Rodney-Harris-Jr-faces-charges-in-DUI-crash-that-injured-Howard-Co-Md-officer.

Driver charged with DUI in August collision that injured officer

COLUMBIA, MD. – Howard County police report that they have charged a Baltimore man with driving under the influence (DUI) in an August crash in which a police officer was injured.

Rodney Darnell Harris Jr., 31, of 3900 Gwynn Oak Avenue, #T3, in Baltimore, Md., was charged this week with DUI, driving without a license, and failure to change lanes for a stopped emergency vehicle.

Pfc. Joseph Gallina, a 22-year veteran, was conducting a traffic stop Aug. 5 around 11 a.m. on the right shoulder of Route 100 in Ellicott City. His emergency lights were activated and he was inside his vehicle when a Cadillac Escalade driven by Harris left the roadway struck the rear of the patrol car.

Pfc. Gallina was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Howard County General Hospital and later released.

Harris was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and later released. Recent test results confirmed Harris was driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than twice the legal limit. He was arrested by Officer C. Valentine.

Police released a photo of the damaged patrol car as a reminder to drivers to drive sober and move over or slow down for emergency vehicles, as required by law.