Montgomery County police said a man tried to run down two police officers after fleeing a traffic stop early Saturday morning.
Jernard Linton Cooke, of Hyattsville, has been charged with two counts of first degree assault after fleeing from police and attempting to strike two officers with his vehicle.
Officers spotted Cooke driving south on Georgia Avenue at speeds close to 100 MPH around 3:30 a.m. They initially stopped him at Georgia and Connecticut Avenues, but Cooke sped away.
Further along Georgia Avenue, police were on the scene of a stabbing in the 8200 block and recognized Cooke’s vehicle from the lookout. Two officers motioned for the driver to stop, but the vehicle drove at the officers, missing them, and continuing into Washington.
Police followed the vehicle and stopped it on Van Buren Street near Blair Road. During the stop, a Montgomery County officer fired at the vehicle, hitting it in the tire.
Passengers in the vehicle told police that Cooke saw the officers on foot and deliberately drove toward them in an effort to hit them with his vehicle. Cooke is being held in the District of Columbia on the strength of the warrant awaiting extradition.
The six-year veteran fired his weapon is on paid administrative leave.
