Anne Arundel Co. Officer Charged In Death Of Laurel Motorcyclist During Police Pursuit

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Criminal charges have been filed against a police officer from Anne Arundel County in connection to a police-involved fatality that happened in Howard County.

On Aug. 10, 2024, at approximately 4:11 a.m., a motorcycle driven by Joshua VanderZiel, 21, of Laurel, crashed into the side of a flatbed truck in the 9400 block of Washington Boulevard in Howard County. Witness accounts indicated that the truck was making a left turn from the access drive on Washington Boulevard into the southbound lanes when the motorcycle, traveling at a high rate of speed, was approaching northbound on Washington Boulevard. As the truck was making the left turn, the motorcycle hit the truck and VanderZiel was killed on impact, according to the Howard County Police Department.

On Aug. 14, 2024, the Independent Investigations Division received information from the Maryland State Police Crash Team that the crash may have been a police-involved death. On Aug. 20, 2024, the IID assumed the investigation after determining that the incident was a police-involved fatality involving Anne Arundel County Police Officer Alexander Rodriguez, 30. The IID’s investigation revealed that, on Aug. 10, 2024, Rodriguez, who was driving his marked police cruiser, engaged in a high-speed pursuit of VanderZiel that started in Anne Arundel County, continued through Prince George’s County and into Howard County, where the pursuit ended with the collision, the IID reported.

Rodriguez pursued VanderZiel for more than four miles at speeds twice the posted speed limit. At no time during the pursuit did Rodriguez activate his lights or sirens, notify dispatch communications of the pursuit or obtain authorization for the pursuit. After the fatal collision, Rodriguez abruptly stopped his vehicle, made a U-turn and sped southbound on Washington Boulevard. He did not notify anyone or make a report of the collision, he did not remain on scene and did not give aid. He returned to Anne Arundel County and continued his shift, according to the IID.

A grand jury of Howard County residents on Wednesday, April 2, indicted Rodriguez on one count of manslaughter by vehicle or vessel - gross negligence (felony), one count of manslaughter by vehicle or vessel - criminal negligence (misdemeanor), one count of duty of driver to remain at scene of accident resulting in death (felony) and five counts of misconduct in office (misdemeanors). Rodriguez has been with the Anne Arundel County Police Department since March 2023.

“I am absolutely appalled that an officer would endanger a person’s life and then flee the scene of a fatal crash without offering aid or reporting the incident,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown. “This disregard for human life and misconduct from a member of law enforcement is a betrayal of public trust that undermines the safety of communities that police are sworn to protect.”