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From the Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack:
On Wednesday, 7/27/11 at 1:36 a.m., Trooper First Class Jon Sawa, Trooper First Class James Davis and Trooper Charles Smith of the Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack, were involved in two separate high speed pursuits of Harley Davidson motorcycles.
The pursuit began when TFC Sawa captured the two motorcycles on radar at a high rate of speed, northbound on the Route 1 Bypass, just south of Route 924 (Bel Air, Maryland). TFC Sawa and TFC Davis immediately initiated pursuit.
Upon approaching the intersection of Rt. 543 (Ady Road) in Bel Air, the motorcycles separated and TFC Davis continued to pursue one motorcycle northbound on Rt. 543 (Ady Road) and TFC Sawa continued northbound on Rt. 1 (Conowingo Road) joined shortly after by Trooper Smith. The pursuit involving TFC Davis ceased shortly after entering Rt. 543 when the 31-year-old male operator surrendered peacefully.
The operator being pursued by TFC Sawa/Tpr. Smith continued to operate the motorcycle in an erratic manner, weaving heavily, and remained traveling at speeds from 85 mph to 100 mph. During portions of the pursuit, TFC Sawa noticed that the adult male operator was reaching in his saddle bag and throwing small metal studs on the roadway in an apparent attempt to flatten the tires of his patrol vehicle.
An example of the motorcycle operator’s resolve to escape apprehension occurred as the pursuit continued across the Rt. 1 Conowingo Dam into Cecil County, Maryland, at a high rate of speed. During this point in the pursuit the operator was attempting to evade capture by driving/scraping against the concrete barrier of the dam on his motorcycle. Upon reaching the intersection at Rowlandsville Road, Conowingo, Maryland, TFC Sawa and Trooper Smith managed to successfully stop the motorcycle.
At the scene of the stop the motorcycle operator actually threw the Harley into TFC Sawa’s patrol vehicle. Upon being intercepted by the troopers, the operator, who fled on foot, became involved in an intense altercation with both troopers. The suspect attempted to seize the Department-issued firearm of TFC Sawa and also bit TFC Sawa on his right bicep. The troopers managed to successfully subdue the suspect after an extended altercation.
It was later determined that both operators in this pursuit were members of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. Both possessed tattoos consistent with OMG activity.
Below is a photograph of the metal spike that was thrown at TFC Sawa during this pursuit which can be purchased online.
