Md. Trooper Caught In Illegal Poker Game Retires HAGERSTOWN, Md.

Jan 7, 2009 2:00 pm US/Eastern
Md. Trooper Caught In Illegal Poker Game Retires HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) ―


A Maryland State Police trooper who was robbed while allegedly playing in an illegal poker game has retired due to a medical disability, his attorney said Wednesday.

Former Trooper First Class Michael A. Ford, 34, retired due to post-traumatic stress stemming from his role in the wounding of murder suspect Douglas Pryor near Smithsburg in December 2007 after a massive manhunt, said attorney Byron L. Warnken, of Baltimore. Ford fired three shots but none of them hit Pryor, Warnken said.

He said Ford's retirement was unrelated to a high-stakes game of Texas Hold 'Em in a Hagerstown office building where Ford and 17 others allegedly were robbed at gunpoint of about $4,000 by two masked men May 30.

Ford, who was assigned to the Hagerstown barrack, confirmed to investigators he was among the robbery victims, according to charging documents. He hasn't been charged with any crimes.

Prosecutors dropped charges last month against the only suspect arrested for the robbery after a defense attorney argued the suspect's eye color didn't match victims' descriptions.

The man who rented the office for gambling was fined $1,000 in October.

State police spokeswoman Elena Russo says Ford retired Jan. 1 after 10 years, 11 months of service.