Queen Anne’s Co. Sheriff Clarifies Participation in ICE Arrest

STEVENSVILLE, Md. – The Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office (QACSO) is providing details on Sheriff Gary Hofmann’s involvement in an ICE arrest that took place in Stevensville on Friday morning.

Around 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 21, Sheriff Hofmann was on routine patrol when he observed a Chevy Spark exiting westbound Route 50, recklessly crossing multiple lanes of traffic, before taking the off-ramp onto Route 8 at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle traveled north, into the intersection of Route 8 and Skipjack Parkway, the driver ran a solid red traffic light, colliding with a Toyota Highlander before also striking a Honda CR-V.

Two unmarked law enforcement vehicles, later identified as federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), were in pursuit of the vehicle, and arrived at the intersection immediately following the collision. Sheriff Hofmann was immediately present on scene, due to his witnessing of the crash, and began rendering assistance to the involved parties and requesting additional emergency services to the scene.

The pursued driver, identified as Oscar Mejia, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the Toyota was also transported to a local hospital.

QACSO says Hofmann was not provided any specific details regarding Mejia’s underlying arrest or detention by federal authorities and was not made aware of their operations prior to the crash. Further, the agency says additional deputies responded to the scene to provide traffic assistance at the intersection, as part of officers’ strict “Duty to Act” policy at any emergency scene, regardless of jurisdiction.

WMDT has reached out to ICE to confirm Mejia’s detention and current whereabouts.