MARYLAND STATE POLICE NEWS BEAT: Dirtbag Deny Coursey dragged trooper with his pickup until dislodged by a well-placed bullet in his gut

MARYLAND STATE POLICE NEWS BEAT: Dirtbag Deny Coursey dragged trooper with his pickup until dislodged by a well-placed bullet in his gut

CHESTERTOWN, MD — After consultation with the Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney,  Maryland State Police investigators have charged the driver of a pickup who allegedly dragged a state trooper before being shot by that trooper early in the morning on April 4, 2020, during a traffic stop on the Eastern Shore.

The suspect is identified as Deny Richard Coursey, 44, (DOB 03/06/1976) of 205 Elm Street, Centreville, Md.  Coursey was charged by Maryland State Trooper M. Miller with:

• first degree assault,
• second degree assault,
• fleeing and eluding police,
• violation of the Governor’s Executive Order,
• obstructing and hindering,
• and reckless driving. 

He is being held without bond at the Queen Anne’s County Detention Center. A preliminary hearing is set for May 4, 2020 in Queen Anne’s District Court in Centreville.

The trooper is a four-year-veteran of the Maryland State Police.  He is assigned to road patrol duties at the Centreville Barrack.

Coursey was flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center where he was treated for a gunshot wound.  Coursey was released from the hospital later the same day and taken into custody by State Police investigators who returned him to the Centreville Barrack where he was later charged.

Police report that the trooper injured was also treated at Shock Trauma.  He was released after an examination and treatment and will be recovering from his injuries at home.

Police say that the preliminary investigation indicates that shortly before 3:00 a.m. on April 4, 2020, the trooper was on patrol in the area of the Rolph’s Wharf Marina at Rolph’s Wharf Road, near Chestertown.  He stopped a suspicious vehicle in the area of the marina and called in a description of a 2001 Chevrolet truck.

Minutes later, the trooper called for backup.  When units arrived, they found the trooper lying along the roadside and saw the suspect vehicle was not at the scene.

Trooper Spotted Drugs in Truck

Police say that the investigation indicates the trooper approached the truck on the passenger side and contacted the driver and sole occupant, later identified as Coursey.  While talking with Coursey, the trooper saw what appeared to be a small amount of a suspected controlled dangerous substance in the center console.

When the trooper confronted Coursey about this, he accelerated away, with the trooper being dragged by the vehicle.  The truck picked up speed as the trooper clung to the side.  The trooper repeatedly told the driver to stop but was ignored.  In fear for his life, the trooper fired his weapon toward the suspect.  At some point he became dislodged from the vehicle and fell where he was later found by backup troopers.

A Bullet Fire from The Trooper Being Dragged by Coursey’s Truck Found Its Mark in the Middle Torso

A lookout for the vehicle was broadcast and the vehicle was spotted by Queen Anne County Sheriff’s Office deputies.  A deputy reported the truck was driving through a field and eventually became stuck in a ditch.  Deputies and troopers took the suspect into custody and found he had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the middle torso.  Troopers administered immediate emergency care and EMS units responded to the scene.  The suspect was flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to Shock Trauma.

State Police say that investigators from the State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and crime scene technicians from the Forensic Sciences Division responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.  The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded and is leading the ongoing investigation, as is procedure in a trooper-involved shooting.  Upon completion, the criminal investigation will be presented to the Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Division investigators are also conducting an investigation due to the Trooper discharging his weapon.  This investigation is routine procedure following a use of deadly force by a trooper.

