On June 28, 2015, at 4:40 AM, deputies responded to Abell's Tavern located at 20281 Piney Point Road for an alarm activation. Deputies found the front glass door shattered and the cash register missing. An undisclosed amount of money was inside the register at the time. A Lottery machine was also damaged during the burglary.
Video surveillance footage depicted a white male suspect inside the business. A white Ford F150 truck was also captured on camera coming and going from the business at the time of the burglary.
On June 29, 2015, the suspect in the video was positively identified as Martin nmn Bray IV, age 40, of no fixed address, by Sheriff's Office deputies who had prior contact with Bray.
Also on June 28th at 7:24 AM, a victim who resides on Hollywood Road in Leonardtown, reported his white 2009 Ford F150 stolen from the front of his home sometime during the previous night. The victim's truck was subsequently identified as the one seen on video surveillance footage during the Abell's Tavern burglary.
On July 12th, the stolen truck was recovered in Dameron, stripped of valuable parts.
On June 29th, Detective Hulse from the Criminal Investigations Division obtained an arrest warrant for Bray. On July 3rd, Bray was apprehended and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. The warrant was served charging Bray with 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft $10,000 to $100,00, Property Destruction, Unlawful Taking Motor Vehicle, and Theft Under $1,000.
At the time of his arrest, Bray was already wanted by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office for an earlier vehicle theft and burglary. On June 1, 2015, a victim who resides on St. James Church Road in Lexington Park, reported his 2010 Chevrolet truck stolen. Ten (10) bags of mulch and a leaf blower were in the bed of the truck at the time of the theft. Money was also stolen from inside the cab of the truck. Detectives assumed the investigation and developed Bray as a suspect. Witnesses later identified Bray as operating the truck after it had been stolen, as well as attempting to sell the stolen mulch.
Also on June 1st, a burglary was reported by a victim who resides on Earl Dean Road in Lexington Park. The victim's garage was entered and a commercial pressure washer was stolen. Bray was identified as a suspect after he sold the stolen pressure washer to a witness. On June 11, 2015, Detective Alexander obtained an arrest warrant for Bray, charging him with Theft $10,000 to $100,00, Rogue and Vagabond, 2nd Degree Burglary, 2 COUNTS Theft Under $1,000. This warrant was served on July 3rd.
Additional charges are pending against Bray regarding the 2009 Ford F150 recovered in Dameron stripped of parts.
Martin nmn Bray IV
