Driver Tried To Kill Officers After They Woke Him In Parking Lot: HoCo Police

ELKRIDGE, MD — A man who fell asleep in a Jeep and awoke to find law enforcement at his window Saturday morning is now facing attempted murder and other charges after police allege he drove off, hit several parked cars and attempted to harm officers with his vehicle.

Thomas Howard Barr, 26 of Culpeper, Virginia, is currently at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for treatment of injuries he sustained when he hit the vehicles, police said.

He was taken into custody and hospitalized after officers found him walking at 8:15 a.m. in the area of Marie Curie Drive and Lark Brown Road, according to police.

Officials said they had been searching for Barr since he abandoned his Jeep in Deep Run Park, then took off on foot. A preliminary search of the vehicle turned up syringes, according to authorities.

Police first came upon Barr at 12:40 a.m. while responding to the Royal Farms parking lot in the 8200 block of Lark Brown Road for a report of an unconscious man in a locked black Jeep.

After officers found Barr unresponsive, they broke a window in case medical assistance was needed; when the man awoke, he "became combative and drove from the parking lot," police reported.

Barr drove to a dead end on Pirch Way in Deep Run Park, where two officers tried to make contact with him and police said he accelerated toward them.

Both officers fired at the vehicle as it charged toward them, but police said they did not hit the driver.

Barr drove a short distance, then left the Jeep and took off on foot. The officers were unharmed.

Police searched overnight and located Barr near Gateway Overlook after 8 a.m.

Once Barr is released from shock trauma, authorities say they expect to charge him with two counts of attempted murder on officers, two counts of assault, fleeing and eluding police, driving on a suspended/revoked license, hit and run and destruction of property.

According to the Howard County Police Department, Barr is also wanted on a warrant for hit and run through another jurisdiction.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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