Maryland

Mug shot shows teen driver accused of intentionally striking Montgomery County officer on I-270

By Melanie Alnwick | Published October 19, 2023 8:21AM | Updated 12:12PM | News | FOX 5 DC |

GERMANTOWN, Md. - Authorities have released the mug shot of Frederick Raphael Mayorga, the 19-year-old man who was arrested after they say he intentionally struck an officer along a Maryland highway while trying to provoke police into chasing him.

Officers arrested Mayorga Wednesday morning after he barreled into Sgt. Patrick Kepp along the northbound lanes of Interstate 270 near Watkins Mill in Germantown. ... Kepp was left partially paralyzed losing use of both his legs. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition Wednesday but was able to speak and had visitors.

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Frederick Raphael Mayorga (Montgomery County Police Department)

Police say they began monitoring Mayorga hours earlier that morning as he drove a green Dodge Challenger in the Clarksburg area. ... Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said Mayorga has been known to provoke officers into chasing him, but officers did not pursue the vehicle Wednesday. Instead, they set up along I-270 in an effort to stop his vehicle.

Jones said Mayorga was seen driving recklessly, swerving and driving at speeds up to 110 mph. After he nearly ran another car off of the road, police made the decision to deploy stop sticks. ... Jones told FOX 5 that Kepp parked his patrol car on the side of the northbound lanes and got out to lay down stop sticks. As Mayorga came up the highway and saw Kepp, he intentionally drove toward his patrol car, Jones said. ... After striking Kepp, Mayorga continued speeding down the highway until his vehicle was disabled by stop sticks laid out by another officer. {snip} Mayorga's bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

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