NORTH EAST — A man remained jailed Thursday after he allegedly triggered a police chase that ended in a crash near North East, according to Cecil County District Court records.
Investigators confiscated a loaded handgun while searching the vehicle that had been driven by the suspect — Michael Ayden Grondin, 21, of Havre de Grace — after the two-vehicle collision that occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on West Pulaski Highway (Route 40) near the Route 272 intersection, police reported. No one was injured in the crash, police noted.
The incident started at about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday when a Maryland State Police trooper in a marked patrol vehicle spotted a silver Audi that the operator — later identified Grondin — was driving more than 20 miles over the posted 55 mph zone in the eastbound lane of Route 40, police reported.
All the while, the suspect was making unsafe lane changes to pass vehicles and was traveling too closely behind other motorists, police said. Grondin was operating the Audi “recklessly, negligently, and aggressively,” prompting the trooper to activate the flashing emergency lights on his patrol vehicle in preparation to stop the suspect, police added.
But Grondin failed to stop and, instead, he sped away on eastbound Route 40 near Principio Parkway E, according to the charging document, which indicates that the trooper discontinued his chase for safety reasons and radioed the agency’s North East Barrack to report that the suspect vehicle still was heading eastbound.
After the suspect vehicle struck a center guardrail, however, the trooper radioed for permission to resume the chase and his request was granted, court records show.
“Due to the cloud of smoke, debris, and dirt, I lost sight of the vehicle. Other patrol units, which were ahead of me, advised that the vehicle continued driving east on Route 40,” the trooper explained in his written statement of probable cause.
Court records allege that Grondin failed to stop for a red light at the Route 272 intersection and, as he continued driving east, his Audi crashed into another vehicle — causing “significant, disabling, property damage.”
After the suspect vehicle came to rest in the entrance to the North East Car Wash in the 2700 block of Route 40, a short distance east of the McDonald’s at the corner Route 40 and Route 272, Grondin ran away from the crash scene, police said. An MSP trooper caught Grondin, however, after a brief foot chase, police added.
Grondin “apologized for his actions and acknowledged the gravity of the situation,” according to the charging document.
Investigators found a loaded handgun “in plain view” on the driver’s side floorboard of the suspect vehicle, court records allege. Investigators described the firearm, which contained 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition, as a Polymer 80 “ghost gun,” police said. Ghost guns are homemade from kits, and they lack serial numbers, police added.
During the follow-up investigation, the trooper contacted the Maryland Gun Center and learned that Grondin is prohibited from possessing guns and firearms because his criminal record contains convictions for second-degree assault and possession of a controlled and dangerous substance with intent to distribute, court records show.
Investigators also learned that Grondin does not possess a valid driver’s license, police said. In addition, investigators learned that Grondin’s vehicle is unregistered and that it displayed a “fictitious temporary” license plate, police added.
Grondin is facing eight criminal charges, including possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony or a crime of violence, loaded handgun vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or a disqualified person and obstructing and hindering, court records show. In addition, investigators charged Grondin with 36 traffic offenses, police reported.
He remained in the Cecil County Detention Center on no bond Thursday, one day after his bail review hearing, according to court records, which show that Cecil County District Court Judge Clara E. Campbell presided over that proceeding.
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