Luis Edgardo Mejia Molina

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A routine traffic stop in Maryland turned into a late-night chase and gun bust, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said the driver, Luis Edgardo Mejia Molina, 20, of Marbury, was taken into custody along with a 17-year-old passenger after officers stopped the car shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, in the 3000 block of Chicamuxen Road in Indian Head.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver initially pulled over but suddenly sped off. 

After making several turns, the vehicle looped back onto Chicamuxen Road, where officers had deployed stop sticks. The car hit the stop sticks, became disabled, and came to a stop in the 3200 block of Chicamuxen Road, where both occupants were detained.

Deputies said a search of the vehicle turned up cannabis, packaging material, and 9mm ammunition. 

Officers later found a handgun that was thrown from the car before it stopped. Investigators determined the gun had been reported stolen in another state.

Molina was charged with gun violations and traffic offenses. 

Deputies said he also had two active warrants through another agency. Two days after the pursuit, a judge ordered him held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.