How to Send Well Wishes to Critically Injured Officer

ROCKVILLE, MD — Well-wishes from the public can be sent to the Montgomery County Police officer who remains in critical condition after a suspected drunk driver struck him during a traffic stop on Rockville Pike, authorities said Monday.

The accident happened Thursday night on Route 355 (Rockville Pike) in the area of Edmonston Drive in Rockville. Officer Noah Leotta, 24, was on foot outside his patrol car when he was hit and suffered life-threatening injuries.

Leotta was working as a member of the Holiday Alcohol Task Force, which devotes all its time to detecting alcohol-related offenses during the holiday season.

Monday afternoon the department thanked the public again for supporting Leotta. If you want to send a message and/or well wishes to Officer Leotta and his family there are two options:

• E-mail Officer Noah Leotta at: fornoah@montgomerycountymd.gov. The mailbox is designated for sending thoughts, prayers, and well wishes to Leotta and family. Police say that because of the volume of mail, they are unable to respond to any requests, questions, and/or comments.
• Deliver or mail cards/messages to: For Officer Noah Leotta, Montgomery County Police Department – 4th District, 2300 Randolph Road, Wheaton, MD 20902

Leotta’s family is considering creating a GoFundMe account to help cover expenses, the department said, pledging to share that information if an account is set up.

“Noah is not only a dedicated young police officer, he is a caring person who became a cop to serve the community where he grew up. He needs everyone’s prayers as he fights for his life,” said Police Chief Tom Manger on Friday.

Detectives say Leotta was conducting a traffic stop in the curb lane of northbound Rockville Pike and Edmonston Drive, when a 2012 Honda CRV northbound on Rockville Pike first struck Leotta’s marked cruiser and then struck the officer.

The driver of the CRV, Luis Gustavo Reluzco, 47, of Rolling Meadow Way in Olney, remained at the crash site. He was taken into custody under the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Reluzco was not injured.

Due to the seriousness of Leotta’s injuries, Reluzco was required by Maryland law to submit to a blood test that will be analyzed for alcohol; those results are pending.

Leotta has been a Montgomery County Police officer since January 2013.

Anyone who saw the crash or has information about this collision is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.