19-Year-Old Driver Who Intentionally Struck Police Officer on Highway to be Held Without Bond; Had Over 200 Previous Traffic Violations

At a bond hearing this afternoon at District Court in Rockville, Raphael Mayorga, 19, of Frederick, MD, was ordered to be held without bond for allegedly striking Montgomery County Police Officer Patrick Kepp with his vehicle on I-270 in Gaithersburg early Wednesday morning.  Officer Kepp remains in critical condition and is said to have lost the use of both of his legs. Mayorga is being charged with attempted first-degree murder.

The incident occurred around 3:48 a.m. on October, 18 after Kepp got out of his vehicle to deploy “stop sticks” near the Watkins Mill Rd exit on northbound I-270 after a citizen was almost run off the road by Mayorga.  Mayorga is believed to have been traveling over 100mph when he intentionally struck Kepp with his vehicle. A second officer successfully deployed stop sticks near Clarksburg Rd, eventually bringing the Mayorga’s vehicle to a stop. A second person who was in the vehicle with Mayorga has not been charged and is being treated as a witness.

At a press conference Wednesday, Police Chief Marcus Jones said prior to the incident Mayorga was well known to Montgomery County Police and had a reputation for attempting to provoke officers into high speed chases.  According to Maryland Case Search, Mayorga has over 200 previous traffic violations that are currently pending.  Kepp previously arrested Mayorga on May 26 for driving 136mph back in May.