Police Officer With Gun Ruins Snowball Fight

An estimated 200 person snowball fight in Washington D.C turned ugly after an off duty police officers vehicle, who was driving in the vicinity of the snowball fight, was struck by snowballs.

The officer, dressed in street cloths exited his vehicle and began yelling at the crowd with sidearm in hand. The officer, Detective Michael Baylor, was reportedly "kind of out of control". Eyewitness Robin Bell told the Washington City Paper, "It was really strange to see a police officer so upset and angry over what seemed at best a misunderstanding. At worst, it was some kids throwing a snowball at him." Moments later police arrived responding to a report of a man with a gun in the area. Detective Baylor calmed down once fellow police officers arrived, but was later seen walking into the crowd and grabbing a male whom he believed threw the snow ball at his vehicle. Two other individuals were removed from the crowd and given warnings based on their conduct prompting Robin Bell to say, "It was ridiculous because everyone was throwing snowballs." D.C police chief Cathy L. Lanier said in statement released Sunday, "Let me be very clear in stating that I believe the actions of the officer were totally inappropriate! In no way, should he have handled the situation in this manner. We have taken swift action by placing him on non-contact status until all the facts are gathered and discipline is handed down." WJLA is reporting the detective could face possible termination from the department and further comments from the police chief reinforce the report, "I encourage all residents to remain active in our fight against crime and to know that at MPD, we believe no one is above the law."