therefrom.€€Indeed,€this€Court€should€only€òòmeasureóó,€and€not€weigh,€the€evidence€toÐ °  Ðensure€it€is€based€on€more€than€a€scintilla€of€evidence.€€As€such,€the€evidence€on€which€aÏconviction€rests€is€sufficient€if€it€measures€to€ð ðmore€than€surmise,€possibility,€or€conjectureÏ.€.€.€[where]€such€evidence€[is]€of€legal€probative€force€and€evidential€value.ðð€€òòRamsey€v.Ð ° ÐD.P.A.€Associatesóó,€265€Md.€319,€324,€289€A.2d€321,€324€(1972)€(internal€citations€omitted).Ð ° ÐòòSee€alsoóó€òòÔ_ÔArshackÔ_Ô€v.€Carl€M.€Freeman€Associates,€Inc.óó,€260€Md.€269,€276,€272€A.2d€30,€34Ð ° Ð(1971);€òòFowler€v.€Smithóó,€240€Md.€240,€247,€213€A.2d€549,€554€(1965).Ð ° Ðà  àNeither€does€an€appellate€court€weigh€a€witnessðð€expert€testimony€where€the€ð ðfactsÏupon€which€an€expert€bases€his€opinion€.€.€.€permit€reasonably€accurate€conclusions€asÏdistinguished€from€mere€conjecture€or€guess.ðð€€òòSeeóó€òòSippio€v.€Stateóó,€350€Md.€633,€653,€714Ð ° ÐA.2d€864,€874€(1998);€òòState€Health€Dep.ððt€v.€Walkeróó,€238€Md.€512,€520,€209€A.2d€555,€559„Ð °  Ð60€(1965).€€It€is€then,€according€to€òòSimmons€v.€Stateóó,€313€Md.€33,€42,€542€A.2d€1258,€1262Ð °" Ð(198ÓÞ4Ó8):ÌÓâÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ðproper€to€lay€before€the€jury€all€the€facts,€which€are€necessary€to€enable€themÏto€form€a€judgment€on€the€matters€in€issue;€and€when€the€subject€underÏinvestigation€requires€special€skill€and€knowledge,€they€may€be€aided€by€theÏopinion€of€persons€whose€pursuits€or€studies€or€experience,€have€given€themÏa€familiarity€with€the€matter€in€hand.ððÌâ âÐ °*&& ÐÓ X ÓÓ XÓÓ.Óà  àTherefore,€if€a€juryððs€judgment€of€conviction€is€supported€by€the€testimony€of€aÏâ âqualified€expert,€ordinarily€the€evidence€is€sufficient.€€òòSeeóó€òòJewell€v.€Stateóó,€216€Md.€110,€112,Ð ° Ð139€A.2d€707,€708€(1958)€(stating€that€expert€evidence€establishing€value€of€stolen€propertyÏwas€sufficient€basis€for€conviction€of€grand€larceny);€òòCook€v.€Stateóó,€84€Md.€App.€122,€133,Ð °  Ð578€A.2d€283,€288€(1990),€òòcert.€deniedóó,€321€Md.€502,€583€A.2d€276€(1991)€(opining€thatÐ °  Ðexpert€testimony€of€police€officer€permitted€jury€to€conclude€conspiracy€to€distribute€cocaineÏexisted€and€that€appellants€exercised€joint€and€constructive€possession€of€cocaine);€òòSuttonÐ °  Ðv.€Stateóó,€4€Md.€App.€70,€72,€241€A.2d€145,€146€(1968)€(per€curiam),€òòcert.€deniedóó,€251€Md.Ð ° Ð752€(1968)€(holding€testimony€of€police€handwriting€expert€sufficient€to€convict);€òòcompareóóÐ ° ÐòòDavis€v.€Stateóó,€100€Md.€App.€369,€389„40€(1994)€(deciding€expert€opinion€based€solely€onÐ ° Ðcircumstantial€physical€evidence,€not€enough€to€support€conviction,€notwithstanding€thatÏconviction€may€rest€on€circumstantial€evidence€alone);€òòbut€seeóó,€òòU.S.€v.€Duckóó,€423€F.2d€1200Ð ° Ð(4th€Cir.€1970)€(per€curiam)€(holding€that€testimony€of€handwriting€expert,€standing€alone,Ïwas€sufficient€to€support€defendantððs€conviction€for€forging€endorsement€on€United€StatesÏTreasurerððs€check).Ìà  àOnce€a€jury€has€performed€its€task€and€deliberately€decided€to€convict,€appellateÏcourts€should€be€slow€to€second€guess€that€decision.€€To€be€sure,€a€jury€verdict€that€is€basedÏon€insufficient€evidence€may€be€overturned,€but€the€case€is€rare€indeed,€usually€involvingÏjury€instructions€that€are€inadequate.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòRichmond€v.€Stateóó,€330€Md.€223,€237,€623Ð °($$ ÐA.2d€630,€636€(1993)€(failing€to€instruct€jury€that€prosecution€was€required€to€prove€specificÐ °*&& Ðintent,€ð ðresulted€in€a€guilty€verdict€that€otherwise€would€not€have€been€renderedðð);€òòFranklinÐ ° Ðv.€Stateóó,€319€Md.€116,€571€A.2d€1208€(1990)€(overturning€conviction€because€juryÐ ° Ðinstruction€that€specific€intent€to€kill€was€not€required€to€establish€crime€of€assault€withÏintent€to€murder,€was€clearly€erroneous);€òòState€v.€Hutchinsonóó,€287€Md.€198,€205,€411€A.2dÐ °  Ð1035,€1039€(1980)€(reversing€conviction€because€jury€not€instructed€it€could€find€defendantÏnot€guilty€where€ð ðthe€error€was€likely€to€unduly€influence€the€jury€and€thereby€deprive€theÏdefendant€of€a€fair€trialðð).€€Ìà  àThere€are€instances,€of€course,€where€this€Court€has€overturned€a€criminal€convictionÏbecause€of€insufficient€evidence.€€In€òòTaylor€v.€Stateóó,€346€Md.€452,€697€A.2d€462€(1997),€aÐ ° Ðconviction€was€reversed€because,€ð ðany€finding€that€[defendant]€was€in€possession€ofÏmarijuana€could€be€based€on€no€more€than€speculation€or€conjecture.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€459,€697€A.2dÐ ° Ðat€465.