Identity Sought for Assault Suspect

 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the person pictured in an assault investigation. On Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at 3:42 pm, the suspect engaged in an altercation with employees at the McDonald's on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. The suspect yelled profanities at employees and customers and then made physical contact with two employees. The suspect left the business in a red Ford SUV. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked to call Deputy Joseph Senatore at 301-475-4200, ext. 78163 or email joseph.senatore@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 10255-23 

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.

Identity Needed for Assault Suspect

 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the person pictured in an assault investigation. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at 11:25 pm, the pictured subject was refused service at ABC Liquor and Lounge in California and then proceeded to assault the security staff at the business. The suspect then left in a black sedan. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked to call Cpl. Vincent Pontorno at 301-475-4200, ext. 72337 or email vincent.pontorno@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 8353-23 

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. 

Lt. Harrison Oversees Pre-Trial and Day-Reporting Services

 

Lt. Sherry Harrison 

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office celebrates Women’s History Month in March by highlighting some of the careers and achievements of our sisters in uniform.

Sherry Harrison knew she wanted to work in the medical health care field, but she had difficulty finding the right fit for her. She briefly worked in the retail industry before she joined the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division 14 years ago and she looks back with pride on her career move.

Starting out as a Corrections Officer with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Harrison is now a lieutenant, working in the Community Corrections Center, overseeing inmate day reporting and pre-trial services.

Next door to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, the Community Corrections Center (CCC) in Leonardtown provides non-violent offenders in the local criminal justice system with access to behavioral health evaluation and treatment, including mental health and substance-use disorders.

Offenders in the pre-trial release and day-reporting programs report to the CCC at least once a week for drug testing. In addition, offenders are remotely tracked each day by a GPS monitoring system on their person. Any deviation in their schedule or location requires staff approval.

For those whose offenses involved alcohol, offenders are also monitored for any levels of intoxication through a portable device that is also remotely tracked.

On a recent day in February, there were 116 inmates being monitored by Corrections staff on pre-trial services or day reporting (formerly called work release).

“Our goal is to rehabilitate,” Lt. Harrison said. “We do our best to work with offenders.”

In many cases, addiction issues lead to and perpetuate criminal behaviors, she said.

Lt. Harrison joined the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division on March 2, 2009, and said she’s enjoyed her career ever since.

“I’m still here. I think it was a good decision,” she said. “It’s been a good journey. I look back and I say that was a good decision.”

In addition to working as a Corrections Officer, she also worked as a booking officer, a transport officer and worked in the Community Supervision Unit at the detention center. “I’ve been able to learn a lot and move around,” within the division, she said.

For those considering a career in Corrections, she advised, “Do it. It’s a good opportunity. You’ll be able to learn a lot. There’s room for growth, a lot of training opportunities. I’ve definitely learned a lot in my time here.”

“If you’re interested in law enforcement and a good career, this would be a good choice,” she said. “It just takes patience, flexibility with your schedule, but I’ve seen people leave and come back here. It’s a good career.”

“Lt. Harrison is a leader and a role model in the Corrections Division,” Warden Mary Ann Thompson said. “She is making positive life-changing differences for not only the offenders involved, but their families and ultimately to St. Mary’s County.”

Learn more about careers with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, at https://www.firstsheriff.com/employment/default or call 301-475-4200, ext. 71936.

Identities Needed for Theft Suspects

 

March 2 update: Two of the three suspects have been positively identified. Thank you for your tips. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identities of the persons pictured in a theft investigation. On Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at 12:55 pm, the three suspects walked out of the Charlotte Hall Food Lion with carts of groceries without paying for any of the items. The three suspects left in a older model white Chevy Suburban. 

Anyone with information about the identities of the suspects or this incident is asked to call Deputy Thomas Deinert at 301-475-4200, ext. 78182 or email thomas.deinert@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 10442-23 

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. 

Wanted: Wayne Joseph Brooks

 

Wayne Joseph Brooks 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the whereabouts of Wayne Joseph Brooks, age 30 of Leonardtown, on a warrant for Violation of Probation for Stalking, Harassment and Violation of a Protective Order. 

Anyone with information about Brooks' whereabouts is asked to call the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office at 301-475-8008. 

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. 

Lexington Park Man Arrested on Handgun Charges

 

Keyshon Marquez Gant 

Detectives with the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division located and arrested a Lexington Park man on Wednesday resulting in several handgun charges. 

