Officer indicted in Route 301 fatal crash that killed bailiff

A grand jury returned an indictment on Jan. 9 charging off-duty Prince George's County police officer Anthony Coleman in connection with a fatal July 2025 crash on Route 301 that killed Carlton Herndon, a bailiff with the County District Court. The indictment includes counts of negligent manslaughter involving a vehicle, homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, driving while under the influence, and a firearms-related count tied to transport while under the influence.

The crash last summer on Route 301 took the life of Herndon, whose duties at the district courthouse made the death particularly resonant for court staff and residents who regularly interact with the local justice system. Authorities identified Coleman as the officer involved and later presented the case to a grand jury, which returned the multi-count indictment that begins the criminal phase of prosecution.

Under Maryland law, Coleman has been suspended from duty, a procedural step the county noted as consistent with state requirements. The police department is conducting internal administrative investigations that run parallel to the criminal case. Those inquiries will examine departmental policy and conduct while prosecutors pursue charges in circuit court.

The charges include a firearms-related allegation tied to transporting a weapon while under the influence, adding a distinct legal dimension beyond the driving and impairment counts. The indictment does not constitute a conviction; it moves the matter into the court calendar where arraignment and pretrial proceedings will determine how the evidence is handled and whether the case goes to trial.

For Prince George's County residents, the case raises immediate concerns about roadway safety and law enforcement accountability. Route 301 is a key regional corridor used by commuters and commercial traffic; high-profile collisions there draw attention to enforcement, impaired driving prevention, and emergency response capacity. The loss of a District Court bailiff also underscores the human toll and the ripple effects on courthouse operations and colleagues who worked alongside Herndon.

Local officials have framed the development as part of a formal legal process while promising continued updates as proceedings unfold. Community members and courthouse staff will be watching both the criminal prosecution and the police department's administrative review for answers.

As the case moves through Maryland's courts and internal reviews continue, residents can expect periodic public notices and court filings to clarify timing and next steps. The indictment marks the transition from investigation to prosecution, and the outcome will shape conversations about safety, enforcement, and accountability in Prince George's County in the months ahead.