Pressure Mounts on Prosecutor to Drop Controversial Case Against Black Police Chief

By Stephen Janis and Taya Graham

Pressure is mounting on Maryland State Prosecutors to drop a controversial case against the first black police chief of Pocomoke City, MD, Kelvin Sewell.

The ACLU of Maryland submitted a petition with over 1,000 signatures on Thursday, urging Emmet Davitt, Maryland’s special prosecutor, not to pursue a case tied to a 2014 accident involving two parked cars. The prosecution of the popular former police chief has fueled controversy amid allegations the charges were in retaliation for Sewell filing a lawsuit alleging discrimination.

“We are hopeful that the justice system will work in this case and the State will stop the unfair prosecution of Chief Sewell,” said Rev. Ronnie White of Citizens for a Better Pocomoke. “We’re hoping and praying that we’ll have our police chief back in Pocomoke.”

The petition comes after the 2016 conviction of Sewell for misconduct was overturned by the Court of Special Appeals in 2018. Maryland’s highest court ruled Sewell did not receive a fair trial when a Worcester County judge barred him from calling two expert witnesses.

In 2015, Sewell was fired by the Pocomoke City Council without explanation. Sewell subsequently filed a lawsuit against the city and Worcester County, alleging he was terminated after he refused to fire two black officers who filed EEOC complaints against a Worcester County Drug Task Force.

The U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division joined the suit, which is currently in discovery.

In 2016 Davitt indicted Sewell for interfering in the investigation of a 2014 accident. The indictment alleged Sewell should have charged Pocomoke resident Doug Matthews with leaving the scene after he hit two parked cars and drove three blocks home before calling police.

No one was injured and insurance covered the damage to the vehicles.

The case in part focused on Sewell and Matthew’s mutual membership in a Eastern Shore chapter of the Black Masons. A Worcester County jury convicted Sewell of one count of misconduct, but acquitted him of a conspiracy charge.

However, during the trial, emails emerged that revealed Davitt’s office had help from the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, which was then subject to EEOC complaints filed by Sewell and two other officers alleging discrimination.

“During this month that we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr, former Chief Kelvin Sewell’s case underscores that justice continues to be elusive for African Americans in the State of Maryland,” said Carl Snowden, convenor of the Caucus of African American Leaders. “It’s our hope that the special prosecutor will drop this case.”

In an email Davitt said his office is more than likely to retry the case.

“After reviewing the appellate court decision and speaking to the victims of the accident, it is very likely that we will retry the case. Just need to double check availability and status of witnesses,” Davitt said.

To view TRNN’s coverage of Sewell’s firing and the ensuing controversy, click on the video below.

https://therealnews.com/stories/in-first-black-police-chiefs-appeal-judges-weigh-prosecutorial-misconduct-discrimination

(Full disclosure Stephen Janis wrote a book with Kelvin Sewell)

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Senior Investigative Reporter & Capitol Hill Correspondent
Stephen Janis is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker whose work has shaped accountability journalism in Baltimore and beyond. As a Capitol Hill Correspondent and senior reporter at The Real News Network, he continues to uncover the systems behind inequality, corruption, and power while turning complex investigations into stories that inspire reform and public engagement.

His first feature documentary, The Friendliest Town, was distributed by Gravitas Ventures and received an Award of Distinction from The Impact Doc Film Festival and a Humanitarian Award from The Indie Film Fest. He co-created and co-hosts The Police Accountability Report, which has reached more than fifty million viewers on YouTube and helped spark national conversations on policing and transparency. His work has also appeared on Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix), Dead of Night (Investigation Discovery), Relentless (NBC), and Sins of the City (TV One).

Stephen has co-authored several books on policing, corruption, and the roots of violence, including Why Do We Kill: The Pathology of Murder in Baltimore and You Can’t Stop Murder: Truths About Policing in Baltimore and Beyond. He also co-hosts the true crime podcast Land of the Unsolved, which investigates cold cases through a lens of justice and accountability.

Before joining The Real News Network, Stephen worked as an investigative producer for WBFF Fox 45, where his reporting earned three Capital Emmys. Known for embracing technology as a tool for social awareness, he uses data analysis, digital production, and emerging storytelling platforms to connect investigative journalism with younger audiences while maintaining its integrity and depth.

Stephen’s work is grounded in clarity, empathy, and a belief that journalism should not only expose the truth but empower people to act on it.

Senior Investigative Reporter & Capitol Hill Correspondent

Taya Graham is an award-winning investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and Capitol Hill Correspondent whose work bridges rigorous reporting with deep community impact. As the host of The Police Accountability Report at The Real News Network, she has become a trusted voice for transparency in policing and governance, using a mix of field reporting, data analysis, and citizen storytelling to expose systemic injustices. The show has garnered more than 50 million views across platforms, drawing a national audience to issues of accountability and reform.

Her work spans platforms and audiences, from producing Truth and Reconciliation, the acclaimed WYPR podcast exploring race and justice, to co-directing the award-winning documentaries The Friendliest Town and Tax Broke. Her five-year investigation into Baltimore’s tax incentive system (TIFs and PILOTs) revealed how corporate subsidies perpetuate inequality, sparking legislative action and community advocacy.

In addition to her reporting, Taya played a key role in shaping The Real News Network’s internal policies and labor framework, including helping draft the language around the organization’s AI policy in its collective bargaining agreement. Her work ensured that innovation and worker protections coexist, setting a model for how newsrooms can adopt technology responsibly.

Taya’s career began at The Afro-American Newspaper and Historic Black University Morgan State Radio, where she honed her craft in public service storytelling. She continues to lead with the belief that journalism should not only inform but empower—meeting new audiences where they are and inspiring them to engage in the democratic process.