At 8:58 p.m. on July 16, Officer R. Gottschall attempted to stop a motorcycle which had been traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Crain Highway through Waldorf.
Officer Gottschall followed the motorcycle until it stopped at the traffic light at Crain Highway and Mattawoman Drive in Waldorf, where he pulled alongside of the motorcycle, activated his emergency equipment and parked in front of the motorcycle. Officer Gottschall exited his vehicle and told the operator, Donnell Reginald Harrod, 36, of Washington, D.C., several times to stop.
Harrod turned the motorcycle to the left and accelerated between the officer’s cruiser and another vehicle stopped in the next lane, striking the open driver’s door of the cruiser. The impact caused Harrod’s motorcycle to roll over.
He was apprehended, placed under arrest and charged with attempted fleeing and eluding and reckless driving.
Harrod was being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before the district court commissioner.
Neither Officer Gottschall nor Harrod were injured.