GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Police say a Montgomery County Police officer has lost both his legs after he was intentionally hit by a driver on Interstate 270 Wednesday morning.
In a press conference Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones described the officer hit as a phenomenal person with true dedication for getting dangerous drivers off the streets. That's what Sergeant Patrick Kepp, 36, was trying to do when he tried to stop a green Dodge Charger that was driving 110 mph on the highway, police say.
Officers were called to the interstate near Watkins Mill Road early Wednesday, when a driver reported that a man driving the Charger had just tried to run them off the road. The driver of the Charger was identified by police as 19-year-old Frederick Raphael Mayorga.
Chief Jones said Mayorga was well known to officers in the department for trying to bait officers into chasing him. In fact, Jones said Kepp had arrested Mayorga in the past for driving 135 mph on I-270. For that reason, responding officers did not pursue Mayorga, but instead attempted to use stop sticks to deflate the Charger's tires and bring the vehicle to a stop.
Police said Kepp got out of his cruiser to deploy the stop sticks when Mayorga intentionally drove at him and hit him. Kepp was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Jones said Kepp, who has been with the department since February of 2014, had lost both of his legs.
After Kepp was struck, another officer was able to successfully deploy stop sticks and take Mayorga into custody.
Jones said the department is seeking attempted first-degree murder charges against Mayorga.
Jones called Mayorga's behavior "intentionally reckless" and said Mayorga was known for speeding past officers, and doing donuts in front of them, with the hope of provoking a high-speed chase.
"As if this is some kind of video game," Jones said.
Jones said Mayorga has a lengthy criminal history with several traffic citations, including reckless driving, speeding and driving without a license.
County Executive Marc Elrich said this should prompt lawmakers to look at a new way of criminalizing reckless driving, calling Mayorga an "extremely dangerous driver."
"This is different than someone just speeding," Elrich said. "This is someone who is speeding and intentionally trying to provoke a high-speed chase. "I thank [Kepp] for his sacrifice, but this was not a sacrifice he should have had to make."
Kepp remains in the hospital, recovering from what authorities called a lifechanging injury.
Meanwhile, Mayorga is expected to appear in court Thursday to face first-degree murder charges, as well as several traffic charges.