BEL AIR, MD (May 20, 2026) — A New York man who admitted striking a Harford County sheriff’s lieutenant during a 36-minute police pursuit that crossed multiple roadways, including Interstate 95, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and related charges, prosecutors said.
Juan Quiroz-Manzueta, 22, of New York, entered guilty pleas Tuesday before Judge Kevin J. Mahoney in Harford County Circuit Court to one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of second-degree burglary, one count of attempt by driver to elude police in an official police vehicle, and one count of failing to stop a vehicle after an attended property damage accident, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the charges stemmed from events on Aug. 26, 2025, when Lt. Robert Burgess observed a white Penske box truck being driven erratically on Route 136 in Harford County and attempted a traffic stop. Authorities said Quiroz-Manzueta failed to stop and led law enforcement on a pursuit lasting 36 minutes across multiple county roads.
According to prosecutors, Quiroz-Manzueta drove at unsafe speeds, crossed medians and repeatedly traveled the wrong way, including multiple times on Interstate 95. Prosecutors said at least six vehicles were struck during the pursuit as the defendant attempted to evade police.
Authorities said Burgess and a Maryland State Police trooper positioned themselves on I-95 to deploy stop sticks, but Quiroz-Manzueta avoided the tire deflation devices and struck civilian vehicles in the process. Prosecutors said Quiroz-Manzueta then struck Burgess’ vehicle, swerved directly at the lieutenant and hit him, sending him through the air and across the asphalt.
The pursuit ended after Sgt. Henize of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office used a Precision Immobilization Technique to stop the vehicle and guide it off the roadway into the woods, prosecutors said. Quiroz-Manzueta fled on foot and temporarily evaded arrest before investigators identified and arrested him the following day in New Rochelle, New York.
Investigators later determined Quiroz-Manzueta had burglarized an Applebee’s in Aberdeen and stolen cooking oil before attempting to steal additional cooking oil from a Royal Farms on Route 22, prosecutors said. Authorities said the stolen oil and siphoning equipment were found in the truck.
Quiroz-Manzueta was sentenced to life in prison, all suspended except for 40 years to serve. Prosecutors said the sentence exceeded Maryland sentencing guidelines, which called for 15 to 25 years.
“The sentencing guidelines in this case were only 15 – 25 years, which were completely insufficient for both the crimes the Defendant committed that day as well as the amount of peril in which the Defendant placed all of our citizens on the roadway that day,” Harford County State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey said after the hearing.
Prosecutors said Burgess suffered a traumatic brain injury, collapsed lung, multiple broken ribs and vertebrae, a broken forearm and other injuries but survived.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.
RELATED
New York Man Pleads Guilty In Attempted Murder Of Harford County Sheriff Lieutenant
New York man sentenced to 40 years after injuring Maryland sheriff’s deputy during police chase
Yonkers Man Nabbed in New Rochelle Hideout After Ramming Maryland Deputy in I-95 Pursuit