€€Judge€Raker,€for€the€court,€ÓüAÓfurther€opined€that:ÌÓ`ÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ðCircumstantial€evidence€may€support€a€conviction€if€the€circumstances,€takenÏtogether,€do€not€require€the€trier€of€fact€to€resort€to€speculation€or€conjecture,Ïbut€ðð[c]ircumstantial€evidence€which€merely€arouses€suspicion€or€leaves€roomÏfor€conjecture€is€obviously€insufficient.€€It€must€do€more€than€raise€theÏpossibility€of€guilt€or€even€the€probability€of€guilt.€€[I]t€must€.€.€.€afford€theÏbasis€for€an€inference€of€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ððððÌÌÓ X¯ÓÓ X¡ÓÓ½ÓòòId.óó€at€458,€697€A.2d€at€465€(internal€citation€to€treatise€omitted).€€Ð °" Ðà  àòòConyers€v.€Stateóó,€345€Md.€525,€693€A.2d€781€(1997),€is€another€example€of€thisÐ °$  ÐCourtððs€rare€reversal€of€a€jury€verdict€on€the€basis€of€the€insufficiency€of€criminal€evidence.€ÏThere,€the€Court€reversed€the€defendantððs€conviction€for€burglary,€concluding€that€the€StateÏfailed€to€produce€any€evidence€of€an€actual€breaking€and€there€was€ð ðeven€less€[constructive]Ð °*&& Ðevidence€upon€which€a€jury€could€base€an€inference€that€Appellantððs€entrance€into€the€houseÏwas€gained€by€ððartifice,€fraud,€conspiracy€or€threats.ðððð€€òòId.óó€at€558,€693€A.2d€781,€796;€òòseeÐ ° Ðalsoóó€òòÔ_ÔOkenÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€327€Md.€628,€663,€612€A.2d€258,€275€(1992)€(reversing€convictionÐ ° Ðbecause€evidence€of€breaking€was€insufficient).€€Plainly€put,€in€a€determination€ofÏð ðinsufficiency€of€evidence€it€is€necessary€to€show€that€there€was€òònoóó€legally€sufficientÐ °  Ðevidence€or€inferences€drawable€therefrom€on€which€the€jury€could€find€a€defendant€guiltyÏbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€òòWilson€v.€Stateóó,€261€Md.€551,€563,€276€A.2d€214,€220€(1971)Ð °  Ð(emphasis€added).€€This€is€so€because,€as€we€pointed€out€in€òòGore€v.€Stateóó,€309€Md.€203,€214,Ð ° Ð522€A.2d€1338,€1348€(1987),€òòcitingóó€òòTalley€v.€Dept.€of€Correctionsóó,€230€Md.€22,€28„29,€185Ð ° ÐA.2d€352,€356€(1962),€ð ðthe€individual€and€total€weight€assigned€to€the€evidence€is€within€theÏexclusive€province€of€the€jury.ðð€€òòSee€alsoóó€J.€Wigmore,€òòEvidenceóó€ðð€2251€(Chadborne€rev.Ð ° Ð1981).€Ìà  àThe€majority€correctly€points€out€that,€for€an€accused€police€officerððs€conduct€toÏamount€to€gross€negligence,€it€must€manifest,€under€the€circumstances,€such€a€departureÏfrom€that€of€a€reasonable€police€officer€similarly€situated,€so€as€to€amount€to€a€disregard€ofÏthe€consequences€and€an€indifference€to€the€rights€of€others.€€òòSeeóó€òòAlbrecht€v.€Stateóó,€336€Md.Ð °" Ð475,€501,€649€A.2d€336,€349€(1994);€òòDuren€v.€Stateóó,€203€Md.€584,€590,€102€A.2d€277,€280Ð °$  Ð(1954).€€In€this€case,€viewed€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution,€the€evidence,Ïconsisting€of€expert€testimony€and€inferences€drawable€therefrom,€clearly€is€legallyÏsufficient.€€This€simply€is€not€a€case€in€which€the€jury€was€left€to€speculate€or€guess€eitherÐ °*&& Ðas€to€the€respondentððs€conduct€or€the€quality€of€that€conduct.€€The€evidence€clearly€addressedÏboth€issues,€and€a€jury€could€have€found€the€respondent€grossly€negligent€in€failing€toÏcomply€with€the€guidelines€of€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department.€Ìà  àAt€trial,€no€less€than€thirteen€witnesses,€with€six€of€them,€òòi.e.óó,€Major€Ô_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô,Ð °  ÐMajor€France,€Sergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€Key,€qualified€andÏtestifying€as€experts,€provided€evidence€regarding€the€alleged€violations€of€the€policeÏguidelines.Ô_Ô׃:×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€€On€the€basis€of€that€testimony€alone,€the€jury€could€fairly€have€been€convincedÐ °  Ðthat€the€respondentððs€conduct€was€grossly€negligent€and€that€he€recklessly€endangered€theÏlives€of€Preston€Barnes€and€the€passengers€in€the€car€Mr.€Barnes€was€driving.Ô_Ô׃; ×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ÔÐ ° Ðà  àThe€record€is€replete€with€testimony€supporting€the€juryððs€verdict€convicting€theÏrespondent€on€the€basis€that€closing€on€Mr.€Barnes€with€his€service€weapon€drawn,׃=| ×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€was€aÐ ° Ðviolation,€recklessly€done,׃?D ×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€of€police€department€guidelines.€€Sgt.