New York man sentenced to 40 years after injuring Maryland sheriff's deputy during police chase

A man was sentenced to 40 years, 20 without the possibility of parole, after he injured a Harford County Sheriff's deputy in a police chase on Interstate 95, according to the county State's Attorney. 

Juan Yahir Quiroz Manzueta, 22, of Yonkers, New York, pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder, burglary, evading police, and failing to stop at a crash, court officials said. He was ordered to serve half of his 40-year sentence before he will be eligible for parole. 

Manzueta apologized in court on Tuesday, telling the judge and the deputy that he didn't intend to injure anyone. He said he was trying to make some extra money.  

However, Harford County State's Attorney Alison Healey pointed out that Manzueta has been arrested, but not convicted, of similar crimes in the past.

"I remain committed to my sole focus and priority, which is the public safety of Harford County and ensuring the dangerous offenders like Juan Quiroz Manzueta face significant consequences for the threat they pose to our community," Healey said.

Lt. Robert Burgess suffered a severe concussion, broken ribs, a punctured lung, and several other injuries, which required nine metal plates to be put into his body. 

"I take it with a grain of salt," Lt. Burgess told CBS News Baltimore. "From listening to Ms. Healey's account of his previous crimes, he's done this numerous times before, and he hasn't seemed to learn his lesson. He keeps running from the police and stealing."

Healey said that no amount of time will make up for Manzueta injuring the deputy and putting the lives of others in danger, but she is satisfied with the sentence.

"I am proud that we were able to obtain a sentence 15 years above the top of the sentencing guidelines and more than double the bottom of the range for the guidelines," Healey said.

Harford County police chase 

Manzueta was driving a rented Penske box truck at the time of the chase. He hit several cars after fleeing from a traffic stop in Churchville in August 2025, according to court documents. 

Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said, "This suspect did his very best to kill a police officer, and just fell short." 

During the chase, Manzueta hit a U.S. Mail truck and several other vehicles before getting on I-95 and driving erratically in the wrong direction, court records show. No other injuries were reported. 

The video of the pursuit was shown in the courtroom, including the moment Lt. Burgess was hit.

"I did not watch the actual collision with myself. I don't do that to myself," Lt. Burgess said. "I watched the pursuit from the other vehicles, and it wasn't good. It got to me."

Deputy hit during police chase

Harford County Sheriff's Lieutenant Robert Burgess was hit as he was trying to deploy stop sticks on I-95. 

Officials said Burgess was thrown 65 feet in the air after being hit by Manzueta's box truck. 

Burgess, a 29-year veteran, was flown to Shock Trauma, where Sheriff Gahler said he was "very lucky to be alive," with a long road to recovery. 

"He will likely deal with the lasting effects of the injuries for the rest of his life," Healey said. 

Burgess returned to work on February 2, 2026.

Suspect arrested in New York 

Manzueta fled on foot after his truck was forced off the roadway by an officer, court documents show. 

Officials tracked Manzueta to New York with help from GPS information from Penske and a smashed cellphone found in the back of the truck. He was arrested by  U.S. Marshals in New Rochelle, New York, court documents show. 

Stolen cooking oil was found in the back of the truck after the chase. Deputies linked the theft to an Applebee's restaurant in Aberdeen. 

Manzueta was also linked to similar thefts in other states, according to Gahler.