Dave Sweet

WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger addressed the media with frustration following a police procession to honor Officer Noah Leotta, who died at 24 years old after being struck by a drunk driver.

“As we look ahead to the prosecution of this case, I can tell you that whenever it’s done there’s little chance of real justice being done,” said Manger. “Until [the state] takes these crimes seriously, there is no justice for this family.”

Those closest to Leotta say he had a knack for police work and was especially passionate about enforcing drunk and impaired driving laws. On December 3 he was working as a member of the Holiday DUI task in Rockville when he pulled over a car along Rockville Pike. Soon after he’d gotten out of his cruiser an SUV slammed into him from behind.

Funeral plans for Noah Leotta are pending, according to Montgomery County Police Captain Paul Starks, and will be handled entirely by Leotta’s family.

(Photo: Montgomery County Police)