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CommunityQuality performance
Friday, Aug. 15, 2008
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On July 31, at about 4 a.m., units from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police Prince Frederick barrack became involved in a high speed chase. The Calvert Control Center advised that law enforcement personnel from the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) were chasing a stolen vehicle occupied by three suspects involved in a shooting and possible homicide in the Oxon Hill area of Prince George’s County.
As the chase entered Calvert County, sheriff’s office Cpl. Richard Wilson got behind the suspect vehicle at Route 4 and Chaneyville Road. With speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour, the chase continued south on Route 4.
At the route 2⁄4 split in Sunderland, sheriff’s office Cpl. Gary Shrawder joined and assumed the lead position in the pursuit. Based on the severity of the crime, absence of traffic on the roadway and obvious disregard for public safety, Shrawder made the command decision to deploy stop sticks in an effort to stop the vehicle. At Route 4 and Main Street in Huntingtown, Dfc. John ‘‘Marty” McCarroll and Cpl. Jeffrey Linger of the Maryland State Police deployed stop sticks in the path of the suspect vehicle. McCarroll’s stop sticks succeeded in puncturing all four tires on the suspect vehicle.
Following the use of the stop sticks, the suspect vehicle began to slow at Route 4 and Plum Point Road. Observing the vehicle slow down, Shrawder believed the occupants were preparing to bail out and run. The driver of the suspect vehicle stopped along the guardrail at Route 4 and Robshire Manor Road and all three suspects fled on foot. Deputies and state police troopers, along with the assistance of a PGPD helicopter, quickly established a perimeter.
A short time later, Tfc. Chris Bowling, Trooper Melisa Haut and Shrawder apprehended one of the suspects in the woods off of Robshire Manor Road. Linger and PGPD officers apprehended the other two suspects a short distance into the woods off of Route 4.
Other personnel involved in this incident include: Sheriff’s office Sgt. Craig Bowen and Sgt. Kent Gregory, deputies Jason Dean, Daniel Deakins, Craig Johnson and Tfc. Adam Merkelson of the Maryland State Police.
As commander of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau, I want to commend these deputies and troopers for their actions on July 31. Within 15 minutes of entering Calvert County, these officers successfully apprehended three violent criminals avoiding injury to anyone involved. This event illustrates the excellent training and commitment to the safety of the citizens of Calvert County by the men and women of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police.
I cannot stress enough that the level of training, communication, cooperation and professionalism that went into such a safe and successful resolution of this event is truly indicative of the constant effort of both agencies to keep Calvert County a safe place to live, work and visit.
Finally, I would point out that two of these dedicated officers were actually off duty at the time of the incident.
Lt. Dave McDowell, Prince Frederick
The writer is the commander of the bureau of patrol for the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.
