Identity Needed for Theft Suspect

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the identity of the person pictured. On Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 at 8:58 p.m., the suspect crawled behind the counter of the Wawa convenience store in Charlotte Hall and took eight packs of cigarettes, placing them under his shirt. The suspect was last seen leaving in a dark colored Ford SUV with a faded hood. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked Deputy Michael Rycyzyn at 301-475-4200, ext. *8030 or email michael.rycyzyn@stmarysmd.com. Case # 54741-19

Information Needed in Home Invasion

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the community’s assistance in a recent home invasion incident.

On Oct. 5, 2019 at approximately 7:30 p.m., a home-invasion robbery occurred on Columbus Drive in Lexington Park. Two unknown male suspects arrived on foot and entered the victim’s residence, demanding money. The victim was assaulted, and the suspects left the residence on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Daniel Sidorowicz at 301-475-4200, ext. *8043 or email daniel.sidorowicz@stmarysmd.com.

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact St. Mary’s County 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.

On-View Arrests/Warrants

On-View Arrests:

Assault, DUI: On Oct. 1, 2019, Deputy Latisha Baker responded to the area of 45200 Happyland Road in Valley Lee for the report of an assault in progress. Deputy Baker observed Twann James Riley, 41 of Waldorf, in his vehicle leaving the residence without headlights at a high rate of speed. Riley traveled about one mile while Deputy Baker's emergency equipment was activated before he pulled over. Riley was arrested and Deputy Baker contacted the victim who advised that Riley had threatened, grabbed and poked the victim. Riley was charged with Driving Under the Influence, Driving While Impaired by Alcohol and Second-Degree Assault. Case # 56375-19 

Twann James Riley 

Altered Drug Test: On Oct. 4, 2019, DFC Daniel Holdsworth responded to the St. Mary's County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown for the report of an altered drug test. DFC Holdsworth was advised by a Corrections Sergeant that Eric Tyler Ward, 30 of California, altered a drug test by filling it vape juice and water. Ward remained in custody at the detention center and charged with Alter Drug/Alcohol Test. Case # 57054-19

Eric Tyler Ward 

Theft: On Oct. 4, 2019, Deputy Joseph Bowling responded to the California Target store for the report of a theft. The loss prevention officer advised that Amy Marie Lambert, 43 of Hollywood, entered the store, concealed merchandise in her purse, went to the self-checkout area where she scanned two items but then proceeded to leave the store without paying for rest of the merchandise. The loss prevention officer provided security camera footage of the theft and Lambert was charged with Theft: $100 to under $1,500. Case # 57079-19

Amy Marie Lambert 

DUI, CDS Possession: On Oct. 4, 2019, Deputy Artina Manns responded to the intersection of Budds Creek Road and Chaptico Hill Lane for the report of a vehicle stopped in the roadway obstructing traffic. Deputy Manns made contact with Delano O'Brien Gray, 35 of Port Republic, who was near the vehicle. Gray advised he had fallen asleep at the wheel, but Deputy Manns detected the odor of alcohol from Gray's breath and he did not satisfactorily complete a standardized field sobriety test. Upon a search of his person, a plastic baggie of cocaine was also found. Gray was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention and Rehabilitation Center and charged with DWI, DUI, DUI Per Se and CDS: Possession (Cocaine). Case # 57180-19

Delano O'Brien Gray 

Assault: On Oct. 7, 2019, Cpl. Patrick Handy responded to the 46800 block of Hilton Run Drive in Lexington Park for the report of an assault. Cpl. Handy met with Nicole Chanelle Ingram, 29 of Lexington Park, who advised there had been an argument with the victim and Ingram punched the victim in the nose with a closed fist. Cpl. Handy contacted the victim at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital who had a broken nose. Cpl. Handy returned to the scene and arrested and charged Ingram with Second-Degree Assault. Case # 57472-19

Nicole Chanelle Ingram

Fraud, Theft: On Sept. 29, 2019, Deputy Tyler Westphal responded to a residence to the reported fraud. The victim advised that Samantha Len Burch, 24 of Mechanicsville, had fraudulently and without permission opened a credit card account in the victim's name and then opened a second account as well. Reviewing store surveillance where the credit cards were used, Deputy Westphal arrested and charged Burch on Oct. 7, 2019 with Credit Card Sign Another, Credit Card Another Charge $1,500 to $25,000, Forgery Private Documents, Fraud ID Info Theft $1,500 to $25,000 and Theft Scheme $1,500 to under $25,000. Case # 55597-19

