Del. man facing charges after reportedly fleeing from MSP
A Laurel man has been charged, after State Police say he wouldn’t stop for police in Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties.
Maryland State Police say on Wednesday night around 8:40 PM, the Golden Ring Barrack was notified by Baltimore County Police to be on the lookout for a Lincoln MKZ with Delaware registration that had fled following an attempted traffic stop in the eastern part of the county.
Troopers then apparently spotted the vehicle on the outer loop of I-695 at Bel Air Road and attempted a traffic stop, however the vehicle didn’t stop and the driver reportedly continued driving erratically. State Troopers say they then ended their pursuit at Reisterstown Road, but continued to drive in the direction that the suspect was heading.
Soon after, Police say Troopers from the Glen Burnie Barrack noticed the vehicle driving southbound on I-97, and again attempted to stop it for erratic driving, however once again, the driver refused to stop for marked Police cars with lights and sirens on. Troopers say they then followed the MKZ to the Bay Bridge, where it collided with a tractor trailer, where it finally came to a stop. Neither the suspect, or driver of the tractor trailer reported being injured in the crash.
The suspect driver, 24-year-old Jonathan McFarland, of Laurel, Delaware, was then taken into custody, and charged with 42 traffic violations, including fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, negligent driving, failure to stop at the scene of a property damage accident, exceeding the speed limit, driving off the roadway while passing a vehicle, and other related violations.
Investigators say that Lincoln MKZ that McFarland was driving, is owned by his mother and was not reported stolen, and that he was not wanted. Police are apparently still looking into the reason for McFarland’s refusal to stop. MSP say after he was taken into custody, McFarland was taken to Baltimore Washington Hospital for an evaluation, where he remains at this time.
At least one civilian vehicle was reportedly hit by the MKZ as McFarland drove erratically around I-695, but the driver of that vehicle was apparently not injured.
