The former Maryland police chief who accused Pocomoke City of racism after he was fired without a public explanation has been indicted on charges of misconduct in office, the Baltimore Sun reports. Kelvin Sewell, 53, a retired Baltimore homicide detective who now works for the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office, and police Lt. Lynell Green both were indicted.
The indictments stem from a 2014 incident in which prosecutors allege that Sewell and Green interfered with the investigation of a car crash to benefit Douglas Matthews, a local corrections officer. The Pocomoke City Council fired Sewell in 2015 with no public explanation. The dismissal divided the town of 4,000. Sewell, Pocomoke City’s first black police chief, alleged that he was fired in retribution for defending two black officers who had complained about racism. Sewell and the officers are suing city and county officials in federal court, alleging racial discrimination. Sewell said he stood up for employees who had reported a racially hostile work environment, including officers watching “racially charged” videos in their presence and regularly using racial epithets.