€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô€testified,€on€directÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔexaminaÔ_ÔÓ6VÓÔ_ÔtionÔ_Ô:ÌÓé&ÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ðIf€[Pagotto]€says€that€he€stopped€[the€car]€for€suspicion€of€being€stolen,€thisÏelevates€the€stop€from€not€a€routine,€unknown€risk€stop,€but€this€is€now€a€highÏrisk€stop€because€you€donððt€know€the€other€components€involved€in€this,Ïexactly€how€was€the€car€taken.€€To€me€[closing]€is€reckless€because€if€this€isÐ °  Ðnot€a€routine€or€unknown€risk€traffic€stop,€Sergeant€Pagotto€should€have€neverÏleft€his€vehicle€or€the€area€surrounding€his€vehicle.€ÌÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌÓB)Óð ðHis€closing€as€weððve€heard€in€here,€the€closing€of€the€distance,€should€haveÏceased€when€Sergeant€Pagotto€felt€that€something€was€wrong€with€this€trafficÏstop.€.€.€.€€I€thought€that€Sergeant€Pagotto€was€reckless€in€closing€the€distance,Ïin€having€his€gun€out.ððÌÌÓW'ÓÓ X;'ÓÓ XI'Óà  àSgt.€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô€was€corroborated€by€the€following€testimony€elicited€from€Major€FranceÏon€cross€examination:ÓÓ¹Ó XâSÓÓ XÔSÓð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€All€right,€and€what€is€the€training€of€Baltimore€City€policeÏofficers€on€closing€with€a€gun€in€your€hand?ÌÌÓS+ÓÓÓð ð[MAJ.€FRANCE]:€Closing€with€a€gun€in€your€hand€is€not€good€training.€€ItððsÏnot€part€of€our€training.ÌÌÓ@,Óð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Why€not?ÌÓÓð ð[MAJ.€FRANCE]:€I€believe€for€a€couple€of€reasons.€€One€it€limits€yourÏmobility.€€Two,€you€have€nowhere€else€to€go€if€you€need€the€other€hand€andÏitððs€a€situation€where€thereððs€lethal€force€required,€and,€three,€the€gun€can€beÏtaken€from€you€and€used€against€you.ððÌÌÓ Xf+ÓÓ Xx+ÓÓ-Óà  àSeveral€other€witnesses,€òòi.e.óó,€Officer€Wagner,€Major€Ô_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô,€Sergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô,€Mr.Ð ° ÐKey,€and€the€respondent€himself,€provided€further€corroboration.€€Officer€Wagner€testifiedÏthat€an€officer€is€not€supposed€to€close€with€a€gun€in€hand€because€ð ðthe€assailant€is€closeÏenough€he€can€take€that€gun€away€from€you€and€use€it€on€you€.€.€.€you€can€struggle,Ïwhatever.ðð€€Major€Ô_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô€testified€that€if€a€handgun€is€introduced€into€a€closingÏsituation,€then€you€ð ðòòunnecessarilyóó€endanger€the€police€officer,€the€subject€you€are€trying€toÐ °($$ Ðcontrol,€or€anyone€else.€€Sergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô€testified€that€closing€with€the€suspect€with€theÐ °*&& Ðweapon€drawn€may€end€up€in€a€ð ðstruggle€over€that€weapon,€a€discharge€of€that€weaponÏwhich€may€injure€or€kill€the€police€officer,€or€may€injure€and€kill€the€suspect€or€any€innocentÏbystanders€that€are€around.ðð€€Mr.€Key,€the€defense€witness,€even€stated€that€the€respondentÏshould€not€have€closed€with€his€weapon€drawn€because€it€was€ð ðnot€consistent€withÏguidelines.ððÌà  àMoreover,€there€was€testimony,€including€that€of€the€respondent,€indicating€that€theÏrespondent€was€familiar€with€the€applicable€guideline.€€Sergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô€testified€that€on€theÏ1994€in„service€training€test,€the€respondent€correctly€answered€the€question€of€whether€anÏofficer€should€close€on€a€suspect€with€a€drawn€weapon.€€Mr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô€testified€that€on€theÏ1995€in„service€training€test,€the€respondent€again€correctly€answered€the€question€regardingÏclosing€on€a€suspect.€€The€respondent€himself€conceded€his€actual€knowledge€of€theÏapplicable€ÓËeÓguideline:ÌÓ«5ÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ð[OFFICER€Ô_ÔPAGOTTOÔ_Ô]€(reading):€€An€officer€should€not€close€with€orÏtackle€a€running€suspect€but€should€direct€other€units€to€contain€him€or€her€.Ï.€.€.€€If€possible,€officers€should€not€close€with€suspects€to€frisk€or€handcuffÏuntil€backup€officers€arrive€to€assist€.€.€.€.€€Maintain€a€safe€reactionary€distance„Ïten€feet€or€more€when€the€pistol€is€drawn€.€.€.€.€€If€the€suspects€run,€pursueÏthem€but€do€not€close€with€or€tackle€them.ÌÌÓþ5Óð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Okay.€€Now,€are€you€familiar€with€those€concepts?Ìð ð[OFFICER€Ô_ÔPAGOTTOÔ_Ô]:€Yes,€sir.ÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*€¹Ó«8ÓÓÓð ð[OFFICER€Ô_ÔPAGOTTOÔ_Ô]€(reading€from€1995€in„service€training€test):€ClosingÏwith€a€suspect€with€your€weapon€drawn€could€very€likely€result€in€the€suspectÏgrabbing€the€officerððs€weapon?ÌÐ °+'' ÐÓÜ8Óð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€And€the€answer€to€that€is€what?