PALMER PARK, Md. — A traffic stop that began on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway became a chilling close call Thursday afternoon.
After exiting the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to Riverdale Road, a passenger in a vehicle bailed from the car, started running, and then pointed a loaded gun at the officer in pursuit, police say.
He pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired.
“This guy probably didn’t understand the weapon, and had he, we could have another officer killed,” says Cpt. Ken Humbel.
The very officer at whom the gun was pointed was able to make an arrest without firing a shot, police say.
Joseph Clay, 21, of Lanham, Maryland faces 10 charges, including attempted murder stemming from a shooting in August.
“He was already wanted on an attempted murder charge in the same area,” Humbel says, noting that could have emboldened Clay’s desperation.
The driver of the car was also charged with drug offenses, after police found marijuana, the party drug Molly and capsules.
The officer originally made the traffic stop after observing the vehicle going just 25 miles per hour in the northbound lanes of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
