Man, 5 teens arrested for allegedly assaulting police during traffic stop in Anne Arundel County

BALTIMORE -- An adult and five teenagers were arrested after allegedly assaulting police officers during a traffic stop in Anne Arundel County, police said Thursday.

On New Year's Day, around 10:40 a.m., officers stopped a black Mercedes on Ritchie Highway near Shelly Road in Brooklyn due to a registration violation, police said.

"He observed this vehicle weaving in and out of traffic driving faster than any other vehicle out there," said Anne Arundel County Police Spokesperson Marc Limansky.

Limansky said that once stopped, another police officer arrived at the scene. Limansky identified the driver as 21-year-old Jerlmell Johnson Jr. He said officers asked about a registration violation.

"One of the digits on the license plate was obscured by some black tape," he said.

While police spoke with the driver outside the vehicle, several passengers exited the car and began "hindering the officers' efforts." Authorities said an altercation broke out.

"Fighting with them, hitting them, getting in their way," Limansky said. "The officers had to deploy their pepper spray to stop this behavior."

Police noticed one passenger attempting to leave the scene with a black bag taken from the vehicle. An officer stopped that suspect and discovered the bag contained a loaded Polymer 80 handgun, according to police.

"It could have ended a lot differently," Limansky said. "You never know what the intent of an individual is."

Authorities arrested and charged the following vehicle occupants:

• Jerlmell Gary Johnson Jr., 21, of Brooklyn, Maryland
• 17-year-old male, of Severn, Maryland
• 16-year-old female, of Brooklyn, Maryland
• 14-year-old female, of Brooklyn, Maryland
• 17-year-old female, of Brooklyn, Maryland
• 15-year-old female, of Brooklyn, Maryland

Limansky said investigators are still working to understand the relationship between all the suspects involved in the traffic stop and what was their intentions with the gun.

In Howard County, police are showing how they tracked down two teenagers who are accused of stealing a Honda Civic by the Mall in Columbia on December 14. 

Officials just released police body camera footage showing an officer chasing down a teenager.

Meanwhile, a drone captured the suspects running through a neighborhood off Cedar Lane. 

Police arrested the teenagers, charging them with motor vehicle theft.