Ìð ð[OFFICER€Ô_ÔPAGOTTOÔ_Ô]:€True.Ìð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€And€you€answered€it€correctly?Ìð ð[OFFICER€Ô_ÔPAGOTTOÔ_Ô]:€Yes,€sir.ðð¹Ó Xâ5ÓÓ Xð5Óà  àThere€was€also€evidence€that€supported€the€juryððs€finding€that€the€respondentÏattempted€a€one„armed€vehicular€extrication€in€violation€of€police€regulations.€€MajorÏÔ_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô,€on€direct€examination,€testified€why€a€one„armed€vehicular€extrication€was,€andÏis,€ÓHnÓimproper:ÌÓƒ<ÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Was€part€of€the€training€[you€provided€to€defendant]Ïever€to€use€or€hold€a€handgun€in€one€hand€while€applying€a€defense€tactic?ÌÌð ð[MAJ.€Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€€No,€sir.ÌÌð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Why€is€that?ÌÌÓÕ<ÓÓÓð ð[MAJ.€Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€€No.€€Because€all€the€techniques€I€know€that€I€taughtÏrequired€two€hands.€€Plus,€if€you€enter€the€handgun€into€the€equation,€youÏunnecessarily€endanger€the€police€officer,€the€subject€you€are€trying€to€control,Ïor€anyone€else.ÌÌÓE>ÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Now€would€this€training€be€altered€in€that€aspectÏwhether€the€person€who€the€defense€tactic€is€being€applied€to€is€either€on€theÏstreet€or€in€a€vehicle?ÌÌÓ‡?Óð ð[MAJ.€Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€No,€sir.ÌÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€If€you€have€a€gun€in€your€hand€and€you€intend€toÏremove€a€driver€from€a€vehicle€through€the€use€of€a€control€tactic,€what€shouldÏyou€do€with€the€weapon?ÌÌÓÃ@Óð ð[Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€You€should€holster€your€weapon.Ìð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€And€why€is€that?Ð °+'' ÐÓÓð ð[Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€Because€you€need€two€hands€to€gain€control€of€anÏindividual€or€to€apply€a€technique€as€taught€at€the€academy€as€I€taught.€€AndÏby€keeping€the€gun€in€the€situation,€you€are€unnecessarily€endangeringÏyourself.€€They€can€take€the€gun€from€you€just€as€well,€the€subject€could€takeÏthe€gun€from€you€just€as€well€as€you€using€it€on€them,€or€the€gun€could€go€offÏand€you€could€injure€innocent€bystanders,€yourself,€òòor€the€subjectóó.Ð °  ÐÌÓqBÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Okay.€€Would€that€fact€change€whether€the€vehicle€wasÏstationary€or€moving?ÌÌÓDÓð ð[Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€No,€sir.ÌÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€If€you€have€your€weapon€drawn€and€it€is€not€safe€toÏholster€it€in€order€to€use€the€control€tactic,€what€should€you€do?ÌÌÓwEÓÓÓð ð[Ô_ÔMELCAVAGEÔ_Ô]:€It€[sic]€is€not€safe€to€holster€them,€you€need€to€seek€coverÏand€call€for€assistance,€call€for€other€officers.€€You€have€to€disengage.ððÌÌÓ XÇ<ÓÓ X¹<ÓÓRFÓà  àThere€was€more€testimony€which€a€reasonable€trier€of€fact€could€have€relied€upon€inÏfinding€that€the€respondentððs€conduct€was€grossly€negligent.€€Sgt.€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô€added:ÓÓ¹Ó XÓÓ XÓð ðAt€one€point€in€time€in€Sergeant€Ô_ÔPagottoÔ_Ôððs€report€he€had€indicated€that€heÏreached€in€for€a€control€tactic€on€[Preston€Barnes].€€That€goes€beyond€modernÏpolice€standards.€€There€is€nothing€that€I€know€of€today€where€a€police€officerÏcontrols€someone€with€one€hand€and€with€a€gun€in€the€other.€€And€this€is€forÏa€reason.€€First€of€all,€itððs€difficult€to€control€somebody€with€one€hand.€€YouÏdonððt€know€of€their€physical€size,€strength,€abilities,€or€anything€else,€and€itÏgenerally€requires€two€hands.€€Also,€for€the€protection€of€the€firearm,€once€youÏtake€it€out€and€are€dealing€with€a€suspect,€you€donððt€want€to€present€that€gunÏto€that€person€because€that€weapon€can€now€be€used€against€you.€€If€anÏaltercation€were€to€occur€at€that€point€in€time,€it€could€not€only€deal€in€injuriesÏinvolving€the€person€you€are€dealing€with€or€other€innocent€parties€that€mayÏnot€be€in€that€conflict,€for€example,€passengers€in€the€vehicle€or€innocentÏcivilians€standing€away€from€this€particular€scene€.€.€.€.ððÌÌÓ0HÓÓ XCHÓÓ XQHÓMajor€Ô_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô€testified,€on€cross€examination,€that€approaching€an€open€car€door€withÏa€gun€in€hand€and€reaching€into€that€car€as€a€defense€tactic€is€a€violation€of€the€standard€andÏð ðis€not€in€keeping€with€the€training€of€the€police€academy.