Lexington Park, Maryland - On January 21, 2015, at 8:18 PM, deputies responded to a residence in the 19000 block of Three Notch Road for a reported assault. While responding to the residence, the Emergency Communications Center, (ECC), advised the suspect identified as Christopher Lee Cotsford, 32, of no fixed address, stole a vehicle, (1997 Ford Explorer), and fled the scene. Corporal Jason Graves saw the vehicle traveling northbound on Three Notch Road at Tulagi Place. The vehicle ran the red light while making a left turn onto Great Mills Road. Corporal Graves activated his emergency lights and sirens at which time the vehicle turned off it's headlights and refused to stop. The vehicle entered the Lord Calvert Trailer Park where it crashed into the porch of a residence and came to a stop. Cotsford was subsequently taken into custody with the help of K9 Hakan after he refused to exit the vehicle. He was initially transported to MEDSTAR St. Mary's Hospital and treated for minor bite wounds. Cotsford was then transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Unlawful Taking Motor Vehicle, Theft $1,000 to $10,000, Unauthorized Removal of Property, 2nd Degree Assault, and numerous traffic citations; to include Driving Under the Influence and Driving While Suspended/Revoked.
The investigation revealed, the victim and Cotsford were engaged in an argument when Cotsford, (who was intoxicated), attempted to strangle the victim with his hands. The assault ended after another person at the residence intervened. Cotsford picked up the keys to the Ford Explorer, (belonging to the person who intervened), and fled the residence. CASE #3874-15
Christopher Lee Cotsford
