Recently Resigned Police Officer Arrested, Charged with Rape

The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested and charged a former officer with the Fairmount Heights Police Department for raping a citizen after a traffic stop, prior to his resignation.  At the time of the incident in September, he was a part-time officer with that agency. He is 30-year-old Martique Vanderpool of the 5000 block of Duel Place in Capitol Heights. The Prince George’s County Police Department Special Investigations Response Team launched an investigation into Vanderpool’s actions at the request of the Fairmount Heights Police Chief.

The preliminary investigation reveals that on September 6th, 2019, at approximately 11:20 pm, Vanderpool and a second officer with Fairmount Heights Police conducted a traffic stop at Sheriff Road and Cabin Branch Drive in Capitol Heights. The victim, an adult female, was the driver of that car and only occupant. During the stop, Vanderpool asked the victim to step out of her car.  She was placed into handcuffs. Vanderpool then called for a tow truck to impound the victim’s car. The victim was ultimately taken back to the Fairmount Heights Police Department. While there, Vanderpool told the victim if she engaged in a sexual act with him, he would release her. The victim complied. After the sexual assault, Vanderpool issued the victim several citations, drove her to the impound lot and had her car released back to her.    

Anyone who may have had a similar interaction with Vanderpool is asked to call 301-856-2660.

Vanderpool is charged with first degree rape, second degree rape, second degree assault and related charges. He is in the custody of the Department of Corrections. A court commissioner ordered him held on a no-bond status.

At the request of the Fairmount Heights Police Chief, we are sharing the press release below on behalf of the Fairmount Heights Police Department:  

PRESS RELEASE

Former Police Officer Arrested

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 

On Monday evening, December 2, 2019, former Fairmount Heights Police Officer Martique C. Vanderpool, a 30-year-old male, was arrested by the Prince George’s County Police Internal Affairs Division for First Degree Rape for an incident that occurred on or about September 6, 2019. An exhaustive, nearly two-month investigation was launched based on a question we received concerning a traffic stop procedure and the arrest of a motorist that raised our suspicions of wrongdoing. This department then sought out the individual arrested in order to gather more facts surrounding the incident. Immediately upon ascertaining that a crime may have been committed against the arrested individual while detained at our police facility, I contacted Prince George’s County Police Chief Stawinski and requested an Internal Affairs investigation. That investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant and charge for Mr. Vanderpool.

Mr. Vanderpool was hired on December 20, 2017 as a full-time uniformed patrol officer and voluntarily changed his status to a part-time officer in late July 2019. He submitted his resignation dated November 18, 2019 to be effective November 23, 2019.

Stephen R. Watkins

Chief of Police

Fairmount Heights Police Department