MD AG Finds Insufficient Evidence to Reopen Investigation of 2005 Trooper-Involved Death of Wicomico Man

MARDELA SPRINGS, Md. – The Maryland Office of the Attorney General has completed its review of the restraint-related death of Ronald Byler in 2005, finding insufficient information to warrant opening the matter for further investigation.

Byler, a 37-year-old white man of Salisbury, died shortly after being restrained by a Maryland State Police (MSP) trooper on Jul. 16, 2005. A review of this case was completed pursuant to an executive order requiring a review of 41 restraint-related deaths that occurred between 2003 and 2019 that independent medical examiners determined should have been classified as homicides. Since the release of the audit’s findings in 2025, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has not changed the manner or cause of death certification in any of the cases. 

Facts of the Case

The following information was obtained from the investigative file created by law enforcement authorities.

 On Jul. 16, 2005, Wicomico County 911 received a call from a homeowner in Mardela Springs, reporting that a pickup truck had crashed into a tree in his front yard. He reported that the male driver, later identified as Byler, had gotten out of the truck and started smashing the windows and windshield of the homeowner’s vehicle, which was parked nearby. When the homeowner told Byler to stop, Byler opened the door of the homeowner’s vehicle and started throwing items on the ground.  

Shortly after, members of the Sharptown Fire Department (SFD) arrived at the scene, confirming that Byler’s pickup truck had crashed into a tree. SFD members witnessed Byler hitting the windshield of the homeowner’s vehicle with his bare hands, throwing items, yelling obscenities and making threats. Crews also reported that Byler attempted to strike them with objects, successfully hitting at least one member.

An SFD member used a tool to trip Byler and, once he was on the ground, restrained him with the help of two other firefighters as they waited for police to arrive. Byler reportedly continued to struggle and make threats. One of the first responders reported that Byler grabbed an accessible flashlight and struck him in the head.

A MSP trooper arrived on the scene and attempted to handcuff Byler, who continued to resist. According to one of the first responders, Byler threatened to take the trooper’s firearm and shoot him. After Byler was handcuffed, he continued to struggle. Byler was restrained on the ground for several minutes by the trooper and a firefighter while they waited for additional officers and emergency medical services (EMS) to arrive.

When EMS arrived and Byler was rolled over to be placed on a stretcher, he appeared to have stopped breathing. CPR was performed and Byler was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.  

The following day, OCME performed an autopsy on Mr. Byler and ruled that the manner of death was “Undetermined.” The toxicology analysis found that Mr. Byler had cocaine in his system at the time of his death. According to the female passenger who had been in the truck with Mr. Byler on July 16, Mr. Byler had used drugs that evening. He began to act and drive erratically afterwards.

In Mar. 2006, the State’s Attorney’s Office for Wicomico County declined to pursue criminal charges arising out of Byler’s death.

Determination by the Office of the Attorney General

Almost twenty years later, pursuant to a state audit, independent medical examiners reviewed the 2005 findings of the OCME and determined that the manner of death for Byler should have been “Homicide.” Against this backdrop, the Office of the Attorney General reviewed the investigative file for Byler to see whether the evidence warranted further action by state authorities. 

As a result, officials found insufficient evidence to prove criminal culpability beyond a reasonable doubt, and thus insufficient evidence to reopen the matter of Ronald Byler for further investigation. The Office of the Attorney General accordingly concurs with the decision made by the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2006. 

The Office of the Attorney General says they will provide the decedent’s family with an opportunity to review materials in the investigative file.