Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-25
COUNTY FIRE CHIEF
WOUNDED IN CHASE
Prince Georges Rescue
Squad Head Is Shot in
Wrist.

An exciting nile-a-minute chase
along Bladensburg road and Rhode Is
land avenue northeast last night, dur
ing which shots few and H. L. Leon
ard, chief of the Prince Georges
County rescue squad was injured and
his car wrecked, led to the issuance of
several warrants by the county authori-
ties today for three men, said to have
been occupants of the high-powered
car which finally was captured.
Leonard was shot in the wrist and
cut by flying glass when his car was
"pocketed" and forced into a trolley
pole on Rhode Island avenue.
Put Under Arrest.
Robert Monroe Brooks, % years old,
a plumber of Mount Rainier, was ar
rested at his home by Chief of Police
Eugene Plumer of Mount Rainier, just
after he had placed the pursued car in
a garage, according to police.
Brooks arrest, and his subsequent
return to the scene of Leonard's
wrecked machine for Identification by
the rescue squad chief, led to a near
riot, when several members of the
squad, attracted to the spot by the
sirens, threatened violence. Trouble
was averted by twelfth precinct police,
who took the man to the station house
and booked him on charge of invest
cation.
According to Leonard the high
powered car containing the three men
sped past stop signal at River road
and the Defense Highway. and failed
to make the turn into the latter thor
oughfare. Constable William Norgle
and several flremen who were nearby
rushed to the car as 1t backed to the
Defense Highway.
Jumps ON Car.
Norgle jumped on the running board
Of the car as it sped away. The others
shouted to Leonard, who was at the
Bladensburg firehouse, a short distance
away, that they've got some OF our
men"
The chief then started in pursit along
BladenSburg road. He saw Norgle, who
had been struck. by an ice cream scoop,
pitched from the car, but though some
of the other firemen, many OF whom are
also constables and have been active
against bootleggers, were being taken
for a ride"
In front of National Training School
for boys, Twelfth Precinct Policemen
Spaulding and Wilson took up the
chase. Leonard kept his siren wide
open to warn motorists, as the cars
sped up South Dadota avenue, and then
eastward along Rhode Island avenue
to the District line.
At that point the pursued car, which
bore Ohio license tags, attempted to
make a left turn into Eastern avenue.
Leonard put out his hand to warn
Wilson Of the turn, and as he did so
shot was fired from the rear Of the
fleeing car, the bullet grazing the
chiefs wrist.
Forced Against Pole.
In making the turn the pursued ma
chine forced Leonard against tele-
graph pole, disabling his car. Several
shots were then fired at the Washing
ton police, who were unable to catch
the car.
Leonards car was wrecked almost in
front of the home of George B.
Wheelock, sixth precinct station clerk,
who dressed the chiefs wounds.
When officer Plumer was told the
escaped car bore Ohio license tags, he
took Policeman Wilson to a Mount
Rainier house, arrested Brooks and con-
fiScated the Car.
Brooks admitted being the driver of
the car which led the officers such a
merry chase, according to police. Ills
car was later released in custody Of
his father, Leonard says.
The rescue squad chief declares war
rants charging Brooks with assault with
intent to kill and reckless driving, and
similar warrants against the other &C.
cupants of the car, who are known to
police, were issued today.
The windshield of the police car
driven by Wilson was pierced by q
bullet.