Also from that:
This caught my attention.
A federal LEO does not have state powers in Maryland under
Maryland Code Section 2-104 unless under certain explicit circumstances which don't seem to apply here. FYI for those unfamiliar; some states do grant either limited or full state powers on a blanket basis to federal LEOs (New York and Texas as examples, among others).
Based on the Chief's comments, I'm curious if PFPAs statutory powers to enforce US Code (such as assault on an officer) are limited by geographical bounds. I looked up PFPAs statutory authority under
10 USC 2672, but it made no mention of being geographically bound.....which, in the absence of administrative limitation by either the Secretary of Defense or US Attorney General, would mean that like most other federal LEOs the statutory powers of PFPA would apply nationwide.
For reference, the US Capitol Police are federal LEOs but their powers are geographically limited to within a certain number of blocks to the US Capitol grounds or other official Congressional offsite functions (such as a party retreat), or when travelling as part of a protective detail. They do not possess the authority to enforce US code or fall under blanket state authorities outside of these specific circumstances.
This is not to say on my behalf that any federal authorities would grant him (or any of us) any particular authority with relevance to this case; with the obvious caveat that we haven't been able to shoot fleeing felons simply for fleeing since the 1980s, the only applicable statutes here would really be assault on an officer (
18 USC 111) or intervening in a crime of violence against another person (see
Federal LEO Good Samaritan Act). It just catches my eye when a local agency tries to say that federal LEOs "don't have any authority here", when in fact most of us have authority throughout the entire United States (and with certain agencies, beyond, under Special Maritime and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction). It's mostly an academic exercise on my part, as I imagine the officer is probably trying to make his case based simply on self-defense. After all, everyone (LE or not) has the right to challenge someone stealing their car, and if in reasonable fear of their life to shoot them in self-defense.