Samantha Len Burch 

Trespassing: On Oct. 2, 2019, Cpl. Timothy Snyder charged Ricky Ray Adkins, 60 of Lexington Park, with Trespassing on Private Property at Millison Plaza in Lexington Park. Case # 56500-19

Ricky Ray Adkins

Warrants:

On Oct. 2, 2019, David Timothy Knott, 34 of Lexington Park, was charged with Violation of Probation by Deputy Travis Wimberly. Case # 56611-19

David Timothy Knott 

On Oct. 5, 2019, Charles Edwin Compton, 32 of Leonardtown, was charged with False Statement, Resist Arrest and two Failure to Appear bench warrants by Deputy Jason Graves. Case # 57299-19

Charles Edwin Compton 

On Oct. 6, 2019, Robert Lee Driggers, 53 of Lexington Park, was charged with Trespass Private Property by Deputy Latisha Baker. Case # 57360-19 (no photo available)

Traffic Tip Tuesdays: Right of Way at an Intersection

Sec. 21-401:

A vehicle at an intersection has the right-of-way over any other vehicle approaching from the left; and shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching from the right.

The penalty for failure of vehicle to yield intersection right-of-way to another vehicles is a $110 fine and one point assessed on a driver's license or $750 and three points on a license if contributing to an accident that results in death or serious injury.

Sheriff's Office Congratulates Two New Corrections Officers

Sheriff Tim Cameron, Corrections Officer Jeremy Pelczar and Corrections Officer Devin Absher 

Sheriff Tim Cameron and the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office congratulated and welcomed two new Corrections Officers to the agency on Friday.

Devin Absher and Jeremy Pelczar were among the eight graduates of the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy Corrections Entrance Level Training Program Session 62. Both Absher and Pelczar were named as Distinguished Graduates following the 10-week program.

Congratulations!

Sign Up for Child Safety Seat Installation on Oct. 17, 2019

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is hosting a Child Safety Seat Installation event on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad at 21685 FDR Boulevard in Lexington Park. Bring your child's safety seat and owner's manual and National Certified Child Safety Seat technicians will install it for free. 

Sign up today to reserve an appointment at 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054CABA729A3F49-october

Newburg Man Arrested for Sex Offense

On September 30, 2019, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division responded to the 22500 block of Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown, for the reported sex offense.  The investigation determined Ezekiel Jedidiah Thomas, age 22 of Newburg, assaulted the victim, age 19, in a supply closet. Thomas observed the victim enter the supply closet and close the door. Thomas proceeded to follow the victim and was able to enter the closet as the victim was attempting to exit.  Thomas prevented the victim from leaving the closet and ordered the victim to perform a sexual act.  The victim refused, and Thomas assaulted the victim and attempted to force the victim to perform the sexual act. A witness was able to open the door and stop the assault.  Thomas was arrested and charged with the following crimes:

Second Degree Rape (Attempted)

Assault Second Degree

Sex Offense Third Degree

False Imprisonment

At the time of Thomas’ arrest, it was discovered he had an open warrant from Salisbury, Maryland for the following crimes:

Assault Second Degree

False Imprisonment

School: Molest ETC-Other Location

School: Disturb Operation

Thomas was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center and served his outstanding warrant.  Thomas is currently incarcerated at the detention center on a no bond status.

For official news and information, follow the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter @firstsheriff.

Ezekiel Jedidiah Thomas 

On View Arrests/Warrants/Criminal Citations

On View Arrests:

Drug/Assault Arrest-  On September 28, 2019, DFC. D. Smith responded to the 26800 block of Valley Circle in Mechanicsville, for the reported assault.  Investigation determined Matthew Thomas McGrane, age 42 of Mechanicsville, assaulted the victim by punching the victim in the head numerous times.  McGrane also pulled the victim by the victim's hair across the ground, causing a laceration to the victim's abdomen.  McGrane was taken into custody, and a cigarette pack which contained a suspected strip of Suboxone was located.  McGrane was charged with Assault and CDS: Possession-Not Marijuana.  CASE# 55783-19 (No Photograph Available)

Assault-  On September 30, 2019, Dep. M. Beyer responded to the 21700 block of North Essex Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported assault involving a knife.  Investigation determined Johnny Robert Bodiford Jr., age 29 of Mechanicsville, began to argue with the victims.  During the argument, Bodiford threw a bottle at one victim and removed a knife from his pocket and began to threaten the victims.  Bodiford while in very close proximity to the victims made threats to cut the victims while holding the knife.  Bodiford was located and charged with Assault First Degree and Assault 2nd Degree.  CASE# 56169-19

Johnny Robert Bodiford Jr. 

