Frederick County: Man Arrested After Dangerous Multi-County Vehicle Pursuit with Children in Car

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of Cory Thomas Burkhardt, a 37-year-old resident of Idlewylde, Maryland, following a high-risk vehicle pursuit that traversed multiple jurisdictions and endangered the public. The incident commenced on Friday afternoon when a deputy observed a vehicle exhibiting reckless driving behavior on U.S. Route 15 near Rosemont Avenue in Frederick County. The driver was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, crossing the median, and entering northbound lanes while heading south, posing an immediate danger to oncoming traffic.

When deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Burkhardt, refused to comply and actively attempted to strike Sheriff’s Office vehicles and deputies. Despite the deployment of spike strips on two separate occasions, the vehicle continued to evade law enforcement. The pursuit extended onto Interstate 270, with the suspect vehicle continuing to travel in the wrong direction in the northbound lanes. Near the Clarksburg exit, a deputy utilized their patrol vehicle to maneuver the suspect’s car into a guardrail, successfully bringing the pursuit to a controlled halt.

Following the apprehension, Burkhardt initially refused to exit the vehicle. Deputies employed non-lethal tactics to gain compliance, and two children, aged 8 and 12, exited the vehicle. Burkhardt then exited the car while holding a third child, approximately two years old, and fled on foot, exhibiting behavior that suggested he might be armed. A Taser was deployed to safely secure the child before Burkhardt was taken into custody after further resisting arrest and attempting to disarm a deputy. He was subsequently transported to Frederick Health Hospital for an emergency medical evaluation.

While awaiting the completion of charges, Burkhardt reportedly escaped from the hospital and fled on foot, but he was apprehended by Frederick Police officers shortly thereafter and returned to the hospital. The extensive list of charges filed against Burkhardt includes multiple counts of first and second-degree assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, attempting to elude law enforcement by vehicle, reckless and negligent driving, failure to stay on the right side of the roadway, driving on a median, and failing to properly secure a child under two years old in a federally compliant car seat. He also faces a charge for willfully disobeying a police officer’s lawful orders. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported among deputies, the children, or the public. The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Maryland State Police – Frederick Barrack, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Frederick City Police Department during the incident.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

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