Officer Carl Peterson, Jr

On this day in Baltimore City Police History 12 June 1971, we lost our brother Police Officer Carl Peterson, Jr. to Gunfire based on the following. On 12 June 1971 about 2155 hours, in front of Pine Street Station, Officer Bruce Green, operating 128 car, received information from Gwendolyn Jeanette Carter, 17 years, that a man was holding her mother, Mrs. Katherine White and her daughter Leisa Carter, age 2 ½, at gunpoint, at 250 Pearl Street. The officer proceeded south on Pine Street to Lexington Street and East on Lexington to Pearl Street. At this point, he was approached by Alvin Lee Gill who reported that an officer had been shot on the corner at Lexington and Pearl Street. Officer Green observed Officer Carl Peterson lying on the sidewalk at that location. He observed that the officer’s revolver was missing and the officer was bleeding from the left side of the face. Municipal Ambulance #1 responded to the scene and removed Officer Peterson to University Hospital. Officer Peterson was treated for a gunshot wound to the head and died as a result of this wound at 2345 hours on June 12, 1971. Pronounced dead by Dr. Daniel Cook of the neurological staff. Officer Kenneth Burke assigned to Unit 122 received a call from Communications at 2155 hours, 12 June 1971, to 239 N. Pearl Street, for a man with a gun and a two-year-old hostage on the second floor. Officer Arnold Adams, Unit 112 responded to the scene as a backup unit. On arrival at 239 N. Pearl Street, the officers were advised that a person had kicked on the front door and entered the house. This person was carrying a baby in one hand and a revolver in the other hand. Officer Adams removed the department shotgun from 112 car in the company with Officer Burke proceeded to the house. The officers heard footsteps on the second floor and made their way up the staircase. They commanded the person in the room to show himself with his hands stretched out. The person in the room came out and identified himself and advised them that the person they wanted was on the third floor. The officers proceeded to the third floor calling commands to release the girl and come out with his hands up. The officers then went to the third floor and Officer Adams kicked in the door. At this point, he observed the suspect standing to the left of the door and the 2 ½-year-old girl just to his right. The suspect pointed the revolver at Officer Adam’s face. He stepped back and pointed the shotgun around the door. The suspect grabbed the barrel of the shotgun. Officer Adams did not fire for fear of hitting the child. A struggle then ensued for the shotgun. The suspect then released it and pointed the gun he was carrying around the door at Officer Burke. Officer Burke grabbed the suspect’s gun hand and pulled his own revolver and fired a shot. Officer Burke then rushed into the room and struggled with the suspect. Officer Adams quickly removed the child from the room then went to Officer Burke’s assistance. The officers attempted to bring him down the stairs. The suspect fell down several steps but was restrained by the officers. Both suspect and officers were treated at Mercy Hospital for injuries received as a result of affecting the arrest. The arrested person was identified as Roland Leroy Jackson of 209 Myrtle Avenue. The revolver taken from Jackson was the service revolver or Officer Carl Peterson. The investigation revealed that Officer Carl Peterson was at the call box at Lexington and Green Streets when a man fitting Jackson’s description knocked him down. The person then removed Officer Peterson’s revolver and shot him above the left eye and fled the scene. Officer Adams and Officer Burke were unaware that a police officer had been shot when taking into custody Roland Jackson. Roland Jackson made a res gestae statement to Officer Anthony Lamartina while being at Mercy Hospital. Jackson blurted out “I don’t know why I did it, I was trying to find myself.” Officer Lamartina immediately advised Jackson of his rights. Jackson again stated, “I don’t know why I did it Officer Pete has given my daughter and others’ children in the area candy and other goodies.” Jackson made no further statements.

He will not be forgotten by us, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department. God Bless him, and may he rest in peace

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