The man accused of critically injuring a Harford County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant by hitting him with a rental truck during a chase in August has been extradited from New York and is being held at Harford County Detention Center.
Juan Yahir Quiroz Manzueta, 21, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer — all felonies.
The sheriff’s office said that after several weeks of legal proceedings, Quiroz Manzueta declined to waive his extradition and was returned to Harford County to face trial. He is being held without bond in the Harford County Detention Center, according to police.
Quiroz Manzueta’s charges date back to Aug. 26, when Harford County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Robert Burgess initiated a traffic stop on a Penske rental truck that police say was driving erratically in the Churchville area. The routine traffic stop turned into a chase when Quiroz Manzueta fled, striking numerous cars on the roadway, according to police.
Quiroz Manzueta drove the wrong way on Interstate 95 during the chase and was later engaged again by Burgess, who got out of his unmarked patrol car on the highway and attempted to deploy Stop Sticks. Quiroz Manzueta swerved and struck Burgess, knocking him 30 to 40 feet across the road, police said.
Burgess was critically injured and airlifted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center while police worked to locate Quiroz Manzueta, who allegedly bailed from the rental truck at some point during the chase. Burgess has since been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
After the pursuit ended with the truck going into the woods, police found a large container of used cooking oil in the back of the truck, which police said was linked to a theft at Applebee’s in Aberdeen. Police said the theft was unknown to Burgess at the time of the pursuit.
Used cooking oil is primarily used to produce renewable biodiesel, animal feed and other industrial products. Biodiesel is a multibillion dollar market with industries such as Formula 1 — the highest class of international single-seater auto racing — phasing out traditional gasoline in favor of biofuels that rely on used cooking oil.
Police said they found paperwork for a biodiesel business in Quiroz Manzueta’s possession when he was arrested.
According to online business records, Quiroz Manzueta is listed as the “registered agent” for Maryland Biodiesel, LLC. Records show the New York-based company is active and was started in June.
Police said investigators have yet to confirm Quiroz Manzueta’s possible involvement with the business.
Investigators identified Quiroz Manzueta hours after the pursuit by using fingerprints from the Penske truck, GPS data and the rental agreement supplied by Penske. They also reconstructed a damaged cellphone found in the truck.
Quiroz Manzueta was tracked to an apartment in New Rochelle, New York, where he was arrested the next morning by U.S. Marshals.
According to virtual court documents, Quiroz Manzueta has a bond review hearing at 1 p.m. Monday before the Harford County District Court. His preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 8 at the same time and location.
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