News Releases

Suspects Arrested for Possession of Drugs, Stolen License Plates, and Burglary Tools Following Pursuit in Silver Spring

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 25, 2020

Officers from the 3rd District have arrested and charged Mateo Reyes-Vanega, age 18, and Manuel Vasquez-Chavarria, age 27, both of Baltimore, with crimes to include theft of license plates, possession of burglary tools, and possession of crack cocaine.  Detectives continue to investigate the possibility that Vasquez-Chavarria and Reyes-Vanega have been involved in additional crimes in the area.

On September 23 at approximately 2:30 a.m., a 3rd District officer was on routine patrol in the area of Route 29 (Colesville Road) and Georgia Avenue.  The officer observed an Acura make erratic maneuvers on southbound Route 29, to include turning left onto Georgia Avenue from the incorrect lane and failing to stop for the red light at Ellsworth Drive. The officer, suspecting that the driver was under the influence of drugs/alcohol, attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Acura at Georgia Avenue and Bonifant Street.  The driver failed to stop and fled in the vehicle.  The officer checked the registration of the Acura and determined that the license plate on the vehicle had been reported stolen from Baltimore City.

Officers pursued the Acura as it continued north on Georgia Avenue.  The vehicle struck a curb at the entrance to Interstate 495 (I-495) and became disabled.  The driver, identified as Reyes-Vanega, was arrested.  The passenger, identified as Vasquez-Chavarria, fled from the vehicle but was arrested by officers following a foot pursuit.

A search of the Acura uncovered evidence to include crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, two stolen license plates (both stolen from the Baltimore area), tools commonly used to commit theft and burglary, and a vehicle part which is commonly stolen from operable vehicles.

Officers determined that Reyes-Vanega had a warrant for his arrest from a neighboring jurisdiction for felony theft and Manuel Vasquez-Chavarria had a warrant for his arrest from a surrounding jurisdiction for first-degree assault and felony theft.

Both suspects were transported to the Central Processing Unit.  Reyes-Vanega is being held without bond.  Reyes-Vanega was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond (no payment due at time of release).

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Release ID: 20-366
Media Contact: Rebecca Innocenti 
Categories: drug-investigation, theft