Deputy Shoots Suspect Attempting To Run Her Over

BERLIN -- A Millsboro, Del. man remained under Maryland State Police guard yesterday at a Baltimore hospital after being shot by a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy while allegedly attempting to run over the law enforcement official on Tuesday night.

Matthew N. Collins, 28, was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore on Tuesday after being shot by Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy Katie Edgar on Tuesday night during an apparent robbery attempt at a business in Berlin. Around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Edgar responded to a 911 call reporting a possible burglary in progress at Venable’s Electric on Old Worcester Highway (Route 575).

The witness reported a vehicle had pulled to the rear of the business and a suspect appeared to be attempting to enter the building. The initial investigation revealed the deputy arrived at the location and got out of her vehicle with her K-9. Almost immediately, a Ford F-150 pickup truck drove from the rear of the building. Edgar, who had her .45 caliber department-issued pistol drawn, attempted to stop the truck.

According to police reports, the truck being driven by Collins stopped several feet in front of the deputy, who gave repeated verbal commands for Collins to surrender. However, Collins, alone in the truck, ignored the commands and accelerated, driving directly toward Edgar. Fearing for her life, the deputy fired her pistol at the driver.

The deputy was able to avoid being struck by the truck, which drove out of the parking lot and turned left on Route 575. Edgar pursued the truck in her patrol car as the chase continued onto Carey Rd. and ultimately northbound on Route 113. Once on Route 113, the truck stopped and Collins surrendered to the deputy and two other Worcester County deputies who had joined the pursuit.

It was then the deputies learned Collins had suffered gunshot wounds and immediately began providing emergency care to the suspect. Collins sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason contacted the Maryland State Police (MSP) on Tuesday night and requested the agency’s Homicide Unit conduct the investigation into the police-involved shooting, as per normal protocol. MSP Homicide Unit investigators were assisted by detectives from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, including State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby, who responded to the scene.

In addition, crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police and the Ocean City Police Department responded spent much of Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning collecting evidence. The truck was taken to the MSP Berlin barrack for processing on Wednesday pursuant to a search warrant. Investigators observed several air conditioning units in the bed of the truck, which are believed to have been stolen from Venable’s Electric.

One of the air conditioning units fell off the truck during the pursuit. Investigators learned there had been air conditioning units outside the rear of Venable’s Electric, but it does not appear Collins was able to gain entry to the business.

MSP have obtained an arrest warrant for Collins charging him with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and theft. The warrant will be served on Collins as soon as he is medically able to have an initial appearance before a court commissioner at the hospital.

Edgar is a seven-year law enforcement veteran who has been with the sheriff’s office for about five years. She was not injured in the incident.