State Police Apprehend Wanted Cecil County Man After Fleeing Traffic Stop In Stolen Vehicle

(ELKTON, MD) Maryland State Police apprehended a Cecil County man, wanted on multiple warrants in three states and operating a stolen vehicle after fleeing a traffic stop yesterday afternoon.

The accused is identified as Justin Burchett, 42 of Elkton. Upon his release from the hospital, Burchett was transported to the Harford County Inter-agency Processing Center (IPC) where he awaits an appearance before a court commissioner.  Burchett is currently being held on numerous outstanding warrants for felony charges from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Maryland State Police are seeking additional traffic and criminal charges for the incident that occurred yesterday. 

Shortly before 2:00 p.m. yesterday, a Maryland State Trooper assigned to North East Barrack, located a confirmed stolen vehicle on Route 213 in Cecil County. The vehicle was a silver 2016 Ford Focus and reported stolen out of Elkton. The suspected driver also had multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest to include a felony first degree assault stemming from a recent Pennsylvania State Police incident.

The driver was operating the Ford Focus in a reckless manner consistent with impaired driving. Investigators believe he was traveling at a high rate of speed, running red lights and passing vehicles on the shoulder to include a school bus prior to the authorized police pursuit.

The Maryland State Trooper attempted a traffic stop on Route 213 in Elkton. The driver of the Ford Focus failed to stop and a subsequent pursuit ensued. Pennsylvania State Police were notified and deployed multiple troopers to intercept the pursuit at the state line.

Simultaneously, the Maryland State Trooper was authorized to continue the pursuit into Pennsylvania on Blue Ball Road. While traveling on Route 10 in the area of Route 896 in Oxford, Pennsylvania, the trooper’s patrol car collided with an uninvolved Honda minivan.

The operator of the minivan was uninjured. The trooper was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a local hospital where he was treated and later released. 

Police continued to search for the driver of the stolen Ford Focus. At 4:20 p.m., investigators assigned to the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division located the vehicle in the 1400 block of Pulaski Highway in Havre de Grace. The car was backed into a parking space. As troopers approached the Ford Focus, the driver accelerated forward, struck a Maryland State Police patrol vehicle and fled the scene.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., investigators located the Ford Focus again at a gas station in the 1200 block of Main Street in Darlington. Troopers from the North East Barrack and investigators with the Criminal Enforcement Division activated their emergency equipment in attempt to make contact with the driver.

The driver failed to stop, attempted to exit the parking lot and struck the front of a Maryland State Police vehicle. The trooper was inside his vehicle at the time. He was uninjured.

The Ford Focus subsequently became disabled causing the airbags to deploy.  First responders on the scene helped both the driver and a female passenger get out of the Ford Focus.  Harford County EMS personnel also responded to the scene and rendered aid. 

Burchett was transported to an area hospital where he remained under police guard until later released.  The passenger was released from police custody and is not facing any charges at this time. 

Troopers on the scene observed a glass smoking device inside the Ford Focus. A subsequent probable cause search of the vehicle later revealed the recovery of a small bag containing what appeared to be a controlled dangerous substance.  

The investigation continues.

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