Identity Needed in Property Destruction Investigation

 

April 12, 2023 update: The suspect has been identified. Thank you. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the person driving the pictured gray Dodge Charger in a property destruction investigation. On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 7:35 pm, several people gathered in the parking lot of the Extreme Clean Car Wash on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. The driver of the gray Dodge Charger caused damage to the parking lot upon exiting, while a male in a black shirt recorded the suspect as he left. 

The suspect is described as a black male with long dreadlocks, wearing a white shirt and dark pants. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked to contact Deputy Alexander Wynnyk at 301-475-4200, ext. 78020 or email alexander.wynnyk@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 17963-23 

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. 

Seventeen of 18 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 18 businesses in northern and central St. Mary’s County. Seventeen of the establishments were found to be compliant, while only one business failed to ask an underage person for identification.

The covert compliance checks were conducted on Thursday, March 30, 2023, starting at 3 pm, utilizing an underage individual. The 19-year-old was wearing plain clothes and was directed to enter each business to order or retrieve an alcoholic beverage for purchase.

Of the 18 businesses visited, 17 (94 percent) were found in compliance with Maryland law and required identification from the underage person. One business failed to ask for identification or failed to corroborate the person’s age and the underage individual was able to purchase an alcoholic beverage underage.

Businesses found in compliance were: Pal Liquors & Gas in Leonardtown; Centre Liquors in Leonardtown; Third Base Store in Loveville; St. Mary’s Gas Station in Clements; Village Liquors in Chaptico; Chaptico Market in Chaptico; Race-N In in Budds Creek; Vino 2 Wine & Liquor in Charlotte Hall; Lighthouse in Charlotte Hall; Fred’s Liquor in Charlotte Hall; New Market Service Center in Mechanicsville; Big Dogs’ Paradise in Mechanicsville; A & B Liquor in Mechanicsville; DJ’s One Stop Shop in Mechanicsville; Korner Karryout in Mechanicsville; Cook’s Liquor in Hollywood and Bradfords Neighborhood Market in Hollywood.

The one business found to be in violation was Leonardtown Wine & Spirits in Leonardtown.

The alcohol violation report was forwarded to the St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board for review.

St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and Health Department Alert Public to Danger of Xylazine

 

Joint News Release:
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
St. Mary’s County Health Department

LEONARDTOWN, MD (April 10, 2023) - The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is warning the public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with a powerful non-opioid animal sedative, xylazine - a deadly combination commonly known as “Tranq”. This dangerous illicit drug mixture has been found across the U.S. states, including in St. Mary’s County.

Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan®) will not work to reverse its effects. People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds involving necrosis—the rotting of skin tissue—that may lead to amputation.

St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) encourages those who are using illicit substances to seek professional help for their substance use disorder. Help is available in the community. Individuals can be connected to local treatment options through the SMCHD website, calling 301-862-1680, or walking in Monday-Friday during business hours at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub. The Health Hub also offers the SMCHD Harm Reduction Program (HRP) to help mitigate the harms associated with drug use – such as overdoses, wounds, and infections - and encourage people into treatment when they are ready for it. The HRP provides infectious disease testing, narcan, and ways to test drug paraphernalia (such as pill bottles and syringes) for presence of fentanyl or other substances like xylazine.

“Illicit fentanyl is already a dangerous drug, but when it is combined with xylazine, it becomes even deadlier,” said Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer. “Narcan may help to reverse the fatal breathing problem that fentanyl can cause but it won’t work on xylazine. If you’re using drugs, get help - treatment options are available and recovery is possible.”

“Drug addiction is a serious public health issue. St. Mary’s County residents need to be aware of xylazine and its dangerous effects. If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, please seek treatment through the resources provided by the St. Mary’s County Health Department and community partners before it’s too late,” Sheriff Steve Hall said.

For further information about the SMCHD Harm Reduction Program, visit smchd.org/harmreduction

For more information about programs and resources provided at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub, visit smchd.org/hub.

Identities Needed in Theft Investigation

 

April 12, 2023 update: The suspect has been identified. Thank you. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identities of the persons pictured in a theft investigation. On Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, at 8:55 pm, the two male subjects entered the Dollar Tree store at the 22500 block of MacArthur Boulevard in California. As they walked into the store, the man in the blue denim jacket pointed to a personally owned scooter that was parked in the entry to the store. 

The subjects purchased balloons and took the scooter as they walked out of the store. The scooter is an electric E Trax scooter. 

Anyone with information about the identities of the suspects or this incident is asked to contact Deputy Travis Wimberly at 301-475-4200, ext. 78086 or email travis.wimberly@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 10251-23 

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. 

