MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — The man accused of stealing an MDOT tow truck made his first court appearance on Thursday. Cesar Flavio Lanuza is being held without bond following the chaotic chase he took police on through Montgomery and Prince George’s County on February 16.
The chase began in Prince George’s County and ended in Montgomery County, with Lanuza reportedly striking more than a dozen vehicles along the way.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, Maryland State Police College Park responded to a hit-and-run crash involving four cars at the inner loop of I-495 at the Greenbelt Metro Station. Police say Lanuza was driving a white Ford Ranger involved in the crash.
According to preliminary reports, Lanuza fled the scene of the crash and drove into the Park and Ride of the Greenbelt Metro Station, where he went off the road and struck a guardrail. A state-issued tow truck responded to the scene to check on Lanuza and ensure he was okay.
Investigators claim Lanuza got out of the Ford truck he was driving and stole the state-issued tow truck. Troopers from the College Park Barrack attempted to stop him along the outer loop of I-495 causing a second collision. Lanuza hit two vehicles and continued to flee.
Troopers briefly stopped the pursuit to check on the drivers of the two vehicles. The tow truck is equipped with GPS and later that evening at 5:50 p.m. officers from other districts located the truck on Briggs Chaney Road in the Greenmount Road area of Calverton, Maryland.
As police began to encroach on Lanuza, his driving appeared to become more evasive, video of the chase showed. Lanuza was seen driving through power lines, ramming a Maryland State Police vehicle, pushing a vehicle into oncoming traffic causing a head-on collision while trying to flee, and driving along the opposite side of the road striking multiple vehicles, all before the vehicle got stuck in a ditch at 6:30 p.m.
According to initial reports, Lanuza struck 13 vehicles and two law enforcement cars, all transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.
Lanuza was being treated at Suburban Hospital for injuries sustained from the events of that night. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore Office has been trying to get Lanuza transferred into their custody. The agency said he is here illegally.
ICE and Montgomery County leaders held a private meeting to discuss the way the county has been handling cases pertaining to people in the country illegally. The local director of ICE Enforcement believes Maryland counties are not honoring immigration detainers, allowing dangerous criminals to go free.
ICE issued a detainer for Lanuza on February 20. He is currently facing 10 charges in Montgomery County and three in Prince George's County. His next appearance is scheduled for March 22.
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