Overlea Man Arrested in Narcotics Sting Operation after Fleeing Police

An Overlea man faces a host of charges, including attempted murder, after he allegedly tried to flee police following a narcotics sting in which investigators said he sold drugs to undercover officers.

Enrico Bell, 31, of the 4000 block of Northern Parkway in Overlea, faces two counts of attempted murder as well as charges for assault, reckless endangerment as well as for drug-related offenses after leading police on a vehicular chase that resulted in a pedestrian being struck by Bell's car. Bell's vehicle also struck at least three police cars.

Bell was apprehended when he abandoned his vehicle and attempted to escape on foot after his car struck a fire hydrant on Fowler Avenue, according to charging documents. Bell is currently being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

The pedestrian did not suffer life-threatening injuries and was not hospitalized, police said. No officers were injured.

Detectives began investigating Bell in June after they received a tip that he may have been involved in distributing narcotics, according to Baltimore County police spokeswoman Det. Cathy Batton.

Undercover Baltimore County police officers arranged to meet Bell at a Burger King restaurant located at Parktowne and Harford roads on July 13 at 7:20 p.m. Detectives exchanged cash for a substance that appeared to be cocaine, Batton said, and Bell left the scene in a gold-colored 2001 Buick LeSabre. 

Detectives followed Bell as he turned onto Parktowne Road, then onto Wilson Avenue, Woodside Avenue and the dead-end Woodside Court, intending to arrest him.

While turning onto the court, Bell allegedly struck a pedestrian who was jogging. Bell then attempted to turn his car around although officers in an unmarked police vehicle attempted to block his way out.

Bell accelerated and struck the unmarked police car on the front of the passenger's side and pushed it out of the way before colliding with two marked police vehicles, forcing two officers to jump aside to avoid injury, Batton said.

Bell exited Woodside Court, making a right turn onto Woodside Avenue where he continued to Avondale Road, Glen Avenue, Hiss Avenue and finally Fowler Avenue, where he lost control of his vehicle, struck a curb and collided with a fire hydrant, according to police.

Officers converged on Fowler Avenue and Bell abandoned his vehicle, fleeing into a wooded area. Officers, who gave chase on foot, managed to catch up with Bell and arrest him at 7:31 p.m., according to charging documents. 

The list of charges Bell faces include: two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, one count of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, one count of possesion of a controlled dangerous substance, one count of posession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, and five counts of malicious destruction of property.