ðð€€Major€France€agreed:ÓÓÐ °+'' ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€In€other€words,€that€door€opens€and€he€canððt€see€everythingÏgoing€on€and€he€makes€a€decision€for€his€own€protection€to€get€that€guy€ð"ðÏand€to€reach€in€and€get€that€guy€for€his€own€protection,€you€really€think€thatððsÏa€problem?ÌÌð ð[MAJ.€FRANCE]:€I€have€a€problem€with€that.ððÌÌÓ XNÓÓ X NÓÓäMÓMr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô€opined€that€the€respondent€ð ðshould€have€never€been€up€to€that€vehicle€closeÏenough€to€where€heððs€reaching€in.€€I€believe€that€reaching€in€is€extremely€reckless€on€hisÏpart.ððÌà  àÓÓOne€of€the€passengers,€a€Mr.€Jackson,€testified€on€direct€examination:ÌÓ¨PÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€The€only€reason€why€Preston€was€scared,€[OfficerÏÔ_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô]€hopped€out€of€the€car€with€the€gun€in€his€hand.€€ÌÌÓ3QÓð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€The€car€was€drifting?Ìð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€He€had€to€hold€his€hands€on€the€steering€wheel.Ìð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€The€car€was€drifting€because€he€wanted€it€to€drift?Ìð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€No,€it€was€something€with€the€automatic.ÌÓÓð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Are€you€telling€me€that€he€couldnððt€put€his€foot€on€the€brakeÏand€stop€that€car?€ÌÌÓ2SÓð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€Yeah,€it€was€on€the€brake.ÌÓÓð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€Well,€then€why€was€the€car€moving€if€he€didnððt€want€it€toÏmove?ÌÌÓTÓð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€It€wasnððt€in€park.Ìð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€I€understand€„€the€car€„€you€understand€„Ìâ âð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€He€was€nervous.€€In€the€car€he€was€nervous.Ð °)%% ÐÓÓð ð[DEF.€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€€I€understand€he€was€nervous,€but€if€the€car€is€in€drive€andÏâ âhis€foot€is€off€the€gas€and€on€the€brake€wonððt€the€car€stop?ÌÌÓŸUÓð ð[MR.€JACKSON]:€€Maybe€because€he€thought€the€car€was€in€park.ððÌÓ X%QÓÓ XQÓà  àAdding€a€moving€vehicle€to€the€equation,€testimony€revealed,€makes€what€theÏrespondent€did€more€dangerous€and€reckless.׃C×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Sergeant€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô€addressed€the€issue€onÐ °  Ðdirect€ÓvŠÓexamination:ÌÓ*XÓÓ XÓÓ XÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Sergeant€Ô_ÔVittetoeÔ_Ô,€would€[your€opinion€that€OfficerÏÔ_ÔPagottoÔ_Ô€was€reckless€the€night€in€question]€be€altered€in€any€way€or€influencedÏif€there€were€evidence€in€the€case€that€Preston€Barnes€was€fleeing€from€theÏpolice€at€the€time€of€the€shooting?ÌÌÓXÓð ð[SGT.€Ô_ÔVITTETOEÔ_Ô]:€Yes,€sir,€it€would€change.Ìð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€And€howððs€that?ÌÓÓð ð[SGT.€Ô_ÔVITTETOEÔ_Ô]:€First€of€all,€it€would€worsen.€€I€would€feel€that€hisÏactions€would€be€more€so€reckless€and€against€his€agency€policy.€€His€policyÏor€guidelines€do€indicate€that€they€are€not€supposed€to€chase€after€someoneÏfleeing.€€Yes,€they€are€to€observe€them€and€do€certain€things€but€not€to€chaseÏthem,€particularly€with€your€gun€out.€€So€I€would€look€at€that€as€being€evenÏmore€so€reckless€than€my€previous€statement.ððÓµZÓÌÓ XqXÓÓ XcXÓà  àNor€is€there€evidence€that€Mr.€Barnes€did€anything€justifying€the€respondentððsÏactions.€€Mr.€Barnesðð€hands€were€visible€at€all€times€after€the€respondent€approached€the€car.€ÏMr.€Jackson€testified€that€even€when€the€respondent€opened€the€car€door,׃D×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Mr.€Barnes€onlyÐ °" Ðplaced€his€hands€near€his€face€in€a€defensive€gesture.€€On€cross€examination,€Mr.€JacksonÏcontinued€to€assert€that€Preston€Barnesðð€hands€were€visible.׃F| ×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р° Ðà  àThis€testimony€was€corroborated€by€that€of€the€Deputy€Chief€Medical€Examiner.€ÏRegarding€the€location€of€Mr.€Barnesðð€hands€just€prior€to€being€shot€to€death,€he€testifiedÏthat€the€wound€path€was€both€consistent€with€Preston€Barnesðð€hands€being€on€the€steeringÏwheel€and€with€his€hands€up€to€protect€his€face.€Ìà  àThe€testimony€of€Officer€Wagner€regarding€his€actions€during€the€traffic€stop,€thatÏhe€never€drew€his€gun€and€neither€received€any€communication€from€the€respondentÏindicating€the€need€to€do€so,€is€both€relevant€and€telling.€€In€particular,€Officer€WagnerÏtestified:ÓÓ¹Ó XÓÓ XÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Was€there€any€activity€in€the€vehicle€that€you€couldÏobserve€that€would€cause€you€to€draw€your€weapon?