LAUREL, Md. — A Maryland woman is facing multiple charges after body camera video shows her ignoring repeated police commands and driving through a closed street packed with festivalgoers, injuring a Laurel police officer in the process, NBC Washington reports.
The incident unfolded May 10 as attendees gathered for the start of the Main Street Festival in Laurel. Police said the suspect, identified as a 28-year-old woman, ignored warnings not to drive through the blocked-off area, pulled down yellow caution tape and proceeded to drive down the closed road.
Body-worn camera video released by the Laurel Police Department shows an officer calmly interacting with the suspect, even offering to call her a taxi. Instead, she drove off. Officers can be heard shouting, “Stop” and “Get out of the car” as she slowly made her way through the crowd.
No civilians were injured, but one officer was struck by the suspect’s vehicle and sustained minor injuries, the department said. Officials said the officer is expected to recover.
Video shows the suspect stating she was trying to get to work and her car had been parked within the festival’s perimeter.
She now faces several charges, including assault, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment.
