UPDATE December 4, 2024- LA PLATA, Md. — Two suspects were apprehended early Tuesday morning following a pursuit that began after an armed robbery in King George County, Virginia, and ended with a crash in La Plata, Maryland.
According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on December 3, 2024, at approximately 3:46 a.m., when authorities in Virginia reported an armed robbery at a business. The King George County Sheriff’s Office located the suspects’ vehicle, which was later confirmed stolen, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The suspects, however, fled, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit that crossed the Nice-Middleton Memorial Bridge into Maryland.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police joined the chase as the suspects continued north on Crain Highway toward La Plata. Officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the La Plata Police Department successfully deployed stop sticks, which the suspects’ vehicle struck. Shortly after, the vehicle collided with another car traveling on Crain Highway near Charles Street, disabling both vehicles.
Emergency responders secured the scene and provided aid to those involved. One suspect was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the second suspect was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The driver of the civilian vehicle struck in the collision sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was also transported for treatment.
The Maryland State Police are leading the investigation into the crash. In accordance with Maryland law, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office Independent Investigations Division was notified and has taken over the investigation.
Related Incident in Virginia
This pursuit follows another recent high-speed chase involving King George County deputies. On November 27, 2024, deputies attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling south on Route 301 in Dahlgren with only one functioning light. The driver refused to stop, accelerating and initiating a pursuit that extended into Caroline County.
During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle stopped abruptly, causing a deputy to swerve to avoid a collision. The suspect then intentionally struck the deputy’s patrol car, causing significant damage and injuring the officer. The suspect vehicle subsequently overturned, trapping a passenger inside. The driver fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by King George deputies. Both suspects and the deputy were transported to Mary Washington Hospital for evaluation. The deputy was treated and released, returning to complete their shift.
Authorities confirmed that both suspects in the earlier incident are Maryland residents, and charges are pending. The King George Sheriff’s Office extended gratitude to partner agencies, including Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, and local fire and rescue teams, for their assistance.
Investigation Ongoing
The investigations into both incidents remain active. No additional details, including the identities of the suspects, have been released. Authorities have not indicated whether the two pursuits are connected.
LA PLATA, Md. — A fatal crash involving a police vehicle is under investigation following an incident Tuesday morning near the intersection of Route 301 and Port Tobacco Road in La Plata, Maryland.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that the state’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) is leading the investigation. The IID is tasked with handling cases involving police officers that result in fatalities or injuries likely to lead to death.Preliminary reports indicate the collision occurred during a police chase that began in Virginia. Maryland State Police are managing the case, but details regarding whether the involved police vehicles were equipped with dash cameras remain unclear.
The crash site is in proximity to the La Plata Shopping Center, an area now under close examination as authorities piece together the events leading up to the collision. Officials have not yet released information about the individuals involved or the precise circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case underscores the challenges and inherent risks of police pursuits that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Maryland’s IID involvement aims to ensure transparency and accountability, as required by state law.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to the crash to come forward as the investigation continues. Community members are also advised to remain cautious in the area while police work to gather evidence.
More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses, shedding light on the circumstances of this tragic event.
