10/24/13 California, MD – Intoxicated Suspicious Person Steals St. Mary’s County Sheriffs Marked Patrol Car – Captured Later

October 24, 2013

wusa9.com

A man being investigating for squatting in a shed returned to the scene and stole a police car, according to St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office authorities.

Authorities say on Wednesday deputies responded to a home on Shady Mile Drive in California, Md. for a suspicious person complaint. They found 31-year-old Christopher Lee Cotsford on the complainant’s property intoxicated. Deputies told Cotsford to leave and he headed toward Three Notch Road, according to authorities.

The complainant told the deputies that Cotsford may have been squatting in a shed on the property of a nearby foreclosed home. Deputies started to check the area and that’s when, authorities say, Cotsford returned to the scene and stole a marked Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. Authorities say they were able to track the vehicle to the area of Old Rolling Road, where Cotsford was placed under arrest.

Cotsford was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. Authorities say he was charged with Theft Motor Vehicle, Theft $1,000.00 – $10,000.00, Rouge and Vagabond, Malicious Destruction of Property Over $1,000.00, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Malicious Destruction of Property Under $1,000.00, Driving While Intoxicated, and Driving While Suspended.