Wanted Man Leads Police On 50-Mile Chase Through Maryland & D.C.
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- The pursuit of a Baltimore man allegedly wanted on felony warrants takes police on a high-speed chase more than 50 miles. The pursuit went all the way to D.C. and back into Maryland.
Christie Ileto has details.
Police say Robert Fugate drove as fast as 90 miles per hour, trying to dodge sirens before crashing in Chevy Chase.
Police cars and flashing lights illuminate Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase Friday. Detectives say Robert Allen Fugate, 53, is the driver behind a dangerous, high-speed chase.
"We turned around and we could see all these sparks," a witness said.
"Forty cop cars with guns pulled out," a man said.
Maryland State Police say Fugate had active felony warrants, including assault and reckless endangerment.
"We found out later that the police had blown out this guy's tires and that they were on a chase from Baltimore to here," a woman said.
Baltimore County Police had attempted to arrest him on those felony warrants in the Parkville area. Instead, he fled in an SUV, starting the high-speed flight, beginning on the Baltimore Beltway.
At times, reaching up to 90 miles per hour, Fugate tried dodging the sirens for over an hour and for more than 50 miles, starting on 695, onto Interstate 70 and down Columbia Pike in Howard County.
He eventually went into D.C. and back up Wisconsin Avenue in Montgomery County--an area lined with upscale shops and restaurants.
"We started hearing this noise. It was like, 'ke, ke, ke, ke, ke,'" a witness said.
"And then we look over in front of us and see. Oh my Gosh! There's a car without tires and there's a police chase," said another witness.
Fugate, reportedly driving on two tires for part of the chase, finally came to a stop. He was quickly cuffed and carted off by police.
Fugate was taken to a nearby hospital in Montgomery County for treatment. When he's released, he'll be taken to the Baltimore County Detention Center.
There were no injuries in the pursuit or the crash.
