UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A former Prince George’s County police officer charged with murdering a handcuffed suspect in his police car in 2020 told jurors the shooting happened after a struggle for the officer’s gun.
Former Cpl. Michael Owen testified that suspect Michael Green, 43, began violently struggling inside the car after his arrest. During the struggle, Owen testified he heard a gun fall onto the console of his car.
Owen said Green grabbed the gun despite being in handcuffs behind his back, and both men struggled to take control of it.
“As we were fighting a shot was fired,” Owen said. “I thought, ‘Oh crap this is my gun.’”
“I thought I was going to die,” Owen told jurors.
Owen testified he regained control of the gun and fired at Green because he feared the suspect might have another gun.
“I believe if I turned to exit the vehicle if there was another gun, it might be used against me,” Owen said.
Owen was called to the stand by his defense attorneys, who told jurors during opening arguments that Green was intoxicated by PCP and alcohol when became violent after his arrest.
In earlier testimony expert witnesses said Owen's gun had been fired seven times and six of the shots hit Green at a range of only inches. Owen was not injured.
The dramatic day in court marked the first time Owen's claims have been made public since the shooting happened nearly four years ago.
Owen's attorneys told jurors at the beginning of the case that Owen has never been interviewed by investigators.
Terry Barnes, who leads bible study with Owen, said the former officer is the victim of a rush to judgement in the hours and days after the shooting.
“Mike finally had a chance to tell his side of the story after not being asked for three years and 10 months, any kind of statement about what happened in the car, but today, you finally heard that,” Barnes said after hearing Owen testify.
“It's Mike's turn this week. And I believe that he is he's going to walk out of here a free man,” Barnes said.
Owen became the first police officer in Prince George’s County to be charged with murdering a suspect only a day after the Jan. 27, 2020 incident in Temple Hills.
Green was arrested after a series of traffic collisions and had been handcuffed before being placed in the front seat of Owen’s police car while other officers investigated the collisions.
Green’s family was awarded a $20 million wrongful death settlement by Prince George’s County in September of 2020.
Owen's trial was repeatedly delayed. His trial was scheduled after a plea bargain deal that would have allowed Owen's to admit to lesser manslaughter charges was rejected by presiding judge Michael Pearson.
Green’s family objected to the plea bargain deal.