Lehnhoff was one of four riders stopped at about 7:30 p.m. in the McKeldin area of the park. One rider bolted and Lehnhoff attempted to do the same, in the process pinning an officer’s leg between his bike and her all-terrain patrol vehicle.
Raging Rednecks in State Park Cursed and Assaulted Cop with Dirt Bike
PATAPSCO STATE PARK, MD. It’s not nice to curse and shove a cop. A raging redneck will likely get a short haircut, borrow a suit from a preacher and cover his tats for his appearance before a Howard County District Court Judge in June. His lawyer is a top lawyer for 2016 and posts informational videos for drunk drivers on YouTube. With the charges against him and his background as a two-time loser DUI driver, these new criminal charges will certainly challenge the talents of his new mouthpiece.
A Howard County man has been charged with illegal dirt bike riding at a state park, assaulting a police officer, providing false information and resisting arrest, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said.
Gary Lee Lehnhoff III, 29, of 1290 Drivers Road, Marriottsville, Md., was arrested by officers on patrol in Patapsco Valley State Park, where all-terrain vehicle use is prohibited.
Lehnhoff was one of four riders stopped at about 7:30 p.m. in the McKeldin area of the park. One rider bolted and Lehnhoff attempted to do the same, in the process pinning an officer’s leg between his bike and her all-terrain patrol vehicle.
Officers were able to stop Lehnhoff and get him off his bike. He screamed obscenities at the officers and, when asked for identification, gave them someone else’s identity. When he was confronted with the deception, he shoved the officers and ran away.
Police say that as a pursuing officer closed in, Lehnhoff turned and charged him with clenched fists, ignoring multiple orders to stop. The officer drew his service weapon and Lehnhoff finally surrendered.
He was taken to Howard County Central Booking, where he was held on $10,000 bond. His dirt bike was impounded. Charges are pending against two other riders.
The officer struck by the dirt bike suffered minor injuries to her knee and leg.
Lehnhoff is scheduled to appear in Howard District Court on June 7, 2016. Lehnhoff posted bond the same day he was jailed and engaged the services of Jason A. Shapiro of Columbia, Md., as his attorney.
The difference between winning or losing in court often depends on how well you’re prepared before you ever even set foot in the courtroom. – Jason Shapiro, attorney.
The officers who witnessed the assault are NRP Officers Sullivan and Markert.
Park visitors who witness illegal off-road vehicle use are urged to call rangers or the Natural Resources Police using the numbers posted on all bulletin boards. Feedback from trail users can be used by officers to address problem areas
Lehnhoff was arrested for DUI by Officer Clagett of the Westminster Police Dept., in Carroll County on Feb. 24, 2010, and the case went to Circuit Court with taxpayer provided public defender Lee McNulty representing him in a plea deal on Sept. 16, 2010, with the Carroll County States Attorney. With five counts of negligent driving and DUI, the prosecutor provided easy treatment of a sentence of 1 year in jail with 11 months and 20 days suspended leaving but 10 days of jail time and a fine of $300. The plea deal provided for the jail time to be served on five weekends. Probation of two years was ordered as part of the deal and on Dec. 10, 2010, an arrest warrant was issued for Lehnhoff for violation of the terms of the probation.
The Carroll County States Attorney provided an easy out for Lehnhoff on May 3, 2011, when he agreed to Probation Before Judgement with a fine of $300 and no jail time for another DUI arrest which took place on Oct. 3, 2009, by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department.