Five-time DUI Driver Christopher Cotsford Crashed into home in Trailer Park; Gained Set of Teeth Marks from K-9 Hakan

LEXINGTON PARK, MD. – Police say that a man who stole a truck after trying to choke a person raced away from a patrol car on Great Mills Road and then crashed into the porch of mobile home in Lord Calvert Trailer Park in Great Mills.

The record of this five-time DUI driver stretches back for years in Maryland and spans three counties and four different States Attorneys and at least that many District Court and Circuit Court Judges. The list of the various encounters of Christopher Cotsford follows this latest DUI-fueled adventure.

St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron reports that on January 21, 2015, at 8:18 PM, deputies responded to a residence in the 19000 block of Three Notch Road for a reported assault. While responding to the residence, the Emergency Communications Center, (ECC), advised the suspect identified as Christopher Lee Cotsford, 32, of Great Mills, allegedly stole a vehicle, 1997 Ford Explorer, and fled the scene.

 Corporal Jason Graves saw the vehicle traveling northbound on Three Notch Road at Tulagi Place. The vehicle ran the red light while making a left turn onto Great Mills Road. Corporal Graves activated his emergency lights and sirens at which time the vehicle turned off its headlights and refused to stop.

Police say that the vehicle entered the Lord Calvert Trailer Park where it crashed into the porch of a residence and came to a stop. Cotsford was subsequently taken into custody with the help of K9 Hakan after he refused to exit the vehicle. He was initially transported to MEDSTAR St. Mary’s Hospital and treated for minor bite wounds. Cotsford was then transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with Unlawful Taking Motor Vehicle, Theft $1,000 to $10,000, Unauthorized Removal of Property, 2nd Degree Assault, and numerous traffic citations; to include DUI Driving Under the Influence and Driving While Suspended/Revoked. 

The investigation revealed, the victim and Cotsford were engaged in an argument when Cotsford, (who was intoxicated), attempted to strangle the victim with his hands. The assault ended after another person at the residence intervened. Cotsford picked up the keys to the Ford Explorer, (belonging to the person who intervened), and fled the residence. 

Cotsford lives at 45725 Oregon Way in Great Mills, which is located in the trailer park into which he ended his stolen truck race from the deputy.   He is due to appear in court on Feb. 24, 2015.

Cotsford’s record:

Arrested on Jan. 20, 2015 for malicious destruction of property by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Deputy David Corcoran.

Arrested for assault on Nov. 11, 2014 by Deputy David Lawrence. Cotsford is represented by Public Defender Eric Sullivan and is set to appear in St. Mary’s County District Court on Feb. 12, 2015.

Arrested for DUI: by St. Mary’s Deputy David Potter on Oct. 23, 2013 for theft of a vehicle, being a rogue and vagabond and property destruction. He appeared in District Court on Jan. 23, 2014, just one year ago, and in a plea deal with St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz, entered a guilty plea to unauthorized removal of property and was sentenced to two years and twelve months in jail (which in the rest of the world would be simply three years). But since this is a Maryland Court aka Alice in Wonderland, two years and three months of his sentence was suspended and he was given credit for 92 days he was in jail pending trial.  Also on Jan. 23, 2014, Cotsford entered a plea deal with Fritz to a DUI charge incurred on Oct. 23, 2013 and he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with no fine. On a charge from the incident of the same date he entered a guilty plea to failing to control his speed to avoid a collision on Abell Drive in California, Md. He was fined $112.00.

Violation of Probation: On Dec. 23, 2014 a warrant was issued for his arrest for violating the terms of his probation and he was jailed on Dec. 31, 2014 and released on Jan. 4, 2015 in order to return to life terrorizing Lexington Park.  Cotsford was represented by Public Defenders Eric Sullivan and Sarah Elkins, who actually do nothing to defend the public from anything but simply represent criminals at the expense of the public.

Arrested for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia on Nov. 2, 2011 by Maryland State Trooper Eric Evans, Cotsford went to St. Mary’s County District Court on Dec. 13, 2011.  In a plea deal between his Public Defender Sean Moran and Fritz, he was convicted on May 7, 2012 after some charges were dropped on Dec. 13, 2011. He was sentenced to jail for 42 days and put on probation until May 7, 2012. He was given credit for time served of 42 days.

Arrested for DUI on May 7, 2010 at 1:56 am by Charles County Sheriff’s Officer David Walker at the intersection of Pinefield Court and Pinefield Rd. in Waldorf, Md. He appeared in Charles County District Court on Sept. 17, 2010 and in a plea deal with Charles County States Attorney Leonard Collins, he was allowed Probation Before Judgment, with a fine of $200.00 and 6 months in jail with all of the jail time suspended. Cotsford was represented by Public Defender Michele Harewood.

Arrested for DUI on May 21, 2010 at 12:47 am by a Maryland State Trooper on Rt. 301 at Rt. 5 in Waldorf, Md., Cotsford appeared in District Court in Charles County, Md., on Oct. 26, 2010. In Charles County District Court on Oct. 26, 2010, the Judge allowed a plea bargain agreed to by Charles County States Attorney Leonard Collins to let Cotsford plead guilty and be put on Probation before Judgment with a fine of zero dollars and 60 days in jail with 38 days of that time suspended.

Arrested for DUI on May 31, 2010 at 10:09 pm by Prince Georges County Police Officer Frank Bell on Dangerfield Place. In Prince Georges County District Court on Dec. 6, 2010 Cotsford’s three counts of DUI impaired driving were dropped by Prince Georges County States Attorney Glenn Ivey. No fine, no time, no record.

Arrested for DUI on Sept. 24, 2010 by Charles County Sheriff’s Officer David Walker at 12:21 am. In a plea deal with Charles County States Attorney Anthony Covington on March 10, 2011, Cotsford entered a guilty plea and was fined a grand total of …$82.00… He did have to pay court costs of $25.50. On a charge of driving while suspended he entered a guilty plea and was fined $107.50. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and all 60 days were suspended. Representing Cotsford was Public Defender Kevin Hill. Cotsford was not sentenced to any jail time.

Indicted for possession of prescription drugs, cocaine, theft a concealed deadly weapon by the St. Mary’s County Grand Jury for offenses from Jan. 24, 2005, in a plea deal to the theft charge with St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz on Aug. 1, 2005, Cotsford was sentenced in Circuit Court to 18 months in jail with 11 months and 25 days suspended. He was also put on probation for two years. The remaining charges were dropped by Fritz.

Arrested for having a concealed deadly weapon, disorderly conduct, property destruction and intoxicated endangerment of alcohol, on Dec. 27, 2003 by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher L. Morley, Cotsford appeared in St. Mary’s District Court for a plea deal arranged by Public Defender John D. Bailey Jr. and St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz. In the deal all charges were dropped with Cotsford entering a plea of guilty to the weapon charge and being sentenced to jail for 120 days with 110 days suspended and credit of time served of one day.