Federal agents on Tuesday said the man accused of stealing a Maryland-owned tow truck and leading police on a wild chase is in the country illegally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it wants to take custody of Flavio Cesar Lanuza, 27, from Nicaragua, after the suspect was arrested in Montgomery County Friday, according to a report from District of Columbia Fox affiliate WTTG.
“These detainers are codified in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations as well as the [Immigration and Naturalization Service], so these gentlemen are of interest to ICE, and once the state is done with their business with him, we would like him to be brought into our custody,” Darius Reeves, the director of ICE’s Baltimore field office, told the station.
Mr. Reeves said the suspect is being sought for breaking federal immigration law and being a threat to public safety.
Police said they arrested Mr. Lanuza after he stole a Maryland State Highway Administration truck and raced through Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
Two officers were injured and 13 vehicles were struck during the chaotic pursuit of the suspect that started in College Park, police said.
The chase lasted an hour before the suspect got stuck while driving off-road. Officers drew their guns and arrested the man at the scene.
An Illegal Immigrant stole a stuck in Maryland and lead police on a chase pic.twitter.com/lyoNlAXGUv
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 21, 2024
Mr. Lanuza was charged with reckless driving, failure to stop, assault and theft in connection to the incident.
Mr. Reeves said Montgomery County hasn’t been cooperative with detainer requests from the federal agency that oversees deportations in the U.S.
He added that he plans to meet Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich before the week is out.