Suspended Baltimore police officer 'hid the body of his stepson, 15, in a loft wall then tried to grab gun away from cop during his arrest'
A Baltimore police officer allegedly hid the body of his teenage stepson in a wall of his home's loft before trying to grab gun away from cop during his arrest.
Eric G Banks Jr, an officer with the Baltimore Police Department who had already been suspended from the force, is facing a number of charges including assault and resisting arrest for the encounter with Anne Arundel County police.
Officers received a complainant from the mother of Dasan Jones, 15, regarding a child custody dispute with the boy's stepfather, Banks, at 4.56pm on Tuesday, the department said in a press release.
Cops were initially told by Banks, 34, that Dasan had departed the home in the 1400 block of Stoney Point Way in Curtis Bay, leaving his belongings behind.
When officers went to the home to conduct a welfare check on the teenager, they found him unresponsive in the wall of the upstairs loft and tried to render aid until they were relieved by fire department personnel.
It took five other officers to safely arrest Banks after he 'became combative and tried to disarm an officer' by trying to take her Glock 17 handgun from her holster, Anne Arundel police said in the news release.
Dasan Jones, 15, (pictured) was allegedly found in a hole in the wall of the loft at the home of Baltimore Police Officer Eric G Banks Jr
It was not immediately clear when Dasan was declared dead. Details about the cause and manner of his death also remain unclear
Banks has not yet been charged in relation to the boy's death
Anne Arundel police said the cause of Dasan's death is under investigation by the state medical examiner's office
In charging documents obtained by DailyMail.com, the officer wrote: 'Mr. Banks stated multiple times 'you're gonna have to end this' as we were wrestling over the firearm'.'
It was not immediately clear when Dasan was declared dead. Details about the cause and manner of his death also remain unclear. Banks has not yet been charged with any crimes related to the teen's death.
Anne Arundel police said the cause of Dasan's death is under investigation by the state medical examiner's office.
The department called Dasan's death 'suspicious' in comments to WJZ.
'There appeared to be some things going on with the couple and there needed to be some space between them,' according to Sgt Kam Cooke.
In the charging documents, prosecutors said Banks told cops searching for Dasan that a hole in the wall of the home's loft was his 'gun safe'.
Cops found Dasan's body in a 'hole in the wall with a white cover leaning on it,' the documents state.
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show Banks had allegedly tried to grab a gun from an officer responding to a call at the home and that Dasan's body had been found in the wall of the home's loft
Assistant State's Attorney Jason Miller said during a bail review hearing that Banks moved and hid his stepson's body, and that he had 'made statements that he is homicidal and suicidal', the Baltimore Sun reported.
'He admits to officers that he moved his son's body from one location in the home, and secreted it in another, Your Honor,' Miller said. 'He has shown that he is not afraid to resort to violence.'
Banks and his attorney Warren Anthony Brown appeared by video conference for the hearing on Thursday, during which he was denied bail.
Officials told the Baltimore Sun that he's being held in protective custody as a potential suicide risk.
Officials said Banks had already been suspended from his job with pay before the encounter, though the reasoning was not immediately clear. He has since been suspended without pay.
Sgt. Kam Cooke, pictured, with the Anne Arundel County Police Department said: 'There appeared to be some things going on with the couple and there needed to be some space between them'
Cops were initially told by Banks that Dasan had left the home in the 1400 block of Stoney Point Way in Curtis Bay, leaving his belongings behind
Police tried to render aid to Dasan until personnel with the fire department arrived
Banks, 34, 'became combative and tried to disarm an officer' by trying to take her Glock 17 handgun from her holster
It was not immediately clear if he will ultimately face charges relating to the death of the boy
During the hearing, Brown noted Banks served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 11 years and had obtained the rank of sergeant before he was discharged in March 2018.
Banks, who was deployed to Afghanistan three times, had won a number of service awards and medals. It was not immediately clear if he could also be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
'The deputy commissioner and I have been in communication with the chief of Anne Arundel County,' Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told the Baltimore Sun.
'The officer was already suspended based on a previous incident and is now suspended without pay, pending the outcome of that criminal and administrative investigation.'
Dasasn, pictures, was reportedly an accomplished violinist
Banks has served with the Baltimore Police Department for three years and received a gross pay of $88,933 during the 2020 fiscal year, the Baltimore Sun reported.
His wife filed a June 25 petition in Anne Arundel District Court for a protective order from him in which she accused him of stalking and 'emotional and mental abuse.'
Banks' wife, in her petition for custody of Dasan and her two sons with him, claimed he owns two guns.
She again filed documents for another order of protection just hours before her son's body was found, according to documents obtained by WBFF.
'I am in fear for my life and well being because Eric Banks keeps trying to control, follow and emotionally abuse myself and my sons,' she wrote in the documents.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Dasan was a magnet student at Glen Burnie High School and an accomplished violin player. He was described as a quiet and kind boy.
Kayla Wright, who went to school with Dasan, has started a GoFundMe on behalf of Latrice Banks.
'Hi, my name is Kayla I went to school with Dasan. He had such a good soul and it is such a tragedy that he had to leave us so soon and so young,' Wright wrote.
'I created this to help his family and his mother through this hard time. This is for his funeral expenses and extra cash for his family. I have used the platform I have to bring awareness to this tragedy and hope to raise the money to help as much as I and we can, thank you.'
She added: 'Justice will be served and you will finally be in peace.'
Tributes to Dasan have started to pour in on social media while friends and family mourn his death
Joseph Aposhian, who identified himself as Dasan's cousin, posted a moving tribute to him on Facebook including photos of Dasan
Aposhian wrote that Dasan, who seemingly went by DJ, had 'forever changed' his life
Dasan, left, is pictured with members of his family in a post made to Facebook after his death
Joseph Aposhian, who identified himself as Dasan's cousin, posted a moving tribute to him on Facebook.
'I couldn't believe that the news was true,' Aposhian wrote.
'And as I write these words, I can't help but ache, knowing that another beloved family member is gone too soon. The only comfort being that I know I will see them all again someday. Dasan, I LOVE YOU.'
He continued: 'You weren't just my little cousin. You were family, my brother, and my closest friend.'
'I remember holding you on the day that you were born. We were almost 5 years apart to the day, and it made my world to know that I was gonna have my 1st cousin born so close to me. It was the greatest birthday present ever!!! And I knew from that moment, that we were gonna be best friends.'
Aposhian wrote that Dasan, who seemingly went by DJ, had 'forever changed' his life.
'Being an only child, I ALWAYS wanted a brother...and I never got that. But when you came, I didn't care anymore cuz you were much better,' Aposhian wrote.
'You made me feel like I mattered, and that I WASN'T alone. You played Hot Wheels with me. Swam together. Rode bikes together. Watched movies together.'
He added: 'You may have considered me your role model, but it was the other way around. I WILL ALWAYS LOOK UP TO YOU. I admire your Courage, your Honesty, your willingness to Speak Out, and your Vibrant Love for ALL.'
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