Cory Thomas Burkhardt

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

The Maryland man accused of barreling the wrong way down I-270 with three children in his car during a wild police chase has been transferred to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies also released the booking photo of Cory Thomas Burkhardt, 37, of Idlewylde, marking the first public look at the man behind the chaos.

Burkhardt made headlines earlier this month after a Frederick County deputy spotted him driving recklessly on US Route 15 near Rosemont Avenue at about 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21. 

Investigators said he crossed the median and continued south in the northbound lanes while making repeated attempts to strike sheriff’s office vehicles.

The pursuit pushed into Montgomery County as Burkhardt kept traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-270, forcing drivers to swerve around him. 

Deputies deployed spike strips twice before ramming his vehicle into a guardrail near the Clarksburg exit to stop him, according to the sheriff’s office.

Two children, ages 8 and 12, were removed from the vehicle first. 

Burkhardt exited while carrying a 2-year-old and ran, acting as if he was armed, investigators said. 

A Taser allowed deputies to secure the toddler, and Burkhardt was taken into custody after resisting and attempting to disarm a deputy.

He later escaped from Frederick Health Hospital during the charging process and was recaptured minutes later by Frederick Police officers, according to investigators.

Burkhardt faces charges that include:

  • Two counts of first-degree assault;
  • Four counts of second-degree assault;
  • Disarming a law enforcement office;
  • An attempt by a driver to elude a uniformed police officer by failing to stop;
  • An attempt by a driver to elude a police officer's vehicle by failing to stop;
  • Reckless driving;
  • Negligent driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person;
  • Failure to drive on the right-hand side of the road of a divided highway;
  • Driving on the median strip of a divided highway;
  • Failure to secure a child under 2 years old in a rear-facing child safety seat that complies with federal regulations;
  • Willfully disobeying the lawful order or direction of a police officer.

There were no serious injuries to deputies, the children, or members of the public. FCSO was assisted by Maryland State Police — Frederick Barrack and the Montgomery County Police Department and Frederick City Police.  

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that Burkhardt has been transferred to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center. His booking photo was released with the update.