Sgt. Alexander Retires from Sheriff's Office After More than 26 Years of Service

 

Sgt. David Alexander receives his Final Salute from Lt. Shawn Moses, Capt. Richard Russell and Sheriff Steve Hall 

Sgt. David Alexander #87 received his Final Salute on Friday, March 31, 2023, upon his retirement from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. Alexander served the community for more than 26 years in the agency, spending 19 of those years as a detective. He also served as a Patrol Division squad leader, the leader of the Sheriff's Office hostage negotiation team and leader of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard. 

"I love the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. I won't be too far away," he told his colleagues, friends and family. 

Sgt. Alexander takes the Honor Walk through headquarters 

Sgt. Alexander kisses his four-year-old grandson Fischer

Sgt. Alexander and his family 

Sgt. Sheena Tirpak, Cpl. Shaun Carberry and DFC Artina Alvey of the Honor Guard 

Sheriff Steve Hall and Sgt. Alexander 

Washington, DC Man Arrested for Murder in Mechanicsville

 

Darryl Carlton Parks Jr. 

On Friday, March 24, 2023, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID) identified Darryl Carlton Parks Jr., age 29 of Washington, DC, as a suspect in the homicide of the victim, who was previously identified as 18-year-old Isaiah Alexander Woodland, a transgender woman whose first name is Tasiyah and is also known as Siyah. Later the same day, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Parks in connection to this homicide.

On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, investigators with CID, along with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Unit, located and apprehended Parks on the arrest warrant.

Parks was incarcerated and awaits extradition back to St. Mary’s County. Parks has been charged with the following Criminal Offenses:

First-Degree Murder
Second-Degree Murder
Firearm Use/Felony -Violent Crime
Two counts of Reckless Endangerment from Car
Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm

The Sheriff’s Office thanks the community for its assistance in this investigation and urges anyone with additional information to contact Deputy David Lawrence at 301-475-4200, ext. 78130 or email david.lawrence@stmaryscountymd.gov. 

Person of Interest Sought in Theft Investigation

 

March 28 update: The person of interest has been identified. Thank you. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of a person of interest in a theft investigation. On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, an unknown suspect removed a registration plate from a vehicle parked at the Harris Teeter parking lot in California. The suspect is described as a larger white male, who left in a red vehicle. 

A short time later, the pictured person arrived at the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office's District 3 Station in California in what appears to be a gray Nissan and placed the stolen tag at the front door to the station. To gain further information on the stolen tag, our agency seeks the person of interest's identity. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Deputy Joseph Senatore at 301-475-4200, ext. 78163 or email joseph.senatore@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 12365-23 

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment. 

Mechanicsville Man Arrested on Rogue and Vagabond and Theft Charges

 

Johnnie William Raines Jr. 

St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a man this week on numerous charges following a rash of thefts from motor vehicles in the Lexington Park area. 

Johnnie William Raines Jr., age 45 of Mechanicsville, has been charged with three counts of Rogue and Vagabond; Theft: $100 to under $1,500 and Theft: Less than $100. Additional charges of Theft and Rogue and Vagabond are pending.  

Deputy Donald Shubrooks responded to a reported theft on March 24, 2023 to the 21000 block of Jettison Court in Lexington Park. The victim and the deputy were able to track a pair of stolen AirPods to a location where Raines was found standing. The AirPods were on the ground where the suspect was standing. 

Further investigation determined that Raines matched the suspect description in numerous other Rogue and Vagabond incidents between March 20 and March 24 in the Lexington Park area. 

Shubrooks arrested Raines and transported him to the St. Mary's County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown where he is currently held. 

Update: Mechanicsville Homicide Investigation Continues

 

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division continues to actively investigate the murder of an 18-year-old victim killed in Mechanicsville early Friday morning. 

The victim’s legal name is Isiaih Alexander Woodland, age 18 of Lexington Park. She was a transgender woman whose first name was Tasiyah, but also went by Siyah.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has been in regular contact with members of the victim’s family to offer support and investigation updates. The Sheriff’s Office has also been in contact with members of PFLAG Southern Maryland and the LGBTQ+ community to address concerns of personal and public safety. At this time, it does not appear that Woodland was targeted because of her gender identity.

