Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced that no criminal charges will be filed against law enforcement officers involved in the May 13, 2024, fatal vehicle collision in Harwood, Anne Arundel County. The decision follows a nearly nine-month investigation by the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division, which determined that no officers committed a crime under Maryland law.
The incident began at approximately 5:35 a.m. on May 13, 2024, when a deputy from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle suspected of being involved in vehicle break-ins in Huntingtown. The driver of the vehicle refused to pull over, and deputies initiated a pursuit that continued for about twenty-five miles, leading into Anne Arundel County. The chase ended when the suspect vehicle collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Birdsville Road and Solomons Island Road in Harwood.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene to treat the occupants of both vehicles. The pursued vehicle contained three individuals. The driver and the rear seat passenger, both adults, were transported to an area hospital, where they were treated and later released. The front seat passenger, a juvenile, sustained severe injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where the juvenile was later pronounced dead. The driver of the pickup truck was also taken to a hospital, treated for injuries, and released.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division immediately began an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and subsequent collision. The investigation examined police reports, witness statements, video footage, and forensic evidence to determine whether the officers involved acted within the law. The findings, released on February 6, 2025, concluded that none of the deputies committed a crime, leading the Attorney General’s Office to decline prosecution in the case.
Anne Arundel County police officers were not involved in the pursuit. The Calvert County deputies who initiated the chase provided emergency medical assistance at the crash scene until Anne Arundel County Fire Department personnel arrived. Investigators noted that the pursuit was conducted in response to a suspected criminal act but ultimately ended in tragic circumstances.
While it is standard practice for the Attorney General’s Office to disclose the names of deceased individuals in investigations, the identity of the juvenile victim in this case has been withheld due to Maryland’s juvenile privacy laws, which prohibit the disclosure of such information.
The case highlights the complexities surrounding police pursuits and the decisions officers must make in high-risk situations. Although no criminal charges will be filed, the collision remains a tragic event with lasting consequences for all those involved.
