On Sept. 14 about 8:30 p.m., a citizen called the Charles County Sheriff's Office to report the alarm at Gardiner Equipment at 11740 Vernon Road in Waldorf was sounding and there were people pushing an object across the street and loading it onto a trailer. As Sgt. P. Gregory was responding to the scene, he observed a black truck with a trailer hauling an ATV northbound on Crain Highway. He attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver refused to comply. Officers pursued the vehicle into Prince George's County.
Officers from the Maryland State Police and the Prince George's County Police Department responded to assist in the pursuit. The truck struck a Prince George's County Police cruiser shortly after entering Prince George's County but continued to flee. The officer was not injured.
As the truck approached the intersection of Auth Road and Branch Avenue, the ATV fell off the trailer but the truck continued to flee. As officers were pursuing the truck, police communications officers found the truck, a Ford, and the trailer had been reported stolen in Waldorf Sept. 13.
At the intersection of Southern Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the two occupants of the truck stopped and fled the truck on foot. The Prince George's County Police apprehended the passenger of the vehicle nearby. He did not have any identification so the Prince George's County Police Department are currently trying to determine his true identity. The driver of the vehicle was not apprehended however, through their investigation, detectives have tentatively identified him and are conducting further investigation to obtain an arrest warrant.
This incident has been linked to another theft at Gardiner Equipment that occurred Sept. 13. Officers responded to Gardiner Equipment that night about 9:56 p.m. for an intrusion alarm. Their investigation revealed suspects used unknown means to cut a hole in the fence that surrounds the property and gained entry into the lot where ATVs and other items are displayed. The suspects pushed two ATVs toward the opening in the fence but fled prior to stealing those ATVs. Initially, employees of Gardiner Equipment who responded to the scene could not determine if anything had been stolen from the business, but further investigation revealed three ATVs were stolen during that burglary.
On Sept. 14 about 2 a.m., the Prince George's County police observed two men riding two of the ATVs in Prince George's County and attempted to stop them. One of the men stopped his ATV and fled on foot. The other man fired shots at the Prince George's County police and fled the scene. No one was injured.
Auto Theft Detectives with the Charles County Sheriff's Office are continuing their investigation of the theft. Once they have confirmed the identity of the passenger and the driver, they will obtain arrest warrants.
Detectives C. Baker and P. Garino are investigating.
Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in Charles County that leads to an arrest or indictment. Anyone with information about a crime may contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. All callers may remain anonymous.