Officer Luke T. Hoffman Down (Maryland)

**10-42Adam** · 04-26-07, 11:44 AM

ASPEN HILL, Md. - A Montgomery County Police officer who was struck by a police cruiser died early Thursday.

Officer Luke T. Hoffman, 24, died at R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

A news release from Montgomery County Police says Hoffman, who was hired in 2006, was a top graduate in his academy class graduating. The 4th District officer worked the midnight shift. He was a graduate of McDaniel College and was trained as a firefighter and an EMT.

Hoffman was chasing a drunken driving suspect on foot when he was accidentally struck Wednesday morning by a cruiser driven by Stephen J. Wofsey, 26.

The cruiser went down an embankment and into a tree. Wofsey had been hospitalized but has since been released from Shock Trauma.

The chase occurred just before 1:30 a.m. in the area of Bel Pre Road and Tynewich Drive in Aspen Hill.

"It wasn't really a long pursuit. It wasn't a high speed pursuit. The (suspect) driver was actually moving really slow prior to when he stopped his vehicle and got out and ran," says Montgomery County police lieutenant Eric Burnett.

Police say the driver drove into the parking lot of an apartment complex at Dunsinane Drive and Tynewich Drive opposite Leisure World. The suspect stopped, bailed out, and started running through the woods onto Old Georgia Avenue.

Police now say Hoffman was struck after he crossed Old Georgia Avenue, in the 14700 block near Montpelier Road.

Earlier, police had believed Hoffman was struck while crossing Old Georgia Avenue.

"It's a very dark road, a very dimly lit road, one of the reasons the officer couldn't see him (the officer)."

No charges have been filed against the suspect police were chasing.

Sources tell WTOP the suspect will be charged with fleeing and eluding officers. However, investigators are trying to determine whether the facts would support more serious charges ranging from drunken driving to reckless endangerment to manslaughter. At this point, police say they've been questioning the suspect, but no charges have been filed.

Meanwhile, another police chase ended in a crash Wednesday morning in Prince George's County.

Two Prince George's County officers were chasing a suspect in a speeding sport utility vehicle when they got into an accident with another car at Rock Creek Church Road and Fifth Street in Northwest D.C.

The cruiser caught on fire. Both officers managed to get out safely. The driver of the other car is hospitalized.

The blue Toyota SUV the cops were following got away.

RIP

**Ducky** · 04-26-07, 11:54 AM

I hope someone's with the other officer right now.

RIP and I hope everyone gets the help they need to get through this.

**iso607** · 04-26-07, 12:00 PM

Rest in peace brother. My prayers to the family and the injured officer.

**Cidp24** · 04-26-07, 12:14 PM

Officer Hoffman and his family certainly need prayers and comfort, but Officer Wofsey is also going to need alot of the same and some major support for years to come.
Prayers to both officers and their families.

**kjlaw** · 04-26-07, 04:12 PM

RIP Brother and thoughts and prayers enroute to the family and friends of the fallen officer also I agree someone needs to be with the other officer during this time.