On February 4 at 9:11 pm., patrol officers initiated a traffic stop near Crain Highway and Talbot Street in La Plata after a computer check revealed the registration plates on the vehicle belonged to a different car. The driver refused to stop and instead fled. The vehicle had also been reported stolen from a nearby county. Officers pursued the car and deployed stop sticks three times – in the area of Billingsley Road, the Hughesville bypass, and the third time with the assistance of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office in Charlotte Hall, successfully deflating several of the vehicle’s tires. Despite the flat tires, the vehicle continued to flee until striking a median and becoming disabled. All three occupants fled the car on foot and were quickly apprehended. Officers located a loaded firearm in the vehicle and a large quantity of methamphetamine. One of the occupants also had an active arrest warrant from a nearby county. Shawn Ray Elswick, 24, of Riverdale; Kirk Rodriquez Casper, 24, of Washington, D.C.; and Monica Sanchez-Zavala, 18, of no fixed address, were arrested. Elswick, the driver, was charged with theft, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, illegal possession of ammunition, and numerous traffic citations. The other two suspects were charged with theft, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and possession of drugs. All three suspects are being held without bond at the  Charles County Detention Center. Officer Perry is investigating.

CONTACT: Diane Richardson
Media Relations Office
301-609-6557 or 240-682-1658

The CCSO was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in 2001 and has since earned the highest rating of Excellence. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us.

Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of a person responsible for a crime in Charles County. All individuals who provide tips through Crime Solvers will remain anonymous. Anyone with information about an unsolved crime or the location of a fugitive may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app, which can be found in the Android Store and Apple store by searching P3tips. For more information about the P3 program, click on this link: www.p3intel.com.