Slapping random strangers, kicking suspects in the face, and sh***ing on beds during home raids: The shocking abuses cops commit on the job, retired Baltimore officer claims

  • Michael A Woods Jr, 35, served with Baltimore Police 2003-2014
  • He said abuses were so common he didn't fully understand it until he left
  • Claims officers faked statements, urinated on suspects' clothing
  • The stream of allegations were 'just the start', he told his Twitter followers
  • Baltimore Police said they will investigate claims, question the lack of details

By Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A retired Baltimore police officer has described the shocking abuses he claims to have seen other cops commit on the job.

Michael A Wood, 35, alleges he saw detectives kick suspects in the face, urinate on their beds during home raids, and illegally search people with no justification on a daily basis.

The allegations came in a slew of tweets on Wednesday as the former Marine slammed America's 'corrupt' policing system.

And he promised followers this is just the start: 'I'll do some each day so that we have time for [questions], reflections, and improvement inbetween (sic). The light of transparency will clean us up.' 

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'Revelations': Michael A Wood Jr, 35, took to Twitter with a slew of allegations about abuses his fellow cops committed on the job in Baltimore. He said the tweets are just the first of many as he fights for transparency

'Revelations': Michael A Wood Jr, 35, took to Twitter with a slew of allegations about abuses his fellow cops committed on the job in Baltimore. He said the tweets are just the first of many as he fights for transparency

Unrest: The tension between police and citizens in Baltimore was laid bare during the riots earlier this year

Unrest: The tension between police and citizens in Baltimore was laid bare during the riots earlier this year

Wood, a PhD candidate and author of police training manuals, served with the force from 2003 to January 2014, when an injury forced him into retirement.

His Twitter storm started: 'So here we go. I'm going to start Tweeting the things I've seen & participated in, in policing that is corrupt, intentional or not.'

First, he alleged: 'A detective slapping a completely innocent female in the face for bumping into him, coming out of a corner chicken store.

'Punting a handcuffed, face down, suspect in the face, after a foot chase. My handcuffs, not my boot or suspect.

'CCTV cameras turning as soon as a suspect is close to caught.' 

He added: 'P***ing and sh***ing inside suspects homes during raids, on their beds and clothes... jacking up and illegally searching thousands of people with no legal justification.

'Having other people write PC statements, who were never there because they could twist it into legality.

'Targeting 16-24 year old black males essentially because we arrest them more, perpetrating the circle of arresting them more.'  

The nine allegations attracted the attention of thousands of Twitter users, demanding names.

Wood responded: 'I'm one person relying on a flawed memory system. This is an indictment on the culture of the profession, not a witch-hunt. Sorry.'

He added: 'What's really hard to convey is that some things are so common place, they didn't register until I was on the other side.' 

Baltimore Police told the New York Daily News that the lack of specific names and places brings many of the allegations into question. 


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