Troopers Injured In Pursuit

(Largo, MD) – Two Maryland state troopers are hospitalized and a suspect is in custody facing criminal charges after an extended pursuit this afternoon from Prince George’s County to Baltimore County along Interstate 95/495.

The suspect is a 30-year-old man believed to be from Pennsylvania. He is in State Police custody and is expected to be charged later tonight.

The injured troopers are identified as Trooper Michael O’Brien and Trooper Alphrin Norman, both of whom are assigned to road patrol duties at the College Park Barracks. The troopers are both listed in stable condition at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

A motorist injured in the incident is identified as Ellen Sistare, of Mitchellville, Md. She is currently being treated at the Prince George’s Hospital Center.

The preliminary investigation indicates the following information. Shortly after 10:30 a.m. today, multiple calls were received at the Maryland State Police College Park Barracks from motorists reporting an erratic driver who was operating in a dangerous manner on the inner loop of I-495 near Largo. The vehicle was described as a red Ford Mustang with Pennsylvania registration.

Trooper J. Deible, from the College Park Barracks took a stationary position in a crossover on the inner loop of I-495 at Rt. 201. He spotted the suspect vehicle traveling behind a Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. The driver, and sole occupant of the suspect vehicle, was flashing his headlights, apparently attempting to prompt the sheriff’s vehicle to move out of his way, but then made an unsafe lane change and swerved around the vehicle.

Trooper Deible activated his emergency equipment and attempted to stop the Mustang. Instead of stopping, the driver threw a pack of cigarettes from the convertible back onto the trooper’s car and continued to drive erratically, switching lanes and passing slower traffic on the shoulders of the interstate.

Continuing to weave through traffic and cut vehicles off, the suspect took Rt. 202 toward Bladensburg. Prince George’s County Police units entered the pursuit in this area. The suspect went back onto I-495 and eventually took the crossover north of Rt. 4 and started back north on the outer loop of I-495.

In the area of the Rt. 202, the preliminary investigation indicates the suspect swerved into the side of Trooper Norman’s marked patrol car and forced it into Trooper O’Brien’s marked patrol car. Both police cars spun out of control and crashed on either side of the interstate. In this same location, Ms. Sistare’s vehicle was struck, but it is not clear at this time which vehicle struck hers.

The suspect continued north onto I-95 north towards Baltimore. Maryland State Police and Prince George’s County Police continued in pursuit. State Police notified Maryland Transportation Authority Police of the approaching pursuit.

The pursuit continued into the Ft. McHenry Tunnel on I-95. Just after the toll plaza, Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers had deployed tire deflation devices. The suspect struck those devices, lost control of his car, and then struck two Prince George’s County Police patrol vehicles. Neither county officer was injured, but one of the patrol cars was disabled.

The suspect was taken into custody by police on the scene. He was transported to Bayview Hospital where he was examined and released about 3:00 p.m. Upon his release, troopers transported him back to the College Park Barrack for processing. Troopers will consult with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding charges, which are expected to be placed later tonight.

The investigation is continuing.