Police Cruiser Kicked, Vandalized During Gathering Of 100+ Cars, People In Prince George's

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects who vandalized a marked police cruiser this past weekend in Laurel. On April 2 at approximately 11:35 p.m., an officer in his marked cruiser attempted to break up a large group of people that had gathered for a "car meet up" in the area of Chevy Chase Drive at Sweitzer Lane.

Approximately 100 vehicles and a large group of spectators were there. The officer turned on his lights and sirens in an attempt to break up the crowd. That's when a large group of people gathered around the police cruiser and began to kick it and vandalize it. The officer wasn't hurt, but additional officers were needed to break up the group.

No arrests have been made so far but detectives have released images of several people involved in the incident. One individual was armed with a pole, police said.

“The behavior toward our officer on Saturday was criminal. Attacking a cruiser should not be a source of entertainment for anyone. We take this seriously and we know the community does too. It’s completely unacceptable. The officer showed great restraint under these circumstances,” Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz said.

Those involved in this incident could face multiple charges including malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct and obstructing and hindering a law enforcement officer.

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to call detectives at 301-937-0910. Callers wanting to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Refer to case number 22-0015880.