A suspect was arrested in Maryland after crashing a stolen car into police cruisers in a Taco Bell drive-thru in Prince George’s County. The incident, captured on video, shows the suspect being taken into custody at the fast food restaurant. The identity of the suspect, who was driving a stolen 2011 Hyundai Tiburon, has not been released.
Multiple Marlow Heights police cruisers were damaged in the collision, with one being completely totaled. One officer sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment but has since been released.
According to Lt. Moses Edwards of the Marlow Heights Special Police, the suspect refused to comply with instructions to turn off the car and remove his foot from the accelerator. “We were telling him: take your foot off the accelerator, put the car in park, turn the car off. He wouldn’t.” Despite the officer being trapped in his vehicle, the suspect revved up the engine.
According to Edwards, a woman who was riding in the stolen vehicle as a passenger jumped out and put her hands in the air, claiming, “I’m not part of this.” She also stated that the suspect had crashed into a blue sedan with a father and his 6-year-old child inside. Fortunately, the occupants of the sedan are believed to be unharmed.
The stolen car had been taken from outside a residence in Southeast DC. The owner of the vehicle expressed her frustration, stating that this was not the first time she had been carjacked. She emphasized the need for people to work for what they want instead of resorting to theft.
The Marlow Heights Police Chief, John Conklin, informed reporters that the suspect has a history of previous arrests, including for carjacking. He also highlighted the rising number of car thefts in the area this year.
As a result of the incident, significant damage was done to the Marlow Heights police department, with four out of their eight cruisers needing repair or replacement. The final decision on the prosecution and punishment of the suspect will be made by the state’s attorney and the judges.