Sheriff's Office Applies for Byrne Memorial Justice Grant

 

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

For the latest up-to-the-minute news on your Sheriff's Office, we invite you to follow along on our social media channels -   

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Don't miss a thing!  We look forward to seeing you there.

#StMarysSheriff 

#StMarysCounty 

#WorkingTogether

Hoagies for Heroes!

To celebrate National Hoagie Day, Wawa delivered hoagies to some of our Heroes at District 3 station!

Thank you, Wawa, for recognizing our Heroes!

Identity Needed for Suspect in Property Destruction

 The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the subject pictured in a Property Destruction. On Friday, June 23, 2023, at approximately 11:40 AM the suspect spray-painted graffiti on several exterior walls on a building on Corporate Drive in Lexington Park. 

The suspect is described as a black male in a pink camo hoodie, light-colored pants, white socks and flip-flops, using a can of black spray paint. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked to call Deputy Richard Stillwell at 301-475-4200, ext. 8183 or email Richard.Stillwell@stmaryscountymd.gov 

Case #33349-23

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. 

Biking Together

 On June 27, 2023, Sgt. Robert Merritt, (pictured in light blue shirt), rode 23 miles of the northern portion of the Three Notch Trail. This is part of the Summer Youth Engagement Activities through the Department of Juvenile Services, (DJS), of St. Mary’s County.

Pictured with Sgt. Merritt are the two participating high school students and two DJS employees, Ms. Aaliyah Fields and Mr. Dan Schaidt.

Update on Shooting in Lexington Park

 

On June 23, 2023, at around 11:38 a.m., Deputies with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Gloucester Court for the report of shots fired. Deputies arrived on scene and located a 17-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported by ambulance to regional Trauma Center in stable condition.

A lookout was placed, and Deputies set up a perimeter around the area. Ultimately the suspect was located and placed under arrest. The 16-year-old suspect was charged as an adult with Attempted First and Second-Degree Murder, Assault first and second degree, Use of a Firearm in a Violent Crime and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor.

Due to a recent change in Maryland law, the juvenile will not be identified by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and no booking photo will be released until a waiver hearing is conducted to determine the jurisdiction of this case.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Warren Forinash at 301-475-4200, ext. 8072, or email Warren.Forinash@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Do Your Part to Prevent Vehicle Theft

 

Numerous vehicle thefts and stealing items from within vehicles have recently been reported throughout St. Mary's County. Sheriff Steve Hall urges drivers to be vigilant by locking your vehicles and never leave your vehicle running while unattended.

Per Maryland Traffic Article § 21-1101 (a), a person driving or otherwise in charge of a motor vehicle may not leave it unattended until the engine is stopped, the ignition locked, the key removed, and the brake effectively set. This does not apply to a motor vehicle that has had the engine started using a remote keyless ignition system and has been operating unattended for up to 5 consecutive minutes or a motor vehicle that is locked and is on private property not open to the public (such as the driveway of your residence), up to 5 consecutive minutes.

Keep your vehicle's doors locked at all times, especially overnight. Thieves have easy access to steal your property or your vehicle if they only have to open the door.

This month, the rash of recent vehicle burglaries and thefts have been a direct result of unlocked doors and several with spare keys left inside.

In addition, keep valuables out of plain view inside of a vehicle, or better yet, do not store any valuables in a vehicle.

When possible, keep your vehicle parked in a well-lit area with video camera surveillance.

Call the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office at 301-475-8008 to report a vehicle theft or breaking and entering, or make a report online at https://www.firstsheriff.com/citizenreport/

Sign Up for Free Child Safety Seat Installation on July 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 Tech, including Sheriff's Office deputies, teach you how to install your seat correctly and safely. The event will be held at the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad at 21685 FDR Boulevard in Lexington Park on Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 3 pm to 6 pm. 

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 p.m. for the first child and 3:30 p.m. for the second child. Also if you have more than one vehicle please sign up for a second appointment slot.

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.

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

Deputies Complete K-9 Decoy Course

 

Deputy Joseph Senatore trains with K-9 Skar 

Deputies with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office recently completed a two-day course of instruction in Police Canine Behavior and Decoy Techniques. The course objective was to develop a basic understanding of canine behaviors and drives. Officers learned basic decoy techniques utilizing different pieces of training equipment, such as the bite suit and exposed sleeve. Upon completion of the training, deputies are placed on the Sheriff’s Office K-9 support team. The K-9 support team assists current K-9 handlers with their training as well as K-9 deployments, while responding to calls for service.

DFC Michael Rycyzyn, Deputy Travis Wimberly and Deputy Joseph Senatore successfully completed the course last week.

Deputy Travis Wimberly and K-9 Dyno 

K-9 Skar and Deputy Senatore 

DFC Rycyzyn, Deputy Wimberly and Deputy Senatore upon completion of decoy training 

Fatal Collision in Budds Creek Under Investigation

 

A 19-year-old man was killed in a motor vehicle collision on Friday, June 16,2023, as the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office continues the investigation.

 On Friday, June 16, 2023, at 9:43 am, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Patrol deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck in the area of Budds Creek Road and Aviation Yacht Club Road in Budds Creek with CPR in progress.

 The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit was contacted and continued the investigation. Preliminary investigation determined that a 2017 Chevrolet truck and trailer was traveling westbound and making a right-hand turn into a driveway when a 2005 Harley motorcycle, operated by Michael Robert Benenati, age 19 of Mechanicsville, also traveling westbound, struck the truck on the rear passenger’s side. Benenati and his passenger, Ashlyn Nicole Summers, age 18 of Charlotte Hall, were ejected from the motorcycle.

 Benenati was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital by ambulance where he was later pronounced deceased. Summers was transported by air to a regional trauma center for incapacitating injuries.

 At this time, operator error appears to be a factor in the collision.

 Anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or any events leading up to it, and has not already provided a statement, is asked to call Cpl. Rachael Roszell at 301-475-4200, ext. 8108 or email rachael.roszell@stmaryscountymd.gov.