Baltimore, Md (WBFF) An Operation: Crime & Justice investigation gets results following a police involved shooting in Northeast Baltimore.
New exclusive body worn camera footage shows if police had been proactive, a serious shooting may not have happened.
911 calls set the stage for officers who were just minutes away from Loch Raven Boulevard.
This encounter between Walker and Baltimore police officers would be the first of 2 over the next ten days.
This is what police officers saw once they arrived in Northeast Baltimore.
A naked walker, attempting to get into somebody’s house.
Prior to officers arriving on the scene, Walker had been shooting at cars as he stood naked in the middle of Loch Raven Boulevard running back and forth between lanes of moving traffic.
An officer later wrote in his police report Walker's weapon was recovered.
The officer also noted the handgun was not reported stolen.
Nowhere in the report did it mention the handgun was registered to Walker.
Under Maryland’s Red Flag Law, officers may have obtained an ERPO or Extreme Risk Protective Order and searched Walker’s home for any additional weapons.
Officers are legally allowed to temporarily remove weapons from a person's home who may pose a threat to themselves or others.
Had police taken those actions back in June, Ricky Walker Jr. may not have been in a position to be armed.
Related Story|| New Details in Baltimore City Police Involved Shooting
We asked the Baltimore Police Department repeatedly why officers did not do more.
A BPD spokeswoman wrote back asking||
What’s an ERPO? I’ve asked around and no one seems to know what an ERPO is.
In a follow up email, we provided the BPD spokeswoman an explanation and a link.
We then uncovered something even more telling about BPD's lack of knowledge and use regarding Maryland’s Red Flag Law.
Between October 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020||
Anne Arundel County had requested an estimated 337 Extreme Risk Protective Orders
Baltimore County had requested about 287.
Baltimore City meanwhile had only requested about 76.
This week a BPD Spokeswoman told Fox45 News about several changes the police department has made in how they train officers on Maryland's Red Flag Law.||
BPD has provided training to officers on ERPOs, as it relates to Maryland’s Red Flag Law. Personnel from the department are currently collaborating with partner organizations on a new training video on ERPO for national distribution. Lastly, we are currently in the process of filming another e-learning segment on crisis response wherein ERPO are discussed, that will be published at the end of the month.
BPD's statement follows our investigation into Walker's case.
The changes may also help to explain why officers who encountered a naked and armed Ricky Walker Junior, back in June, never searched his Northeast Baltimore home for weapons.
Had that happened Walker may have avoided being critically injured by officers.
Of the eight weapons police collected inside Walker's home was an AK-47.
The officers involved in the shooting remain under investigation as the City State's Attorney decides whether their actions were criminal.
Follow Operation: Crime & Justice Investigative Reporter Joy Lepola on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to jlepola@sbgtv.com