UPDATE March 30 at 3 p.m.

OFFICIAL POLICE REPORT

On March 30, at approximately 11:39 p.m., Deputy First Class Keith Moritz was patrolling in the area of Prather Drive in Lexington Park, when he observed a 2005 Ford Taurus, which Dfc. Moritz knew had been reported stolen from Willow’s Road in Lexington Park the previous day, traveling on Prather Drive towards Great Mills Road. 

Dfc. Moritz turned on the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop and the vehicle fled.  Dfc. Moritz activated the emergency equipment of his patrol vehicle but the 17-year-old male, driver from Lexington Park, refused to stop.  The driver fled on Great Mills Road, Pacific Drive and Pegg Road.  Dfc. Moritz continued to pursue the vehicle.  The pursuit ended when the driver attempted to make a right hand turn onto Route 235, failed to yield the right of way and struck a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 23-year-old female from Mechanicsville.  The driver exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.  Deputies appended the driver in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn. 

The driver was arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle and numerous traffic violations.  Juvenile Services Administration was contacted and the juvenile transported to a juvenile detention facility.   The driver of the Honda Accord and her 3-year-old female passenger were uninjured in the accident. 

As a result of the juvenile’s arrest the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was contacted and assumed the investigation.  BCI is investigating the juvenile’s involvement in other thefts within St. Mary’s County. 

On Monday, March 30, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Dfc. Keith Moritz was on routine patrol behind a car on Pegg Road in Lexington Park. The deputy spotted a vehicle that he recognized as being reported stolen earlier that day. Moritz activated his lights and sirens to stop the car.

The vehicle took off down Pegg Rd toward Three Notch Road approaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. At the intersection of Pegg Road and Three Notch, the suspect ran the red light and collided with another vehicle. When the suspect’s car came to a stop, he ran from the vehicle, leaving the car running and in gear.

Moritz chased the subject and caught him within a few seconds. TBN was told that a second deputy had to run after the stolen car and stop it from taking off into the parking lot of the gas station at Pegg and 235. This information has not been confirmed by authorities.

More information will be released when made available by authorities.