Keyshon Marquez Gant, age 22 of Lexington Park, was arrested without incident and subsequently charged with Handgun on Person; Loaded Handgun on Person; Concealed Dangerous Weapon and Prohibited Detachable Magazine. 

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, detectives received information that Gant was in possession of a black colored semiautomatic handgun that was concealed in his front waistband as he was walking in the Patuxent Homes neighborhood in Lexington Park. 

Members of the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the area and located Gant walking on Midway Drive where he was detained without incident. A loaded "P80" 9mm semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine was found concealed in Gant's waistband. A "P80" or "ghost gun" does not have a serial number or any identifying information. The extended magazine had a 30-round capacity and contained a total of 30 rounds with one round in the chamber of the firearm. 

Gant was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown where he was held without bond, pending a hearing today, Feb. 23.   

Sgt. Peacher Retires After 25 Years of Dedicated Service

 

Capt. David Yingling gives the Final Salute to Sgt. Michael Peacher, along with Sheriff Steve Hall

Sheriff Steve Hall and the men and women of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office gave Sgt. Michael Peacher his Final Salute on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2023, upon his retirement from the agency. Sgt. Peacher joined the Sheriff's Office on July 21, 1997 and retires with more than 25 years of service to the agency and the citizens of St. Mary's County. 

Sgt. Peacher is "dedicated to service," Sheriff Hall said, "dedicated to family" and is "passionate and driven in caring for other people." 

We wish you the best upon your retirement, Sgt. Peacher #130. 

Sgt. Peacher takes the final walk through headquarters 

Sheriff Hall congratulates Sgt. Peacher 

Sheriff Hall hands Sgt. Peacher his retirement credentials
 

Deputy Christopher Palmer, Deputy Brandon Reynolds, Deputy Blake Haas, Sgt. Peacher and DFC Andrew Burgess 

Identities Needed for Theft Suspects

 

March 16 update: All four suspects have been identified. Thank you. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identities of several individuals in a theft investigation. Over the course of last several months, the pictured suspects were involved in multiple thefts from the Target store in California. The subjects were seen leaving in a black Mitsubishi on several occasions as well as a white Nissan Altima. The suspects use various methods to steal merchandise, including skip-scanning, concealing items on their person and walking out with unpaid items. 

Anyone with information about the identities of the suspects or these incidents is asked to call Deputy Raymond Allebach at 301-475-4200, ext. 78110 or email raymond.allebach@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 8504-23 

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.

Wanted: Erin Nicole Stahl

 

Erin Nicole Stahl 

Feb. 23 update: Stahl was located and arrested. 

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Erin Nicole Stahl, age 35 of Lusby, who is wanted for Second-Degree Escape after failing to report to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown for a 10-day sentence for Driving While Suspended and Theft: $100 to under $1,500.

Anyone with information on Stahl’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Joseph Bowling at 301-475-4200, ext. 71959 or email joseph.bowling@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.

Fifteen of 17 Businesses Pass Alcohol Compliance Checks

 

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol Enforcement Unit recently conducted a series of alcohol compliance checks at 17 businesses in St. Mary’s County. Fifteen of the establishments were found to be compliant, while two businesses failed to ask an underage Sheriff’s Office employee for identification.

The covert compliance checks were conducted on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, starting at 3 pm, using an underage Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer. The 19-year-old corrections officer was wearing plain clothes and was directed to enter each business to order or retrieve an alcoholic beverage for purchase.

Of the 17 businesses visited, 15 were found in compliance with Maryland law and required identification from the underage corrections officer. Two businesses failed to ask for identification or failed to corroborate the corrections officer’s age and the employee was able to purchase an alcoholic beverage underage.

Businesses found in compliance were: 2000 Liquor in Lexington Park; ABC Liquors and Lounge in California; Beacon Liquors in Callaway; Canopy Liquors in Lexington Park; Cook’s Liquor & Deli in Park Hall; County Liquors in Lexington Park; Early Bird in Hollywood; H.V. Liquors in California; International Beverages in Lexington Park; Jughead Liquor Wine Beer in California; Lex Wine & Spirits in Lexington Park; Marketplace Wine & Spirits in California; St. Mary’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Great Mills; Stop ‘N Shop in Lexington Park and Wildewood Wine & Spirits in California.

The two businesses found in violation were: Corner Liquors in Lexington Park and Twist Wine & Spirits in Lexington Park.

The reports of alcohol violations were forwarded to the St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board for review.