Grand jury indicts man suspected of stealing Maryland state truck, starting police chase

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — A grand jury in Montgomery County indicted Flavio Cesar Lanuza on Friday. He’s accused of stealing a state-owned truck in February and leading police on a chase.

Police chase in Maryland involving stolen state truck; man arrested

The jury indicted him on 27 counts, including first- and second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting/interfering with arrest and related charges, according to a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Maryland State Police (MSP) said troopers received word of a hit-and-run crash involving four cars at about 5 p.m. on Feb. 16. One of the cars involved left the scene, driving into a guard rail in a Park and Ride lot.

A Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) truck responded to the lot to check on the driver of the Ford. Police said the driver, whom they identified as Lanuza, got out of his own truck and drove off in the SHA truck.

Police identify man suspected of stealing state truck, initiating police chase

Police said he led officers on a pursuit through Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. During the chase, Lanuza hit more than a dozen cars.

Police arrested him at about 6:30 p.m. after the stolen car broke down in Silver Spring.

Lanuza is believed to have hit 13 cars, leading to a civilian, two law enforcement members, a Maryland State trooper and a Montgomery County police officer being injured.

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