Police arrested a man after he recklessly fled from officers in a vehicle reported stolen in Anne Arundel County and wrecked it in southwest Baltimore on Saturday.
The charging documents for Aaron Ashbrook, 39, state that officers followed Ashbrook as he “failed to stop at multiple red traffic signals and stop signs, struck an occupied vehicle, and continued traveling without stopping” in a black 2013 Nissan Rogue.
Officers began tracking the Nissan Rogue as it was traveling near the intersection of Wilkens Avenue and South Fulton Avenue, according to court records.
Ashbrook’s charging documents describe how some of the officers attempted to box-in the vehicle he was driving but failed to stop it. The documents state that Ashbrook “was able to evade officers and began fleeing at a high rate of speed with complete disregard for traffic control devices and public safety.”
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At one point, Ashbrook allegedly drove onto the sidewalk to avoid officers. Additionally, the documents allege that he drove “the wrong way on a one-way street that was heavily populated with vehicles in transit at the time.”
Court records state that one of the officers followed Ashbrook as he continued to drive the heavily damaged Nissan Rogue for several minutes until one of its tires blew out in the 200 block of South Payson Street. That’s when Ashbrook allegedly got out of the vehicle and ran into a dark alleyway.
Police said they took notice of how Ashbrook was holding his front waistband and angling his body while running, which seemed to indicate that he was trying not to drop a weapon. That behavior prompted an officer to pull out his gun and started shouting verbal commands at Ashbrook until he complied, authorities said.
Police said they asked a medic to come to the arrest site and examine Ashbrook. Then, they searched the Nissan Rogue.
Afterward, officers took Ashbrook to the Baltimore Police Department’s Southwestern District substation for a debriefing before transporting him to police headquarters. That’s where homicide detectives questioned him regarding a separate investigation, according to the charging documents.
Once homicide detectives were done questioning Ashbrook, police took him to the Baltimore Central Booking & Intake Center.
Ashbrook has been charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, theft of at least $1,500 to no more than $25,000, and the unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle. Additionally, he received several driving citations, which include driving on a suspended license, negligent driving, and reckless driving.
Authorities have contacted the owner of the Nissan Rogue to let that person know what happened to it and where they could find it.
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