Charles County Sheriff’s detectives have charged Anthony Darrell Taylor, 23, of no fixed address with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and possession of a handgun in connection with an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Feb. 4 near the intersection of St. Charles Parkway and Post Office Road.
Investigation revealed the suspect was attempting to gain entry into an SUV that was stopped in traffic at a red light. PFC L. Blake, a K9 officer and a seven-year veteran of the CCSO, was in the area and observed Taylor acting aggressively and pulling on the car door handle. PFC Blake stopped to assist the motorist at which time Taylor fled. The driver of the SUV left as well. PFC Blake gave several commands for Taylor to stop and show his hands, but Taylor refused. Instead, he reached for his waistband while turning toward the officer. Fearing for his safety, PFC Blake discharged his firearm, striking Taylor twice. An off-duty Secret Service agent was in the area and assisted PFC Blake in apprehending Taylor. A handgun was found in Taylor’s waistband. Officers secured the weapon and immediately rendered first aid to Taylor until paramedics arrived. Taylor was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. A check of the weapon found on Taylor revealed the gun had been reported stolen during a burglary in Pennsylvania. The driver of the SUV contacted investigators and reported he did not know Taylor and thought Taylor was trying to get inside his car and commit a carjacking.
Detectives assigned to the CCSO Criminal Investigations Division are investigating. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Det. Sgt. T. Miner at (301) 609-6481. In accordance with Agency policy, PFC Blake was placed on Administrative Leave pending the completion of the investigation.
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. 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, texting CHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com. All individuals who provide tips through Crime Solvers will remain anonymous. Learn more at the CCSO’s website.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service law enforcement agency comprised of more than 600 police, corrections and civilian personnel responsible for protecting more than 150,000 residents. The CCSO was accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2001 and has been designated as a CALEA Gold Standard of Excellence agency since 2011. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us.
Media Contact
Diane Richardson
301-609-6557
richardsond@ccso.us