Ð ° ЇÓµaÓÓÓð ð[OFFICER€WAGNER]:€There€[sic]€were€very€excited€and€moving,€but€noneÏto€make€me€draw€my€weapon,€no€.€.€.€.€ÌÌÓ±bÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€At€any€time€during€the€course€of€this€car€stop€did€youÏreceive€any€communication€from€the€defendant€that€would€indicate€you€shouldÏbe€concerned€or€draw€your€weapon?ÌÌÓJcÓð ð[OFFICER€WAGNER]:€No.ÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÓmdÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Is€there€any€practice€or€protocol€that€should€kick€inÏwhen€a€ð"ð€one€officer€in€a€team€of€two€makes€observations€on€the€street€thatÏwould€be€important€to€the€other€officer?ÌÌÓdÓÓÓð ð[OFFICER€WAGNER]:€The€officers€should€communicate€to€what€they€seeÏand€observe€in€the€vehicle.ÌÌÓ¯eÓÓÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€All€right.€€So€if€one€officer€sees€activity€that€he€believesÏis€suspicious€of€an€armed€individual€in€the€vehicle€such€that€he€draws€hisÏweapon,€that€should€be€communicated€to€the€partner?ÌÌÓ;fÓð ð[OFFICER€WAGNER]:€Should€be.ððÌÓ XÖaÓÓ XÈaÓà  àThe€jury€also€heard€testimony,€which€it€could€have€believed,€and€obviously€did,Ïregarding€the€third€allegation,€the€placement€of€the€respondentððs€trigger€finger€on€hisÏweaponððs€slide,€and€how€that€violation€of€the€guidelines€amounted€to€gross€negligence.€ÏMajor€Ô_ÔMelcavageÔ_Ô€testified€as€to€why€there€is€a€requirement€that€the€finger€be€placed€underÏthe€trigger€guard:€to€avoid€ð ðan€accidental€discharge,€shooting€the€weapon€off,€unnecessarilyÏinjuring€somebody.ðð€€He€explained€on€cross€examination,€the€reason€for€the€change€of€theÏrequirement€from€placing€the€finger€on€the€slide,׃G×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òòi.e.óó,€ð ðat€times€at€the€Police€Academy,Ð °($$ Ðthere€were€accidental€discharges€with€them,€with€them€like€this€(indicating€placement).ðð¼à  àThe€State€also€elicited€testimony€from€Sergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô€regarding€his€expert€opinionÏthat€the€violation€of€the€finger€placement€regulation€was€the€cause€of€death€of€Mr.€Barnes:ÓÓ¹Ó XU˜ÓÓ Xg˜Óð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Sergeant€Ô_ÔMeierÔ_Ô,€do€you€have€an€opinion,€based€on€theÏstatement€rendered€by€the€defendant€in€this€case,€whether€his€actions€causedÏthe€death€of€Preston€Barnes?ÌÌÓíkÓð ð[Ô_ÔSGTÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMEIERÔ_Ô]:€Yes.Ìð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€What€is€it?ÌÓÓð ð[SGT.€Ô_ÔMEIERÔ_Ô]:€I€believe€his€actions€did€cause€the€death€of€Preston€BarnesÏby€having€his€finger€on€the€trigger€of€a€weapon€when€he€shouldnððt€have,€forÏone€thing,€and€closing€with€an€individual€that€he€felt€could€bring€great€harmÏor€even€death€to€him.ððÓÒmÓÌÓ XlÓÓ XlÓAnd€from€Mr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô,€the€following€testimony€was€elicited:ÓÓ¹Ó XÓÓ XÓð ð[STATEððS€Ô_ÔATTððYÔ_Ô]:€Mr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô,€if€the€defendant€had€his€finger€whereÏit€was€supposed€to€be€according€to€his€training,€this€discharge€never€wouldÏhave€taken€place?ÌÌÓ¡oÓð ð[MR.€Ô_ÔMEIKLEJOHNÔ_Ô]:€Itððs€my€opinion€that€your€statement€is€correct.ððÌÓ XÂoÓÓ X´oÓà  àFinally,€it€is€significant€that€there€was€evidence€from€which€the€jury€could€concludeÏthat€the€respondentððs€life€was€not€in€immediate€danger.€€Mr.€Ô_ÔMeiklejohnÔ_Ô€testified€to€readingÏthe€respondentððs€statement€and€seeing€ð ðnothing€that€shows€that€his€life€is€in€immediateÏdanger€of€death€or€serious€bodily€injury.ððÌà  àThus,€the€State€produced€evidence,€which,€if€accepted,€proved€that€the€respondentÏinitiated€the€vehicle€stop€in€question€on€an€admittedly€pre„textual€basis.€€Having€made€theÐ °'## Ðstop,€he€left€his€police€cruiser€and€closed€on€the€ð ðsuspectsðð€with€his€service€weapon€drawn.€ÏWhen€the€driver€of€the€car€failed€to€come€to€a€complete€stop€and,€in€fact,€attempted€to€flee,Ïthe€respondent,€with€gun€still€in€hand€and€his€finger€on€the€trigger,€opened€the€door€of€theÏdrifting€car€in€an€effort€to€effect€an€one„armed€vehicular€extrication.€€Certainly€theÏrespondentððs€conduct€„€closing€with€a€drawn€weapon,€attempting€a€one„armed€vehicularÏextrication€and€placing€his€finger€on€the€trigger€slide€rather€than€the€under€the€trigger€guard€„Ïviolated€departmental€guidelines€and,€based€on€expert€testimony,€was€reckless€and€criminallyÏnegligent.€€As€a€result€of€that€conduct,€Mr.€Barnes€was€shot€and€killed.