On February 4, patrol officers in La Plata attempted a traffic stop near Crain Highway and Talbot Street. They had noticed the vehicle’s registration plates matched a different car. The driver did not stop and attempted to escape. The vehicle, reported stolen from a nearby county, eventually hit a median and stopped.
After the vehicle stopped, its three occupants tried to escape on foot but were soon caught by the officers. A search of the vehicle found a loaded firearm and a significant amount of methamphetamine. One occupant had an active arrest warrant from a nearby county.
The occupants were identified as Shawn Ray Elswick, 24, of Riverdale; Kirk Rodriquez Casper, 24, of Washington, D.C.; and Monica Sanchez-Zavala, 18, of no fixed address. They were arrested and charged with theft, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and possession of drugs. Elswick, the driver, also received numerous traffic citations.
The three suspects are being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center. Officer Perry is investigating the incident. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).