Man Arrested After Police Chase

Suspect's Sons Were in Back Seat as Car Exceeded 100 mph

A 19-year-old Lexington Park man was arrested Wednesday after police officers said he led them on a high-speed chase through St. Mary's County with his 1- and 2-year-old sons in the back seat, authorities said.

Antwaun Somerville was spotted about 12:30 p.m. by a state trooper patrolling Route 245 near Mount Pleasant Road in Hollywood, charging documents say.

Somerville's black Ford Crown Victoria was traveling almost 90 mph in a 50 mph zone, the documents say. When a state trooper turned on his lights and sirens to try to catch up, Somerville's car went faster, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph and running several red lights.

The trooper briefly lost sight of the car near Route 235 and Old Rolling Road, but another trooper in an unmarked car spotted it a short time later. Troopers pulled Somerville over without incident and found the children in the back seat, authorities said.

Police also found marijuana in Somerville's pocket, and he told troopers that he had thrown marijuana out of his car on St. John's Road, the charging documents say. Somerville told police that he would have fled on foot if his children hadn't been with him. He said he fled because his license was suspended and he was carrying drugs.

Somerville was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding, possession of marijuana and reckless endangerment, charging documents say.

His children, who were apparently not buckled in or in car seats during the chase, were released to a relative, police said.