Police kill wanted man after chase

A man shot and killed by state police yesterday, after leading troopers on a 25-mile pursuit in the wrong direction on Queen Anne's County highways, tried to kill himself in Riva in September.

Christopher D. Hale, 37, of 12049 Line Road in Delmar, Del., attempted to commit suicide by jumping in front of moving cars and attempting to leap off a bridge while handcuffed by county officers, according to court records.

Hale was shot by three state police troopers and a Maryland Transportation Authority Police officer about 6 a.m. yesterday after police said he pointed a gun at a trooper involved in the chase.

Hale was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said. His weapon, a BB gun, was a replica of a semiautomatic pistol.

The chase began about 5:30 a.m. after state and MdTA police received calls from drivers reporting a 2009 Subaru Impreza traveling eastbound on Route 50 in the westbound lanes, approaching Kent Narrows.

Trooper 1st Class Nathaniel L. Vasant was driving westbound on Route 50 to investigate when the Subaru began driving directly toward his cruiser, police said.

Vasant swerved out of the path of the Subaru. He turned around and began shadowing the Subaru with Officer Brian Jordan of the MdTA police, who had just witnessed the Subaru heading straight for the trooper's car.

Several more troopers and deputies from the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office joined the pursuit, while a state police helicopter tracked the Subaru overhead, state police said.

The chase continued east on westbound Route 50. Police tried to slow the Subaru by placing "stop sticks" at the Route 50/301 split. But the driver avoided the tire-puncturing spikes and continued driving the wrong direction, this time north on Route 301 in southbound lanes.

As he was being chased, the driver called 911 several times, telling dispatchers he "could not stop" and that he "did not want to die," state police said.

Troopers put more stop sticks ahead on Route 301 near a welcome center. The driver couldn't avoid them this time and all four tires on the Subaru were punctured.

But the driver kept guiding the damaged car to Route 300, heading west toward Church Hill. He drove about a mile, then turned onto John Powell Road. The Subaru stopped in a ditch on the right side of the rural road, state police said.

The state police helicopter zeroed in on the crash site and lit the area with a 30-million candlepower spotlight.

Four troopers and an MdTA police officer carefully crept up to the back of the Subaru, which was later learned to be a Hertz rental car that was due back on Oct. 24.

One of the troopers walked up to the front passenger window and ordered the driver to show his hands and surrender, state police said. But instead of giving up, the driver turned toward the trooper and pointed a black handgun at him, police said.

The trooper yelled, "Gun!" to the other police officers and took cover.

Three troopers and an MdTA police officer shot at the driver, striking him in the upper torso.

A helicopter was called to the scene and a flight paramedic pronounced the man, identified as Hale, dead.

The three state police troopers who fired their department-issued .40-caliber Beretta pistols were identified as Vasant, a four-year veteran, Trooper 1st Class John V. Hickey, a 10-year veteran, and Trooper James M. Petit, a two-year veteran.

All three troopers have been placed on administrative leave, which is routine following an officer-involved shooting, state police said.

The MdTA police officer who fired his department-issued .40-caliber Glock pistol is identified as Jordan, an eight-year veteran. The MdTA police also placed Jordan on routine administrative leave.

The state police Homicide Unit and detectives with the MdTA police are investigating the shooting. The state police Internal Affairs Unit and the MdTA police Internal Affairs Unit are conducting administrative investigations, state police said.

A cry for help

Less than two months before the fatal shooting, Hale attempted to kill himself by leaping in front of moving vehicles on Riva Road and attempting to jump off a bridge after being handcuffed by Anne Arundel County police, court records show.

According to court documents, Hale crashed a black 2009 Hyundai Sonata on Riva Road near Cape St. John Road about 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 24.

Witnesses told county police Hale got out of the wrecked Hyundai and began walking north on Riva Road. They said Hale suddenly jumped in front of a black Ford Mustang and was struck. Before the driver of the Mustang could ask if he was hurt, witnesses said Hale got up and kept walking.

Police said Hale then threw himself on top of a red Cadillac that was driving south on Riva Road. Hale again walked away, court documents say.

A county police officer tried to stop Hale, but he ran away. After a brief foot chase, the officer arrested Hale. Two more officers responded to assist the officer, and as they tried to put Hale into a police vehicle, the man fought the officers and ran to the Riva Road bridge over the South River, police said.

The handcuffed Hale then tried to climb the barrier and jump off the bridge, court documents say.

The officers were able to stop him and get him into the back of a police car.

Police said that, inside the Hyundai, they found a possible suicide note that said, "I'm scared and have always been!!! I'm so sorry for my being a coward." Police also found drug paraphernalia in the car.

Hale told police he was under the influence of heroin and cocaine that night and that he attempted to end his life "because he was a coward."

Police completed an emergency evaluation petition for Hale and provided a copy to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Parole, where he was being treated.

On Sept. 25, a warrant was issued by the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office charging Hale with second-degree escape, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident.

A sheriff's office spokesman said the warrant had not been served.