MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) — A Laurel man accused of stealing a government truck and leading law enforcement on a chase pleaded guilty in court on Thursday, prosecutors said.
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) said in a news release that 27-year-old Flavio Lanuza pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer; fleeing and eluding marked police vehicle by failing to stop a vehicle resulting in bodily injury; and 11 counts of failure to return and remain at the scene of an accident.
In February , Maryland State Police (MSP) arrested Lanuza after he stole a Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration tow truck.
He then led police on a chase through Prince George’s and Montgomery counties that lasted more than half an hour. Officials reported that he struck many vehicles, including two MSP vehicles and 11 civilian vehicles.