Warrants:


09/26/19-  Alonzo NMN Garcia, age 52 of Great Mills- Violation of Probation by Dep. Forbes# 341.  CASE# 55401-19

Alonzo NMN Garcia 

09/27/19-  Steven Rene Tharpe Jr., age 29 of no fixed address- CDS: Possession-Not Marijuana and Violation of Probation by Cpl. LeFave# 264.  CASE# 55429-19

Steven Rene Tharpe Jr. 

09/28/19-  Jason Michael Weber, age 38 of Mechanicsville- Violation of Probation by Dep. Hersh# 343.  CASE# 55700-19

Jason Michael Weber 

09/28/19-  Aaron Dwayne Johnson Jr., age 24 of Lexington Park- Violation of Probation/Robbery by Dep. Fretwell# 348.  CASE# 51631-19

Aaron Dwayne Johnson Jr. 

09/30/19-  Glenn Rodney Battle, age 33 of Mechanicsville- FTA/Driving While Revoked by Dep. Rycyzyn# 350.  CASE# 56019-19

Glenn Rodney Battle 

09/30/19-  Kimberly Ann Kerr, age 29 of Hughesville- Violation of Probation/Theft by Cpl. Flerlage# 241.  CASE# 56084-19

Kimberly Ann Kerr

Criminal Citation:

09/27/19-  James Wayne Murphy, age 54 of Lexington Park- Possess-Open Container by Cpl. Beishline# 252.  CASE# 55579-19

James Wayne Murphy

09/28/19-  Shuree Sinese Weems, age 38 of no fixed address-Trespassing by Dep. Fenwick# 338.  CASE# 55828-19

Shuree Sinese Weems 

09/28/19-  Michael Tyree Mitchell, age 36 of Lexington Park- Trespassing-Private Property by Dep. Budd# 325.  CASE# 55728-19 (No Photograph Available)

Detention Center Expansion Work Underway

Ground was officially broken on the long-awaited expansion project for the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

The construction project will add a new 64-bed women’s housing unit to the existing jail, a new medical services unit, add central air conditioning and facilitate other upgrades.

The 230-bed jail in Leonardtown was built in 1989.

The expansion and renovation project will make the detention center a “safer and healthier place” for both inmates and corrections staff, Sheriff Tim Cameron said.

The expansion of the jail in St. Mary’s County has “been needed for years,” Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris said.

St. Mary’s County Commissioner President Randy Guy said he was proud that the board of commissioners was able to move the project forward.

“This is actually the first groundbreaking that I’ve ever attended so I hope that’s a good sign,” Sheriff Cameron said. “It has been a long road.”

Construction is expected to take three years. In December 2018, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County approved a $25.6 million construction contract to Scheibel Construction of Huntingtown. The contractor recently completed the Capt. Walter Francis Duke Elementary School and College of Southern Maryland Wellness Center at the Leonardtown Campus.

Traffic Tip Tuesdays: School Zones

Sec. 21-803.1. School zones

The Maryland State Highway Administration or a local authority may establish a school zone and maximum speed limits applicable in the school zone and may provide that fines are to be doubled for speeding violations within the school zone. School zones may be established within a half-mile radius of any school.

A sign designating a school zone under this section is equipped with timed flashing warning lights and indicates that fines for speeding are doubled when the lights are activated.

The fines for speeding in a posted school zone are as follows:

Exceeding the posted speed limit by:

1-9 mph: $120 and one point assessed on a license or $160 and three points if contributing to an accident

10-19 mph: $140 and two points or $180 and three points if contributing to an accident

20-29 mph: $270 and two points or $310 and three points if contributing to an accident

30-39 mph: $540 and five points

40 mph and over: $1,000 and five points