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Maryland

Armed off-duty cop sends suspected carjackers fleeing

as crime spirals near nation's capital
'If this can happen to an off-duty officer, it can certainly happen to a family,' assistant police chief warns
By Emma Colton Fox News

Published December 31, 2023 9:40am EST

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An armed, off-duty Maryland police officer sent two suspected carjackers fleeing when he
fired his weapon as they forced his family out of a vehicle near a large shopping mall
outside of Washington, D.C., police say.

"Continue to remain diligent. Be aware of your surroundings," Prince George Assistant

Chief Vernon Hale III said during a press conference last week. "As you can see, if this can
happen to an off-duty officer, it can certainly happen to a family. So, we want to make sure
that everybody remains diligent take care of one another, and keep your eyes open."
,

Hale said an unidentified off-duty police officer with the department was assisting two of
his family members as they got into their personal vehicle at about 5 p.m. Thursday in
Oxon Hill when they were approached by at least two suspects, Fox 5 DC reported. The
family was in a parking lot that serves office buildings, including dental and medical
offices, and is located across the street from the Tanger Outlets National Harbor shopping
center.

The off-duty cop and his family were forced from the vehicle, Hale said, calling the incident
an "apparent carjacking."

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Prince George Assistant Chief Vernon Hale III during a press conference. (Prince George's County Police Department )

The off-duty officer fired his weapon, causing the suspects to flee in the vehicle. The
family members were not injured during the incident and police do not believe any shots
hit the suspected carjackers.

"The officer was able to get his family safely out of the vehicle, discharge his weapon and
the suspects escaped including his personal vehicle," Hale said.

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The officer used his department-issued firearm during the incident, police later said.

The Tanger Outlets National Harbor shopping center in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. (Google Maps )

Police issued a "be on the lookout" for a black GMC Acadia shortly after the incident,
according to NBC Washington.

Police on Friday located one of the suspects, who was identified as Washington, D.C.,
resident Anthony Stewart, 19. He was found in D.C., arrested and will be extradited to
Maryland. He is facing charges of carjacking, robbery, theft, and additional charges, police
said.

Anthony Stewart, 19, of Washington, D.C., is accused of carjacking an off-duty cop. (Prince George's County Police
Department )

The second suspect is still at large, according to police.

DC PRE-TEEN ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTS TO CARJACK ARMED, OFF-DUTY-FEDERAL

OFFICER, 13-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN GUNFIRE

Prince George's County Police Department are asking for any tips on the identity of a second suspected carjacker. (Prince
George's County Police Department )

The carjacking is just one of hundreds this year that have plagued areas of Maryland, as
well as Washington, D.C. There have been 500 carjackings as of last week in jurisdictions
overseen by Prince George's County Police, which is an 18% spike over data from last year,
WJLA reported.

CONSERVATIVES SOUND ALARM ON DC CRIME CRISIS AFTER HOUSE DEM

CARJACKED: 'SOFT ON CRIME POLICIES'

In nearby D.C., which is located roughly 11 miles from the site of Thursday’s carjacking
incident, such crimes have more than doubled over figures from last year. The outlet found
there were 952 carjackings in the city as of last week, compared to 475 during the same
time period in 2022.

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Crime in the city has even affected political leaders and their families, including in October
when Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked by three armed attackers near
the U.S. Capitol.

The Prince George’s County Police Department was still investigating the carjacking
Thursday and calling on members of the public to come forward with any tips on the
second suspect's identity The off-duty officer was placed on administrative leave until the
investigation is concluded.

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