3 Officers Injured As Suspect Tries To Elude Bel Air Police: Authorities

BEL AIR, MD — Three police officers were injured when the driver of a vehicle reported stolen was stopped by law enforcement in the Bel Air Raising Cane's parking lot Saturday afternoon, then tried to elude officers by hitting them with the vehicle and ramming official police cars.

According to the Bel Air Police Department, the incident unfolded shortly after 2 p.m. Officers with the Bel Air Police Department and Harford County sheriff's deputies found a vehicle that had been reported stolen.

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Before officers could stop the vehicle in the Bel Air Raising Cane's parking lot, the passenger hopped out of the vehicle and went into the restaurant. When authorities attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver took off, hitting a Bel Air police officer and a Harford County sheriff's deputy who were standing outside their vehicles, the police department stated.

The driver of the stolen vehicle also hit and damaged law enforcement vehicles while zooming out of the parking lot. A police pursuit followed and the driver was apprehended a short time later in Jarrettsville. The driver took off on foot and was apprehended, authorities said.

The passenger was arrested and identified as Janay Ellenore Morrison, 18, of Baltimore County. Morrison has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

The driver refused to provide identifying information and was charged under the name John Doe with two counts of attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, hit-and-run offenses, malicious destruction of property and multiple traffic violations, according to police.

The Bel Air Police officer hit during the incident was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to police. A second Bel Air Police officer was injured during the pursuit and received treatment at a local hospital. The Harford County sheriff's deputy sustained minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital, the Bel Air Police Department stated.

The investigation remains active.