Crime & Safety

Howard County Police Officer Charged in Collision that Seriously Injured Two Girls

The officer was charged with second-degree assault and negligent driving.


Howard County Police Officer Symchay Kon Bendu was charged this week by Anne Arundel County Police for his involvement in a traffic collision that left two girls seriously injured in June.

Police charged Bendu with four counts of second-degree assault and two counts of negligent driving, according to online court records.


Anne Arundel County Police said at the time of the incident that Bendu was driving a marked police cruiser when he attempted to make an illegal U-turn on Route 100 where it merges with Route 10 in Glen Burnie at 4:17 p.m. on June 8.

While making the U-turn, a Honda Civic struck the police car and critically injured an 11-year-old girl and a 4-year-old girl both from Baltimore, according to police. A man and woman also in the car suffered non-life threatening injuries, said police.

Bendu, a four-year veteran of the Howard County Police, said he was not familiar with the area when he attempted to make the U-turn, said police.

A Howard County police spokesperson said Bendu is on administrative leave.

The two girls injured in the collision have since been released from the hospital, according to an Explorehoward.com report.

In 2010, Bendu received the First Year Service Award from Howard County Police in his first year working for the department.

"Ofc. Bendu has, since day one, shown an incredible work ethic, initiative and a strong desire to learn," wrote Sgt. Ann Gibbons at the time.


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