State Police Warn Motorists To Avoid Stopping on Exit Ramps For Panhandlers

(Jessup, MD) Shortly after 2:30 p.m. yesterday, a Maryland State Police, College Park Barrack Trooper was traveling on the ramp from westbound Route 32 to southbound I-95, Jessup, Maryland when he observed two vehicles on the right shoulder of the ramp. The first vehicle was a black Hyundai Santa Fe and the second vehicle, a gray sedan was approximately 200 feet in front of the Hyundai SUV. The Trooper observed a male subject standing at the driver side of the gray sedan. As the Trooper was driving by, he observed several cars slow down due to the stopped vehicles on the shoulder.

The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect, who was later identified as Alexandru Catalin, 26, Baltimore, Maryland was pretending his vehicle was disabled, flagging down passing motorists on the exit ramp and begging for money. The Trooper made contact with Catalin and placed him under arrest for disorderly conduct. He was transported to the Commissioner’s Office and released without bond. Catalin’s vehicle was a rental which seems to be a common theme with these types of incidents.

These incidents cause major traffic delays and crashes on the ramps. Maryland State Police warn motorists to avoid stopping on exit ramps for individuals allegedly flagging down vehicles for help.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Maryland State Police, College Park Barrack.