Anyone with cellphone video or images who was present at the scene is urged to visit the Sheriff’s Office’s Citizen Upload Video Upload Portal at https://www.firstsheriff.com/uploadevidence/ Videos can be provided anonymously through the portal.

Original release: St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the parking lot of the Big Dogs in Paradise bar at the 28700 block of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville at 1:15 am on Friday morning for the report of shots fired. Deputies located one male victim near the scene deceased from gunshot wounds, who was identified as Isiaih Alexander Woodland, age 18.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division is continuing the investigation.
The shooting appears to be an isolated event and there is no threat to the general public at this time.

 
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective David Lawrence at 301-475-4200, ext. 78130 or email david.lawrence@stmarycountymd.gov.

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment.

Homicide in Mechanicsville Under Investigation

 

St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the parking lot of the Big Dogs in Paradise bar at the 28700 block of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville at 1:15 am on Friday morning for the report of shots fired. Deputies located one victim near the scene deceased from gunshot wounds, who was identified as Isiaih Alexander Woodland, age 18 of Lexington Park.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division is continuing the investigation.

The shooting appears to be an isolated event and there is no threat to the general public at this time.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective David Lawrence at 301-475-4200, ext. 78130 or email david.lawrence@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment.

Fatal Shooting in Mechanicsville Under Investigation

 

St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the parking lot of Big Dogs in Paradise in Mechanicsville at 1:15 am on Friday morning for the report of shots fired. Deputies located one victim near the scene deceased from gunshot wounds. The Criminal Investigations Division is continuing the investigation. Updates to follow.

Free Child Seat Installation on April 13, 2023

 

Is your child safety seat installed correctly? Not Sure? Are you about to become a parent? Let a National Certified Child Safety Seat technician teach you how to install your seat correctly and safely.

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and its community partners are hosting another free child safety seat installation event. Deputies and trained personnel will install child safety seats on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad at 21685 FDR Blvd. in Lexington Park, next to the Lexington Park Library.

The installation event runs from 3pm to 6pm. Appointments are preferred.

Sign up for an installation appointment at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054caba729a3f49-january#/ 

Please:

1) Schedule one appointment per child. Important! If you have more than one child, make another appointment during the next time slot (i.e. 3 pm for child #1 and 3:30 pm for child #2).

2) For a successful appointment, PRE-INSTALL your car seat(s) to the best of your ability and bring both the car seat and vehicle manuals.

Identity Needed for Vehicle Theft Suspect

 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the man pictured in a vehicle theft investigation. On Monday, March 20, 2023, at 5 am, the suspect broke into and stole a Ford F-350 truck from an auto repair lot in Hollywood. The suspect was dropped off, and likely picked back up in the pictured black SUV, as the stolen truck broke down shortly after it was taken. 

A short time later, a Kubota RTV was stolen from another lot in Hollywood after the suspects damaged a fence to gain access. The two cases may be connected. 

The suspect is believed to be a white male, approximately 5'10" tall, weighing 200 pounds, wearing blue jeans, a black jacket, black shoes and yellow gloves. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked to contact Deputy Michael Rycyzyn at 301-475-4200, ext. 78030 or email michael.rycyzyn@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 14684-23 

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment.

suspect vehicle 

Sheriff's Office Wellness Program Showcased at Conference

 

Community Health Nurse Melanie Trifone, Community Mental Health Liaison Alexis Higdon, Pastor Charlie Wharton and Sgt. Anthony Whipkey proudly represented the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium held March 3-5, 2023 in Anaheim, CA. 

Our staff presented on the evolving role of a registered nurse and mental health liaison within a sheriff's office. The presentation focused on how the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office recognized the need for a wellness program for its employees and its development. 

Our agency developed a core wellness team, including a registered nurse, a mental health clinician, chaplains and law enforcement staff and civilian staff. The presentation highlighted the individual components and collaborative efforts of the team to address mental, emotional and physical needs of employees.