Police Chief: Driver "smoked some dope and drank" before hitting, killing beloved officer

WHEATON, Md. (ABC7) --- The man accused of running over and killing a Montgomery County Police officer had spent the previous four hours doing drugs and drinking alcohol, police say.

Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger made the alarming announcement during a press conference Thursday. His remarks followed the death of officer Noah Leotta.

Around 9:45 p.m. last Thursday, Leotta stopped a vehicle along northbound Rockville Pike, near Edmonston Drive in Rockville. While conducting the traffic stop, Luis Gustavo Reluzco, 47, hit Leotta, forcing the 24-year-old officer to the ground, which caused a severe head injury.

Reluzco remained on the scene but refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test. Because of the extent of Leotta's injuries, Maryland state law allowed investigators to take a blood sample from Reluzco. Although the results have not been released, Chief Manger made strong allusions as to their findings.

"This young police officer, who is an example of what every cop should be, was killed by a man who smoked some dope, drank for four hours, and got behind the wheel of a car. This officer was killed serving the public, trying to prevent the exact crime that killed him," Chief Manger said.

Reluzco, who lives along the 18200 block of Rolling Meadow Way in Olney, did not return phone calls seeking comment. His house sat dark Thursday evening, not a single light turned on inside.

According to Chief Manger, Reluzco has been arrested twice before for driving drunk. He also has a 1997 conviction for possession of paraphernalia.

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