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Assault Suspect in Semi Leads Cops on High-Speed Chase

Pursuit ends with crash near Tysons Corner Center

By Matthew Stabley

| Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 | Updated 8:58 PM EST

Assault Suspect in Semi Leads Cops on High-Speed Chase

A tractor-trailer leads police on a high-speed chase through Maryland and Virginia before crashing.

A tractor-trailer crashed near Tysons Corner Center Tuesday afternoon to end a high-speed police pursuit that began on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Md.

The driver, Baltimore assault and attempted murder suspect Vernon Edward Jones, was removed from the cab and taken into custody by Virginia State Police, according to Maryland State Police.

The pursuit began at a scale house in Hyattstown where the truck was going through a commercial vehicle inspection with a Maryland State Police cadet, spokeswoman Elena Russo said.

“When they were trying to run his information, he apparently gave a false Social Security number, and one of the troopers figured out he was giving this false information and was able to figure out that he was wanted,” Russo said.

At that point, Jones, who was wanted on a 15-year-old warrant for an assault with intent to murder charge, got back into the truck and fled, police said.

Maryland State Police called for Montgomery County police assistance while the truck traveled through the county. Jones, 36, refused to stop for police and continued driving after police deployed stop sticks, deflating the tires, police said.

Virginia State Police joined the pursuit when the truck entered Virginia.

The truck got off the highway near Tysons Corner and crashed into a row of trees next to the roadway near a Harris Teeter.

Jones gave up after the crash, police said, but would not get out of the cab. Police used a stun gun on him and took him into custody. He was evaluated by medical personnel at the scene.

No injuries were reported.

Jones, of the 3900 block of Rayton Road in Randallstown, Md., is a driver for a South Carolina trucking company, police said.

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