DUI Suspect Charged With Hitting Officer With Car

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Charges have been filed against a Gaithersburg man who reportedly hit a Montgomery County Police officer with his car, just days after another officer was fatally injured by a suspected drunk driver.

Officer Patrick McCarthy tried to stop Lynnard Slaughter, 32, who is suspected of driving while impaired, about 1 a.m. on Dec. 9. The driver didn’t stop, police say, and instead drove to Grantchester Place and stopped in his driveway.

When officers approached the vehicle on foot and ordered Slaughter to get out, he reportedly put the car in reverse and drove toward the officers, hitting McCarthy. During the confrontation, McCarthy shot at Slaughter, who was not injured.

The suspect then drove through the backyards of several homes; he stopped when his car struck a pole at Girard Street and Victory Farm Drive, police say.

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Slaughter was arrested after a brief foot chase and taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries suffered in the crash.

McCarthy was treated at an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been released from the hospital.

Slaughter is being held without bond at the Central Processing unit.

He was charged with two counts of first-degree assault and one count of reckless endangerment. Police say Slaughter also faces possible driving while impaired charges.

McCarthy is on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, which is standard procedure, police say.

»Photo of suspect Lynnard Slaughter, courtesy of Montgomery County Police