A chase of a wanted man along 25 miles roads ended at Church Hill today when he was shot dead by surrounding police — after he refused to surrender and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at them.
Killed in his car on John Powell Road: a man identified as Christopher D. Hale, 37, of Delmar, Del.
According to the official report, the pursuit began at 5:30 a.m. when Maryland State Police and Transportation Authority Police both got 9-1-1 calls from motorists reporting a car speeding eastbound in the westbound lanes of Rt. 50 approaching Kent Narrows.
Trooper Nathaniel Vansant saw the car headed directly toward him and swerved out of the path and turned in pursuit. Officer Brian Jordan of the Transportation Police also saw the vehicle and sped after it. They were joined by Queen Anne’s deputies in squad cars and the MSP helicopter Trooper 6, following overhead.
Officers dropped ‘stop sticks’ at the 301 split. The suspect swerved his 2009 Subaru Impreza around them, continuing northward on Rt. 301 in the southbound lanes.
“The suspect called 9-1-1 several times during the pursuit,” the report states. “During one call the state police duty officer repeatedly told him to pull over and surrender, but Hale told him he ‘could not stop’ and that ‘he did not want to die.’”
Troopers deployed ‘stop sticks’ again on Rt. 301 near the Welcome Center. Hale’s vehicle struck the sticks and all four tires were punctured. Hale drove on, turning west on Rt. 301, going about a mile and then taking a right on John Powell Road.
“His car came to a rest in a ditch on the right side of the rural road, with woods bordering both sides,” the MSP reported.
“Trooper 6 hovered overhead and lit the area with its 30 million candlepower spotlight.”
Four troopers and a Transit Authority officer approached the rear of car. A trooper shined his flashlight into the car and ordered Hale to show his hands and surrender.
“Instead of complying, Hale turned toward the trooper and pointed a black handgun at him,” reported state police. “The trooper yelled ‘gun’ to the other police officers on the scene and took cover.
“In fear of their lives and the life of the trooper who approached the car,” the report continued, “three troopers and a Maryland Transportation Authority Police officer fired their agency-issued weapons at Hale.”
He was shot in the upper torso. And the report says, The suspect was “incapacitated” and troopers approached and “provided emergency care.”
Trooper 6 landed. The flight paramedic aboard pronounced Hale dead at the scene.
The three troopers and the Transportation authority officer who fired their weapons all have been placed on administrative leave, which is routine in police involved shootings. Homicide investigators and detectives from both agencies, as well as internal affairs officers, are investigating.
Crime scene investigators recovered the gun held by Hale inside the car. It was a Crossman BB gun – a replica of a semi-automatic handgun.
Even though traffic was moderate when the chase began, no vehicles were struck during the entire 25-mile pursuit.
Hale was wanted by Anne Arundel County authorities for second degree escape, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and hindering a police officer.
The car Hale drove was a Hertz rental vehicle. It was 11 days overdue.
Marques Hale says
There was no reason for anybody to shoot my dad he was high was out of his mind at teh moment he didnt hurt anybody and wasnt going to he should be living right now and i blame in on scared police men who are trigger happy. He is to nice of a person to ever shoot he said he didnt want to die. Like seriously yall messed up