Drunk Driver Who Hit Officer 'Thought He Hit Tree'

ROCKVILLE, MD — In another high-profile case of a Montgomery County Police officer hit by a drunk-driving suspect, a Gaithersburg man was sentenced to prison Thursday for hitting and injuring an officer.

According to the Montgomery County Police Department, Lennwood Saunders, 35, of Flagger Drive in Gaithersburg, was sentenced to three years for driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of a controlled dangerous substance-cocaine. On Oct. 21, 2015, Saunders struck and injured Montgomery County Police Officer Michael Murphy, a crash that was captured on Murphy’s cruiser camera.

Including this incident, Saunders has been arrested five times for drunk driving in Maryland and two times for DUI in Texas.

Upon learning of the sentencing in this case, Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger said, “Drivers like this repeat offender is why we are working to strengthen DUI laws in Maryland.”

On Wednesday, Manger joined the parents of teenagers killed after an underage drinking party, and the parents of slain Montgomery County Police officer Noah Leotta, who was killed by a suspected drunk driver, in pushing for stronger drunk-driving laws.

»SEE ALSO:

• Montgomery Officer Struck By Car Dies Thursday
• Slain Officer’s Parents Lobby for ‘Noah’s Law’
• ‘Appalling’ Underage Drinking Parties Targeted by Grieving Parents
• Teen Indicted In Driving Deaths Of Wootton High Students
• Potomac Party Host Pleads Guilty in Teen Drinking Case

Bills introduced in Annapolis would require ignition interlocks for more convicted drunk drivers, and toughen the penalties for the hosts of underage drinking parties.

Officer Murphy had stopped a vehicle on southbound Clopper Road near Cinnamon Drive in Germantown the evening of Oct. 21 when a Chevrolet Tahoe approaching at a high rate of speed -- reportedly driven by Saunders -- clipped the officer. One of the SUV’s exterior mirrors hit Murphy on the right side of his back, cracking a rib.

Police say Saunders didn’t stop at the scene, but was pulled over by Murphy a mile down the road. Saunders gave police a store membership card when asked to provide his license; a 12-pack of beer and several empty alcohol containers were found on the passenger seat of the SUV -- and one can in his pocket. Saunders told the officer he thought he had “hit a tree branch.”

Investigators said Saunders’ blood alcohol content was .20; the legal BAC limit in Maryland is .08. Saunders’ drivers license was suspended and revoked at the time of his arrest.

A search of Saunders vehicle revealed a digital scale with cocaine residue.

Officer Murphy was unable to work for over a month. He currently serves as a District Community Action Team officer in the 1st District.

»Photos of Officer Michael Murphy at statehouse press conference, and DUI offender Lennwood Saunders, courtesy of Montgomery County Police