Medicine man gets plea deal in collision that damaged two police vehicles

Lina Portman1 week ago

0 2 minutes read

A Maugansville area man received a plea deal Friday related to a March 2023 collision in downtown Hagerstown that damaged three parked vehicles, including two belonging to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Parked vehicles were not occupied during the March 8, 2023 incident, which occurred around 8:40 a.m. in the first block of Summit Avenue in front of the Washington County Courthouse.

Christian Edward Cooker, 39, pleaded guilty Friday in Washington County Circuit Court to driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to court records. Cooker had an address in Hedgesville, West Virginia at the time of the incident, but had an address in the Maugansville area on a June court document.

Charges dropped as part of the plea deal include reckless driving, negligent driving and other drug and trafficking-related charges.

Defense attorney David Harbin told the Herald-Mail Monday that Cooker was a recovering drug addict and had previously completed an inpatient drug treatment program. Cooker continues an aftercare program, enrolling in the drug treatment program.

“I’m proud of his efforts so far,” Harbin said.

While Cooker pleaded guilty to the drug charge, Harbin said Cooker was not a drug dealer “by any means.” The charges involve possession of an illegal drug in “sufficient quantity” to indicate intent to distribute, Harbin said.

Harbin also said he is grateful that Washington County has a drug court program for people in Cooker's situation.

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Cooker is under pre-sentence supervision in drug court. That means Cooker will be closely supervised, undergo regular drug testing and make regular court appearances, Harbin said.

If Cooker does well with the drug court program, he could receive a suspended sentence or probation before trial, Harbin said.

Cooker has credit for 30 days in custody, according to court records.

What we know about parked vehicle collisions in downtown Hagerstown

A master deputy working at the courthouse heard a collision and exited the courthouse to find that his marked patrol car had been pushed forward at least 20 feet and a blue Ford pickup was reversing from the patrol car with its tires spinning, according to charging documents.

The F-250 pickup sustained heavy front-end damage and the cruiser sustained rear driver-side damage. The patrol vehicle had been pushed forward into a dark blue Dodge Durango, which had been pushed into an unmarked Sheriff's Office vehicle, according to the documents.

The pickup driver did not immediately stop when the deputy chief ordered him to do so, but he eventually did. While trying to leave on foot, the driver became unstable and fell into his truck, according to charging documents. Cooker was taken to Meritus Medical Center for evaluation and possible drug poisoning because he had dozed off and had difficulty speaking.

Another deputy found an open lunch box in the van containing syringes and medications. The drugs included 70 pills of suspected fentanyl, according to charging documents.

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Cooker told an investigator he was on his way to work downtown and had taken his Suboxone and another medication that morning.

At the hospital, Cooker also reportedly said he drove around a truck that was slowing and got into the slow lane. Then, to get around another vehicle that had slowed to a stop, he said he decided to drive through the mud and into the median, according to charging documents. Cooker was informed that there was no central reservation and that he was not on a two-lane road.

What we know about parked vehicle collisions in downtown Hagerstown

Lina Portman

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