An officer in Maryland was left partially paralyzed after a reckless driver purposefully struck him with his car on Interstate 270 early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred when the officer, Sgt. Patrick Kepp, parked his patrol car on the side of the highway and attempted to put down stop sticks to halt the Dodge Challenger driven by the suspect, Frederick Raphael Mayorga. Mayorga, a 19-year-old teenager known for provoking officers into chasing him, was spotted doing doughnuts and driving erratically on the highway.
Police did not pursue Mayorga’s vehicle due to his history, but instead set up along the interstate to monitor his movements. It was not until Mayorga nearly caused another vehicle to crash that officers deployed stop sticks. However, Mayorga intentionally struck Sgt. Kepp on the main lanes of I-270 before his vehicle was disabled by another officer’s stop sticks. Mayorga was apprehended near Clarksburg Road.
Sgt. Kepp, who has been with the department since 2014, suffered the loss of both his legs in the incident. Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones described Mayorga’s actions as an attempt to turn the situation into a video game, intentionally baiting officers into chasing him.
Mayorga now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, and his bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday. In addition to this case, Mayorga has several pending cases for serious traffic violations, including driving without a license.
The incident highlights the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis and the need for stricter penalties for reckless driving. Sgt. Kepp, who had previously received an award for his efforts in impaired driving prevention, is now left with life-altering injuries. The community is rallying behind him, and this incident serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those in law enforcement.
Please note that this article provides a neutral perspective on the incident and does not include any political biases or opinions.