Recent court actions involving Coursey:

• Charged in Queen Anne’s District Court with reckless driving on Aug. 27, 2019 by Maryland State Trooper D. A. Pope, Deny Coursey was cited for failing to comply on Oct. 3, 2019.
• Deny Coursey was the defendant in a domestic violence action filed on Aug. 20, 2019 which was valid through Feb. 27, 2020 issued by a Queen Anne’s District Court Judge.
• Deny Coursey entered a guilty plea to driving while suspended on March 9, 2018 following his arrest by Maryland Trooper Megan Heun as he operated a 2003 Dodge truck on Rt. 18 at Chester River Beach.
• On Feb. 2, 2016, Dorchester County Sheriff Deputy Randall Lewis cited Deny Coursey for driving while suspended on Rt. 335 and Wallace Road. In Dorchester District Court on April 26, 2016, Coursey entered into a plea deal with the Dorchester County States Attorney and entered a guilty plea.
• On June 24, 2016, Maryland State Trooper D. Pope stopped Deny Richard Coursey as he operated a 1999 Dodge westbound on U.S. Rt. 50 prior to the Narrows and issued him a half dozen citations associated with operating with a suspended driver’s permit.  On Nov. 4, 2016, Queen Anne’s States Attorney Lance Richardson dropped all of the charges.
• A final order for domestic violence was issued on July 26, 2010 against Deny Coursey by a District Court Judge in Caroline County.
• In a plea deal on a drug distribution charge, Deny Coursey entered a guilty plea to possession of drugs and the distribution charge was dropped by the Queen Anne’s County States Attorney on Feb. 27, 2004.  THE DEAL: Coursey was sentenced to four years in prison with all but two years suspended. Of course, charges of driving while suspended were dropped as part of the deal.
• In Queen Anne’s Circuit Court on April 22, 2004, a 1994 Dodge Ram belonging to Coursey was seized in a forfeiture action as part of a settlement between the county government and Norma and Deny Coursey.

CENTREVILLE, MD. (Sept. 24, 2017) — Will the love linger after the fire goes out?  A Queen Anne’s County man might question his decision to set himself ablaze after a domestic road rage incident.

On Sept. 18, 2017, at approximately 1:24 p.m., the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack responded to a reported car fire in the area of John Brown Road at Maryland Route 213 in Queen Anne’s County Maryland.

While in route, numerous witnesses called and advised a male subject lit himself on fire at the scene

While in route, numerous witnesses called and advised a male subject lit himself on fire at the scene. The incident involved Jamie Lee Richarts, 35, and Deny Richard Coursey, 42, both of Centreville. Initial contact was made with Richarts. Richarts stated that Coursey, her boyfriend, pulled his vehicle in front of her vehicle causing Richarts to stop her vehicle.

It is believed this incident is ongoing from a domestic incident the couple was engaged in the prior evening, which was handled by the Queen Anne’s Sheriff’s Office. When the vehicles were stopped, Coursey exited his vehicle and approached Richarts’ vehicle with a fuel can in his hand.

Coursey was located as he walked into Easton Memorial Hospital with numerous burns

After a short argument, outside of Richarts’ vehicle, Coursey doused himself with fuel and lit himself on fire. Coursey quickly returned to his vehicle and left the area. Coursey was located as he walked into Easton Memorial Hospital with numerous burns. An emergency petition for an evaluation was filed on Coursey and the investigation continues. Coursey will be transferred to a burn center for treatment of his injuries.

Coursey, of 205 Elm Street, Centreville, Md., was stopped by Maryland State Trooper Megan A. Heun on Sept. 15, 2017, at 12:26 am on Rt. 18 at Chester River Beach Road and charged with operating a 2003 Dodge truck while his license was suspended. Similar violations were included in citations issued by other troopers and a Queen Anne’s Deputy on Aug. 24, 2017, July 12, 2017, June 30, 2017, Aug. 31, 2016, June 24, 2016, as well as numerous speeding violations. Some charges have been dropped while others were citations that did not require a personal appearance and were prepaid before trial.

Charged by the Queen Anne’s County States Attorney on Dec. 19, 2003, with drug dealing and possession, Coursey struck a plea deal on Feb. 27, 2004, with the prosecutor and entered a guilty plea to possession of drugs other than marijuana. THE DEAL: a sentence of four years in prison with two years suspended and the drug distribution charge was dropped.

A guilty plea to theft on June 2, 2004, in Queen Anne’s District Court, landed Coursey in jail for three years with a requirement for substance abuse treatment.