Unlucky St. Patrick’s Day for Maryland man

A Baltimore man has been charged with multiple felonies after leading deputies on a car chase in Frederick County’s Sunnyside area and eventually crashing into another vehicle near Winchester Medical Center.

At 11:46 am, Frederick County EOC received a 911 call from a woman identifying herself as Sherita Johnson, claiming that her child’s father, Michael Stewart, had assaulted her at a Sheetz store on North Frederick Pike. The suspect reportedly left and returned while sheriff’s deputies were en route to the scene.

Deputy S.C. Smallwood spotted the suspect vehicle on Fox Drive and attempted to stop it, but the driver sped up and refused to stop. A pursuit ensued, with the suspect vehicle, a 2009 Infinity G37, driving erratically, making multiple U-turns, and even briefly driving the wrong way in an effort to evade law enforcement. Other deputies joined the chase as it continued onto Route 11 and Route 37.

The pursuit ended when the suspect exited Route 37 at Winchester Medical Center, turned left, and collided with a 2016 Toyota RAV4. Both vehicles were disabled in the crash. The suspect tried to flee on foot but was apprehended by Deputy B.A. Armstrong, with the help of a good Samaritan who had stopped for police vehicles.

Initially providing false information, the suspect was eventually identified as Michael Patrick Stewart, 25, from Baltimore, Maryland. He has a suspended Maryland license and is currently on probation. The RAV4 driver, 88-year-old Andrew Jackson Page of Winchester, was examined by EMS at the scene and declined further medical attention.

Deputies tried to locate and speak with Ms. Johnson about the initial assault claims, but she seems unwilling to cooperate with the investigation.

Stewart was taken to Winchester Medical Center for evaluation of potential injuries from the crash. He faces charges of felony eluding, felony hit and run, reckless driving, failure to yield the right of way resulting in a crash, providing false ID to law enforcement, and driving without insurance.