A 27-year-old man arrested Saturday is still being held without bond after allegedly initiating a police chase, ramming vehicles, and assaulting a state trooper.
According to Virginia State Police, the incident stemmed from motorists on I-81 calling in and reporting a Dodge pickup driving recklessly and someone throwing objects out of the window.
A state trooper found the truck heading northbound near the 304-mile marker in Frederick County and attempted to make a traffic stop. VSP said the driver slowed down and merged onto the shoulder. But instead of coming to a stop, he took off again sparking the chase on I-81.
Amid the pursuit, the driver “intentionally rear-ended a trooper’s patrol vehicle, causing it to run off the roadway.” And, near the Exit 315 ramp, the Dodge “intentionally rear-ended a civilian’s vehicle,” VSP reported.
The impact from the second collision caused the victim and the Dodge to run off road, which brought the pursuit to an end, VSP stated.
The driver, Marco A. Cruz-Monroy, got out of the pickup but then got back in and barricaded himself inside, said VSP.
At first, Cruz-Monroy didn’t comply with the police commands to exit the vehicle, but he eventually got out and was taken into custody, noted VSP.
But while he was being evaluated by EMS, VSP said he became combative and bit a state trooper before authorities were able to regain control. That trooper was transported to Winchester Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
No citizens were injured during the course of this incident, said VSP.
Cruz-Monroy is currently in Northwestern Adult Detention Center facing charges of assault on a law enforcement officer and DUI: drugs. But additional charges are pending, said VSP.
According to State Police, he is from Chicago. The court records system lists him as a resident of Maxton, NC.
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