On 4/14/2020 around 6:30 am, the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barracks received a report of a purple Ford Mustang passenger vehicle driving at a high rate of speed and illegally passing vehicles on northbound Rt. 220 in the area Shooter’s Bar and Grill. While troopers were responding to the area, another 911 caller reported the Ford Mustang had entered westbound I-68 going the wrong direction. Troopers arrived in the area and were unable to locate the vehicle.
Shortly after the initial report, the Barracks received a call from a homeowner on Fairview Farm Road in Midlothian MD, who reported a vehicle matching the Mustang’s description had pulled into his barn. The driver of the Mustang attempted to enter the residence, but fled on foot when approached by the homeowner. Troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barracks located the male hiding in an outbuilding on the homeowner’s property. The male was identified as Robert Brian Winner (34 years old of Frostburg, MD). Winner was suspected of being under the influence drugs. He was detained and taken to UMPC hospital for an emergency evaluation.
Troopers investigation revealed the Ford Mustang Winner was driving had been stolen from a business parking lot in the Bloomington area just prior to the incident. A combine investigation with the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services revealed Winner had also contacted 911 and reported he observed a female fall into the Potomac River in the area of Luke. It was determined Winner falsely reported the incident due to being under the influence of drugs.
Winner will be charged for theft of a motor vehicle, driving under the influence of drugs and numerous other criminal and traffic related offensives.
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