Police Recover Car Involved In Crash That Killed Md. Officer; 1 Questioned
BELTSVILLE, Md. (WJZ)—Major developments in the investigation into a police chase that left an officer dead. Detectives may be close to finding the getaway driver.
Adam May has the latest from Prince George's County.
Police tell WJZ they have now recovered a vehicle seen fleeing a gas station in this deadly high-speed chase. Police have arrested one occupant. Another remains at large.
Prince George's County police officer Adrian Morris, 23, from Laurel was killed Monday when his cruiser veered off Interstate 95.
He was pursuing a theft suspect when drivers witnessed the horror.
"I thought he was OK. I thought he was breathing. I didn't know what his status was. He moved his head, I thought," said Ernesto Vasquez.
The chase started at a Shell gas station off Sandy Spring Road.
On Tuesday, WJZ cameras caught detectives apparently looking for fingerprints.
They released surveillance pictures of a man suspected of trying to break into a car.
"A gas station employee noticed that the suspect vehicle had just returned to the station. The on-scene police officers were alerted. They returned to their police car and drove off after that suspect's car," said Julie Parker, police spokesperson.
That car, a silver Acura, was found by police in Washington, D.C. One of two people in the car is now under arrest. Police are not saying if it's the driver or passenger.
"It's tragic, but it shows the courage and dedication of the officers. So, I'm very proud of them," said Chief Mark Magaw.
Morris was a police officer for just 2.5 years. Before that, as a teenager he volunteered in the explorer program.
Gov. Martin O'Malley has ordered flags across Maryland to fly at half staff in honor of Officer Morris.