€€The€jury€accordinglyÏwas€presented€with€ample€evidence€on€the€basis€of€which€it€could,€and€obviously€did,Ïconvict€the€respondent.Ô_Ô׃N×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ÔÐ ° ÐÐ ° Ðà  àAs€the€majority€and€I€agree,€the€conduct€of€the€respondent€must€be€viewed€from€theÏeyes€of€a€reasonable€similarly€situated€police€officer.€€In€this€case,€we€need€look€no€furtherÏthan€the€respondentððs€partner.€€Officer€Wagner,€who€was€present€on€the€night€in€question,Ïtestified€that€had€he€observed€dangerous€activity€then€he€would€have€ð ðdiscarded€myÏflashlight,€pulled€my€weapon€and€used€the€radio€that€I€had€to€call€for€additional€units€or€aÏuniform€backup.ðð€€Thus,€he€would€not€have€closed€on€the€ð ðsuspectsðð€with€a€drawn€policeÏweapon,€and€in€fact,€saw€no€need€to€ever€draw€his€weapon.€€Neither€would€he€have€openedÏthe€vehicle€door,€or€had€his€finger€on€the€trigger€of€his€weapon€while€attempting€a€one„¼armed€vehicular€extrication.Ìà  àThe€latest€statement€of€Maryland€law€in€this€area€is€òòAlbrechtóó,€òòsupraóó.€€In€òòAlbrechtóó,€thisÐ ° ÐCourt,€with€Judge€Raker€also€writing€for€the€majority,€upheld€the€conviction€of€a€policeÏofficer€who€killed€a€civilian€during€a€vehicle€stop,€following€however,€a€chase,€concludingÏthat€the€record€was€ð ðreplete€with€evidence€from€which€the€trial€court€could€have€concludedÏthat€Albrecht€did€not€comply€with€Montgomery€County€departmental€guidelines,€proceduresÏor€practices.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€502-03,€649€A.2d€at€349.€€As€in€òòAlbrechtóó,€ð ð[Ô_Ôu]ltimatelyÔ_Ô,€deadly€forceÐ °  Ðwas€used,€without€justification,€and€[Mr.€Barnes]€was€killed.€€[I]€conclude€that€sufficientÐ °" Ðevidence€was€presented€from€which€a€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€that€[theÏrespondentððs]€actions€on€[February€7,€1996],€in€their€totality,€were€both€grossly€negligent€andÏreckless.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€486,€649€A.2d€at€341.Ð ° Ðà  àTo€be€sure,€the€facts€and€circumstances€surrounding€the€police€shooting€in€òòAlbrechtóóÐ °  Ðdiffer€significantly€from€those€in€this€case.€€There,€Officer€Albrecht€and€Officer€ThomasÏresponded€to€the€scene€of€a€stabbing.€€When€they€arrived,€they€learned€that€the€suspects,€oneÏwhom€Albrecht€knew€by€name,€might€be€armed€and€had€fled€the€scene€in€a€green€ChevroletÏdriven€by€Rebecca€Ô_Ô¢Garnett£Ô_Ô.€€The€officers€spotted€the€green€Chevrolet€and€gave€chase.€ÏAlthough€they€lost€the€vehicle,€further€searching€revealed€it€parked€in€a€neighborhoodÏparking€lot.€€Exiting€his€cruiser,€Albrecht€yelled€ð ðStop!€Freeze!ðð€and,€at€that€time,€removedÏhis€customized€shotgun€from€its€rack€inside€his€vehicle,€immediately€placed€a€shotgun€shellÏin€the€chamber€and€ð ðrackedðð€the€shotgun€into€its€final€stage€of€firing€capability.€€He€thenÏaimed€the€shotgun€directly€at€Ô_Ô¢Garnett£Ô_Ô,€who€at€that€time€posed€no€threat€or€danger€to€any€otherÏperson.€€Taking€account€of€the€facts€and€circumstances€in€that€case,€òòi.e.óó,€Albrechtððs€drawingÐ ° Ðand€racking€of€a€shotgun€fitted€with€a€bandolier€and€bringing€it€to€bear,€with€his€ÓÓÓÓfinger€onÏthe€trigger,€on€an€unarmed€individual€who€did€not€present€a€threat€to€the€officers€or€any€thirdÏparties€and€in€a€situation€where€nearby€bystanders€were€exposed€to€danger,€we€rejected€ÏAlbrechtððs€argument€that€the€shooting€was€unintentional€and€thus€not€reckless.€€WeÏreasoned,€336€Md.€at€486,€649€A.2d€at€341:ÓxƒÓ¹Ó XÓÓ XÓð ð[Ô_Ô¢T]he£Ô_Ô€evidence€was€sufficient€to€establish€that,€notwithstanding€the€fact€thatÏRebecca€Ô_Ô¢Garnett£Ô_Ô€did€not€pose€any€danger€to€either€Albrecht€himself€or€to€thirdÏparties,€Ô_Ô¢Albrect£Ô_Ô€took€substantial€steps€to€use€deadly€force€against€her€„€to€wit,Ð °+'' Ðracking€his€shotgun€and€aiming€it,€with€his€finger€on€the€trigger,€at€Ô_ÔGarnettÔ_Ô.€ÏUltimately,€deadly€force€was€used,€without€justification,€and€Rebecca€Ô_ÔGarnettÔ_ÔÏwas€killed.€€We€conclude€that€sufficient€evidence€was€presented€from€whichÏa€rational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€that€Albrechtððs€actions€.€.€.€in€theirÏtotality,€were€both€grossly€negligent€and€reckless.ððÌÓ Xñ„ÓÓ Xã„ÓÌÓÓà  àThe€majority€notes€that,€although€ð ðthe€two€cases€are€facially€similar,€there€are€[fiveÏfactors€specifically€identified€in€òòAlbrechtóó]€that€are€not€present€in€this€case.ðð€€__€Md.€at€__,Ð °  Ð__€A.2d€at€__€[slip€op.€at€__].€€That€is€true,€of€course;€however,€that€is€also€to€be€expected.€ÏThese€cases€are€fact€specific€and€therefore€must€be€decided€on€their€unique€facts€andÏcircumstances.