UPDATE — Nov. 24, 1:12 p.m. The suspect’s name has been released. James Robert Gillespie, age 63, of Leonardtown, was released from the hospital and transported to St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with Resisting Arrest, Driving Under the Influence, Driving without a License, Fleeing and Eluding, and multiple traffic offenses.
The police vehicle that was struck was operated by Corporal J. Vezzosi. Corporal Vezzosi was transported to St. Mary’s MedStar Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was later released.
Leonardtown,, MD — Corporal Jamie Davis of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded Nov. 23 to a reported traffic complaint in the area of Point Lookout Road in Loveville. A vehicle was observed operating on the wrong side of the roadway by several citizens. Corporal Davis located the vehicle in the area of Rt. 242 at Rt. 234 and stopped the vehicle. The operator drove off during the preliminary contact and continued on Rt. 242 at a high rate of speed. The vehicle turned around and continued back towards Leonardtown where deputies deployed stop sticks to incapacitate the vehicle.
The vehicle continued with flat tires. The vehicle turned onto Washington Street in Leonardtown, where it struck a police vehicle and injured the driver. The suspect continued and struck another vehicle operated by a civilian. Deputies used their vehicles to prevent the driver from fleeing and removed him from the vehicle. The suspect was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The civilian was not injured in the low-speed collision. The deputy was transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
More details will be released as they become available…