The U.S. Marshals Service is searching for a Washington, D.C., man accused of carjacking a vehicle from Audi Bethesda after allegedly displaying what appeared to be a handgun.
Joe Cofer, 38, faces felony carjacking charges stemming from a June 29 test drive at the Montgomery County dealership, as first reported by Fox Baltimore. Nearly four months later, he remains at large. Authorities say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Court documents describe how Cofer used identification in his name to request a test drive of a gray Audi S5. During the outing, he asked the accompanying employee to take photos of him behind the wheel for his wife.
The employee felt uneasy and took the key fob before stepping out to snap the pictures. After the employee returned Cofer's phone, Cofer displayed what appeared to be a small handgun and told the employee to "walk away," then drove off in the S5.
Officers who responded found that Cofer had arrived at the Bethesda dealership in another Audi reported stolen a day earlier from a dealership in Vienna, Virginia, about 11 miles away. Deputy Marshal Jennifer Mazza said a surveillance image from the Virginia location matched the identification Cofer provided in Bethesda.
Authorities tracked the stolen S5 to Washington, D.C., using the vehicle's built-in tracking system and recovered it. Cofer was not at the scene.
Investigators also linked Cofer to a June 26 vandalism incident in Silver Spring in which he allegedly broke a window and was hospitalized. "Investigators noted the injuries were consistent with the injuries noticed by employees at the dealership," Mazza said.
The alleged carjacking came during a sharp rise in vehicle thefts across Montgomery County. The county recorded 1,569 stolen vehicles as of late July, a 22 percent increase over the prior year, Hoodline reported, citing WTOP.
Court documents describe a lengthy criminal history for Cofer, including past charges for burglary, larceny, fraud, identity theft and assault.
Anyone with information on Cofer's whereabouts can call the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058. Tipsters may remain anonymous, and a reward may be available.