€€Consequently,€simply€because€all€of€the€same€facts€and€circumstances€thatÏinformed€the€Court€as€to€the€actions€of€Albrecht,€in€that€case,€do€not€exist€in€this€case,€doesÏnot€mean€that€the€reasoning€underlying€òòAlbrechtóó€does€not€apply€here.€€In€point€of€fact,€theÐ ° Ðrelevant€facts€and€circumstances€of€the€instant€case€include€the€placement€of€theÏrespondentððs€trigger€finger,€whether€the€victim€posed€a€threat€to€the€officer,€and€whether€theÏofficerððs€actions€exposed€others€to€danger,€factors€also€present€in€òòAlbrechtóó.€€Analyzing€theÐ ° Ðfacts€and€circumstances€of€this€case,€the€jury€could€have€concluded,€and€obviously€did,€thatÏthe€respondent€had€his€finger€on€the€trigger€of€his€service€weapon,€in€violation€ofÏdepartmental€guidelines;€that,€while€so€holding€the€weapon,€he€closed€on€the€stopped€car€andÏall€ð ðsuspects,ðð€in€violation€of€another€departmental€guideline;€and€that€he€tried€to€extricateÏone€ð ðsuspectðð€from€the€car€with€one€hand,€while€continuing€to€hold€the€weapon,€with€fingerÏon€the€trigger,€in€violation€of€yet€another€departmental€guideline.€€Because€there€wasÏevidence€that€Mr.€Barnesðð€hands€were€not€hidden€from€view,€and,€in€fact,€were€on€theÐ °*&& Ðsteering€wheel€or€the€dashboard,€the€jury€could€have€and€in€all€probability€did,€conclude€thatÏthe€two€passengers€in€the€car€driven€by€Mr.€Barnes€were€exposed€to€danger,€thereby€rejectingÏthe€ð ðfindingðð€made€by€the€majority€that€the€confrontation€ð ðtook€place€at€night€on€an€emptyÏstreet.ðð€€__€Md.€at€__,€__€A.2d€at€__€[slip€op.€at€__].Ìà  àThe€dissenter€in€òòAlbrechtóó€focused€on€the€aiming€of€the€gun€and€not€the€actualÐ °  Ðdischarge€thereof,€to€assert€that€in€the€split€second€before€the€gun€went€off€the€officer€wasÏnot€criminally€liable.€€òòId.óó€at€507,€649€A.2d€at€351€(Murphy,€C.J.,€dissenting).€€The€rationale,Ð °  Ðin€other€words,€was€that€we€should€ð ðfreeze€in€time€the€split€second€before€the€gun€went€offÏand€inquire€as€to€whether,€at€that€instant€Officer€Albrecht€could€have€been€found€guilty€ofÏgross€criminal€negligence€and€reckless€endangerment€or€not.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€508,€649€A.2d€at€352.€Ð ° ÐWe€rejected€that€argument,€òòid.óó€at€505,€649€A.2d€at€350;€it€was€wrong€then,€and€it€is€wrongÐ ° Ðnow.€€As€we€pointed€out€in€òòAlbrechtóó,€that€approach€ignores€the€facts€and€circumstances€thatÐ ° Ðinform€the€defendantððs€actions.€€òòId.óó€€As€related€to€that€case,€we€said,€it€ð ðignores€the€testimonyÐ ° Ðat€trial€.€.€.€and€particularly€that€on€the€day€in€question,€considering€the€facts€andÏcircumstances€facing€Albrecht,€he€should€not€have€had€his€finger€on€the€trigger,€but€ratherÏit€should€have€been€on€the€trigger€guard.ðð€€òòId.óóÐ °" Ðà  àJudge€Ô_ÔChasanowÔ_Ô,€concurring,€while€also€rejecting€the€freeze€frame€approach,€tookÏthe€analysis€a€step€further,€requiring€an€analysis€of€the€very€act€that€caused€the€ultimateÏinjury,€the€pulling€of€the€trigger,€ð ð[Ô_Ô¢b]ut£Ô_Ô€we€should€not€freeze€frame€and€stop€our€analysisÏbefore€the€trigger€was€pulled.€€We€cannot€access€Albrechtððs€culpability€in€taking€RebeccaÐ °*&& ÐÔ_Ô¢Garnett£Ô_Ôððs€life€and,€in€doing€so,€exclude€the€ultimate€act€that€took€her€life€„€pulling€theÏtrigger.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€506,€649€A.2d€at€351.€€He€went€on€to€explain:ÓGˆÓÐ ° ÐÓ XÓÓ XÓð ðThe€trial€judge€found€that€the€act€of€pulling€the€trigger€was€unintentional;€heÏdid€not€find€that€it€was€reasonable.€€The€intermediate€appellate€court€assumesÏthe€unintentional€shooting€is€a€non„negligent€shooting.€€Albrecht€did€notÏintentionally€pull€the€trigger,€but€the€trial€judge€was€justified€in€finding€heÏnegligently,€carelessly€or€even€recklessly€pulled€the€trigger.€€There€was€noÏexternal€cause€for€the€shotgun€discharge,€and€the€fact€that€Albrecht€may€haveÏbeen€ððstartled€into€pulling€the€triggerðð€of€a€loaded,€racked,€and€aimed€shotgunÏneed€not,€as€a€matter€of€law,€excuse€his€carelessness€in€doing€so.€€The€pullingÏof€the€trigger€could€be€found€to€be€a€careless€act€that,€when€considered€alongÏwith€all€the€antecedent€acts,€at€least€tips€the€scale€to€permit€a€finding€of€grossÏnegligence.ððÌÌÓ Xü—ÓÓ Xî—ÓòòÓÓId.óó€€This€applies€equally€well€to€the€facts€òòsubóó€òòjudiceóó.€€Particularly€in€this€case,€when€oneÐ ° Ðconsiders€that€the€respondentððs€service€weapon€was€equipped€with€three€safeties€thatÏprevented€it€from€firing€unless€the€trigger€was€pressed€with€10€ðð€pounds€of€pressure,€makingÏit€almost€impossible€to€discharge€if€dropped€or€struck€against€an€object.ÌÓb›Óà  àI€dissent.ñ#ññ#ñÌñ#ññ#ññ#ñDissentingñ#ññ#ñ