Officials Release Camera Footage From Fatal Police Pursuit In Wheaton

WHEATON, MD — The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday released dashboard and body-worn camera footage of a police pursuit in Wheaton in December that resulted in the death of a juvenile passenger in the suspect's car.

At about 10:15 p.m. on Dec. 13, Montgomery County police officers were on patrol when they saw a white Nissan Maxima and attempted a traffic stop of the car in the area of Bucknell Drive and Cambridge Park Court in Wheaton.

During the attempted traffic stop, the Nissan Maxima struck a marked Montgomery County police car and fled the scene. Officers pursued the Nissan northbound on Georgia Avenue for approximately 1.5 miles.

The pursuit involved both marked and unmarked Montgomery County police cars. The marked police cars are equipped with dashboard cameras.

During the pursuit, at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Henderson Avenue, the driver of the Nissan struck a median, lost control, and entered the southbound lanes of Georgia Avenue where it collided with two vehicles. The driver of the Nissan, an adult male, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The passenger in the Nissan, a juvenile male, was pronounced dead on the scene.

The drivers and one passenger in the other two vehicles were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. None of the officers were injured.

The Independent Investigations Division generally releases body-worn camera and dashboard camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. The release of body-worn camera and dashboard camera footage in this incident was delayed to allow investigators additional time to review video footage and conduct witness interviews.

The attorney general’s office said Tuesday that the Independent Investigations Division is still investigating the circumstances of the fatal pursuit.