Corporal Kara Parks, a four-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Police Department assigned to the Bureau of Community Services, faced a second-degree assault charge issued by a Washington County District Court commissioner on December 15, 2025. The charge stems from an alleged incident on May 25, 2025, at a Hilton hotel in Hagerstown during a traveling softball team tailgate.
Julianna Frishkorn of Hagerstown filed the application for charges, alleging that Parks, off-duty and not in uniform, along with relative Tracy Parks, assaulted her while she attempted to walk her service dog to a designated waste area. Frishkorn described encountering a group of up to 46 people, some appearing intoxicated and including off-duty police and emergency responders. She stated tensions rose after she explained her need to pass through, prompting calls to Hagerstown police and hotel management, who affirmed her access rights.
Frishkorn alleged that after police departed within 15 minutes, harassment continued, escalating when the Parkses and others surrounded her and the dog. She claimed she extended her arm for space while yelling to back away, after which Kara Parks punched her face and Tracy Parks lifted and threw her, causing her head to strike pavement. Frishkorn further alleged both then kicked her and the dog, leading to ambulance transport for head trauma, strangulation treatment, breathing issues, and lacerations. She reported her service dog could no longer perform tasks due to the encounter.
“It was a brutal attack,” Frishkorn said.
Second-degree assault in Maryland, a misdemeanor under Criminal Law Article Section 3-203, involves intentional causing of offensive physical contact or harm, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $2,500 fine.
Court commissioners, judicial officers not required to hold law degrees, issue charges based solely on the applicant’s sworn statement without cross-examination or defense input. Washington County State’s Attorney Gina Cirincion confirmed the matter is under investigation, with no decision yet on prosecution.
“The matter is being investigated,” Cirincion said. “No decision has been made.”
Anne Arundel County Police administratively suspended Parks with pay pending review by the Office of Professional Standards. The department noted the off-duty status and lack of uniform.
O’Brien Atkinson, president of the police union, described the allegations as part of a misunderstanding.
“I can tell you that it’s our understanding that the allegations are part of a misunderstanding and that I think that this matter will be resolved relatively quickly once it gets into the court system,” Atkinson said.
“Cpl. Parks is a very well-respected school resource officer in our department and the allegations don’t fit our understanding of the kind of person she is,” Atkinson added.
Parks previously served as a school resource officer at Northeast Middle School and received Officer of the Month recognition in August 2025 for assisting a student with essential items.
Frishkorn, a disabled veteran staying at the hotel for family reasons, said she delayed filing due to prior charges against her from the incident, which she stated resulted in acquittal. Acquitted cases are removed from online Maryland court records.
Hagerstown Police did not respond to inquiries about their May response. Neither Kara nor Tracy Parks commented, and no attorneys were listed in court records.
In Maryland, citizen-filed charges via commissioners allow direct access to the judicial process for misdemeanors, bypassing initial police application. Prosecutors then review for sufficiency, potentially entering nolle prosequi to drop cases or amending charges.
Internal police investigations, handled by offices like Professional Standards, examine policy violations separately from criminal proceedings, often resulting in administrative outcomes such as sustained findings, training, or termination.
Preliminary hearings for the Parkses are scheduled in Washington County District Court.