CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — A police pursuit of a man accused of stabbing a relative's caregiver before stealing their wallet and car ended with an officer shooting the suspect in the stomach in Waldorf.
According to the Charles County Sheriff's Office, officers were called to a home in the 14700 block of Bassford Road just before noon Thursday. Investigators say they had received word that a suspect who had active warrants stemming from a violent assault and stabbing of his relative's caregiver, was inside the house.
Officers say that after establishing a perimeter around the house, they saw 28-year-old Patrick James Roberts, Jr. walk outside with a large knife in his hand. He allegedly ran into the woods and was chased by a police K9 and its handler.
The K9 was off the leash when officers said Roberts "engaged" with the K9. The K9 officer shot at Roberts, hitting him once in the stomach.
The knife was reportedly recovered and Roberts was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The officer who shot him has been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation.
Both the K9 and the officer were not injured.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the shooting.
Roberts was wanted on charges of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, theft, and unlawful taking of a vehicle. All the charges stem from an alleged attack on a relative's caregiver earlier this month. Officers claim he was trying to steal a wallet from the older relative when the caregiver intervened. At that time, he reportedly stabbed the caregiver in the abdomen.
The caregiver was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
After stabbing the caregiver, officers say Roberts stole the wallet and his relative's car before leaving.
