Prince George’s County police officer Bryant Strong was sentenced to serve one year in jail and three more years of supervised probation for committing second-degree assault against a handcuffed man.

In May of this year, Strong was found guilty of second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment in connection with a 2019 traffic stop that left county resident Demonte Ward-Blake paralyzed from the neck down.

At the time the verdict was rendered,  Strong’s attorneys argued the incident that left Ward-Blake seriously injured was a “freak” and “unfortunate” accident after a stop for expired tags turned chaotic. But prosecutors said Strong intentionally lifted Ward-Blake’s feet from the ground and slammed him into the concrete.

Thursday, Judge Circuit Court Judge DaNeeka V. Cotton sentenced Strong to a total of 20 years, with all but one of them suspended, as long as he doesn’t violate his probation.  His attorney’s request to delay the start of incarceration pending appeal was denied, as was the request for home detention.

Legal representation for Strong was not available for comment at the time of publication.

Ward-Blake died in a 2020 District Heights shooting. But, his family alleges his prior injuries contributed to his death. 

The Ward-Blake family is still pursuing a $75 million civil suit against Bryant Strong and Prince George’s county. The suit addresses a systemic pattern of police brutality in Prince George’s County.