News Releases

MCP Officer Struck By Vehicle; Driver Arrested and Charged With Assault

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 21, 2015

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department - 6th District Investigative Section are continuing to investigate and have charged Lynnard Slaughter, age 32, of the unit block of Granchester Place, with assault charges and reckless endangerment after he struck a Montgomery County police officer with his vehicle.

On December 9 at approximately 1:09 a.m., a 6th District patrol officer attempted to stop a suspected impaired driver, now identified as Slaughter, in the area of Montgomery Village Avenue and Russell Avenue in Gaithersburg. The officer activated his emergency equipment but Slaughter did not stop and continued driving the vehicle at speeds close to the speed limits.

After driving for several minutes, Slaughter drove into a residential driveway on Grantchester Place and stopped in a driveway. Officers approached Slaughter’s car on foot and ordered him out of the car. Slaughter put the car into reverse and accelerated towards officers and struck an officer with the vehicle. During this encounter, the officer who was struck discharged his handgun. This officer is being identified as Patrick McCarthy, hired in 2014.

After striking Officer McCarthy, Slaughter continued to drive the car out of the neighborhood with officers continuing to pursue him. At one point, near Girard Street and Victory Farm Drive, Slaughter lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway and crashed. After the vehicle crashed, Slaughter fled from the car on foot, Officers pursued Slaughter, and took him into custody.

Fire & Rescue personnel responded and transported Officer McCarthy to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been released from the hospital.

Slaughter was transported to the 6th District station where he complained of a headache. Slaughter was taken to an area hospital for treatment and once he was released from the hospital, he was transported to the Central Processing unit and was charged with two counts of first-degree assault and one count of reckless endangerment. Slaughter was ordered held without bond. He is also facing possible driving while impaired charges.

As is standard procedure, Officer McCarthy is on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

RLG

# # #

Release ID: 15-406
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: assault