Two Arrests Made In Illegal MD Car Rallies

ROCKVILLE, MD — Two men were arrested over the weekend amid a multi-county crackdown on illegal car rallies across the region.

The Maryland State Police said 27-year-old Gonnie Shamuray Lee, of Laurel, and 28-year-old Jonathan Armando Mejia, of Dundalk, were arrested during a joint operation by the Maryland Car Rally Task Force and partner agencies.

The collaborative crackdown was conducted between 10 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday. Police said the operation prevented "crowds of up to 300 participants engaging in exhibition driving, disorderly behavior, and roadway shutdowns."

Police reported car rallies at the following locations:

Montgomery Co.:

• 15791 Columbia Pike in Burtonsville
• 15878 Gaither Drive in Gaithersburg
• 7854 Beechcraft Ave. in Gaithersburg
• 6120 Executive Blvd. in Rockville

Prince George's Co.:

• 15887 Commerce Court in Upper Marlboro
• 8519 Rainswood Drive in Hyattsville
• 6960 Van Dusen Road in Laurel
• 13136 Mid Atlantic Blvd. in Laurel

While Lee was arrested in Laurel, Meija was taken into custody in Burtonsville, where officials had broken up a rally that included nearly 300 cars.

Lee is facing multiple charges, including eluding, reckless driving, failure to remain at the scene of a dirt bike crash, attempt by driver to elude uniformed police, and reckless driving.

Mejia, who was arrested on two warrants, was wanted by the Baltimore County Police Department for first-degree assault. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office also had a pending arrest warrant for Mejia for a failure to appear for driving without a license.