Driver acquitted of most serious charges for running over officer on I-270

A jury convicted a driver on more than a dozen charges for running over a Maryland police officer who lost both legs but the defendant s acquittal on the the majority serious charges left police and the prosecution extremely disappointed Raphael Mayorga was exposed guilty of second-degree assault and other charges but the jury acquitted him of first-degree assault attempted murder and three other charges There s selected days when it s great to be state s attorney of Montgomery County Montgomery County State s Attorney John McCarthy mentioned This is not one of those days In October Sgt Patrick Kepp was technically on break but had joined his colleagues to try to stop a teen driver who was accused of speeding more than mph on Interstate Mayorga now years old was accused of hitting Kepp on purpose at mph Kepp testified he saw Mayorga swerve toward him Gravely injured Kepp needed more than two dozen surgeries and had to learn how to walk again Patrick s devastated by the verdict McCarthy reported Prosecutors are frustrated that a few evidence of Mayorga s previous interactions with police involving reckless driving was not able to be introduced at trial So the prosecution was not able to get in information that Mayorga knew Kepp prior to this happening Montgomery County Nov Maryland officer who lost legs after being hit by teen driver returns to work Montgomery County Dec Officer who lost his legs trying to stop erratic Maryland driver accepts award Montgomery County Dec Hero's welcome Maryland officer who lost legs after being hit by teen driver leaves hospital They knew each other they were not strangers to each other McCarthy reported Quite candidly we knew from looking at social media that Mr Mayora trolled Officer Patrick Kepp So the idea that he did not purposely do this to Officer Kepp is offensive to us Kepp has returned to duty with the police force Maryland s Sgt Kepp Act adds stricter penalties for reckless driving but officers say much more must be done Mayorga faces more than years in prison at sentencing in August News sends emerging news stories by email Go here to sign up to get developing news alerts in your inbox