Cpl. Corcoran Nearly Died Six Years Ago from a Heart Attack

 

Cpl. David Corcoran at the hospital in 2017 with his hockey teammates

Six years ago today, Corporal David Corcoran technically dropped dead while he was playing goalie at an ice hockey game. Luckily, he was playing with other emergency first responders who quickly resuscitated him and because of their immediate and successful efforts, Cpl. Corcoran is today a 25-year veteran of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 7, 2017, Cpl. Corcoran was playing in a fundraising charity hockey game in Washington D.C. to support the Washington Burn Foundation. Cpl. Corcoran was playing goalie for his team when about a minute into the third period, the gameplay was down at the other end of the rink. But suddenly Cpl. Corcoran dropped down face first onto the ice unresponsive.

The other players immediately responded and started CPR on him. A staff member at the rink brought over an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Cpl. Corcoran took two shocks before he started breathing again and regained consciousness. Cpl. Corcoran was only 43 at the time.

“At that point, I had the elephant on the chest,” feeling burning and pressure in his chest, Cpl. Corcoran said in a recent interview looking back on the incident.

“When I woke up, they told me that I had a heart attack,” Cpl. Corcoran said in an interview with The Enterprise newspaper in 2017. “I didn’t believe them. They said, ‘no, you were dead.’”

Cpl. Corcoran was transported to an area hospital where doctors found that one of his arteries was completely blocked. Doctors performed surgery, reopening the artery with a stint and Corcoran said he felt “instant relief” following the procedure and he was out of the hospital the following Monday.

Cpl. Corcoran said his family has a history of heart disease and there were indications the week before the heart attack happened that something with his health was amiss. He felt chest discomfort on the Monday before the cardiac arrest while playing ice hockey. “My chest was burning. I never thought about a heart attack at all,” he said, because he was playing hard.

The next day, he rode a bicycle and felt the same pain in the chest, but it went away.

By the time of Friday’s charity ice hockey game, Cpl. Corcoran said he wasn’t feeling well. “To me it felt like the flu times a million,” he said. He felt dizzy. He was light-headed and had trouble breathing. And then he went down.

But following the stint procedure and the years since, “the heart is tip top,” Cpl. Corcoran said. And he quickly went back to working full time at the Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m going to do everything I have to do … so I can live long enough to see my kids grow up, and [enjoy] retirement,” he told The Enterprise in 2017. “Forty-three more years would be good.”

Cpl. Corcoran

Cpl. Corcoran is now a 25-year veteran of the agency, currently working in the Special Operations Division in the Evictions Unit.

He grew up in St. Mary’s County and started playing street hockey when he was 15 years old. Three years later, he started playing ice hockey “and I was just hooked from there on,” he said.

Cpl. Corcoran still plays ice hockey in Southern Maryland, now joined by his son Cobe.

Cpl. Corcoran and his son Cobe 

 

Identities Needed for Theft Suspects

April 10 update: Both of the suspects have been identified. Thank you. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identities of the two women pictured in a theft investigation. On Friday, March 31, 2023, at 10:53 am, the two subjects entered the Hobby Lobby store in California. The two walked around the store and gathered merchandise into their carts and into bags that they took from the shelves. 

When confronted as they were trying to leave the store, the two women abandoned the carts with some stolen items inside and fled with stolen items that they were physically carrying, including a hat, bags and the contents inside of the bags. 

Anyone with information about the identities of the subjects or this incident is asked to contact Deputy Anthony Cucinotta at 301-475-4200, ext. 78174 or email anthony.cucinotta@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 17613-23 

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 Theft Suspect

 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the man pictured in a theft investigation. On Friday, March 31, 2023, at 1:35 am, the suspect entered multiple vehicles that were parked at the Auto Pro repair shop at the 21700 block of Three Notch Road in Lexington Park and removed personal property. 

The suspect is described as a thin white or light-skinned male, wearing a light colored hooded jacket with the hood up. The suspect had a dark colored facemask and gray backpack was possibly wearing glasses. The suspect entered the property on foot from the north side of the parking lot. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or this incident is asked to contact Deputy Christopher Palmer at 301-475-4200, ext. 78162 or email christopher.palmer@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 16886-23 

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.

Protect Your Vehicle from Catalytic Converter Theft

 

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate recent thefts of catalytic converters occurring in various areas of the county during the overnight hours. Many of the thefts target commercial vehicles or large vans parked in unlit areas, but thieves also go after private vehicles. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents, churches and business owners to park vehicles in an illuminated area or a location with video surveillance to discourage and prevent thefts. Sheriff’s Office deputies continue to patrol the county on the lookout for thieves targeting catalytic converters.

If you see a suspicious person or suspicious activity around your vehicle, call the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-8008.  

Homicide in Great Mills Under Investigation

 

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 10:37 pm, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the parking lot of the Great Mills Sheetz at the 20700 block of Old Great Mills Road for a report of shots fired. A short time later, deputies also responded to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown for a report of a victim who arrived with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim, identified as Marcus Anthony Day, age 26 of Leonardtown, was pronounced deceased.

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

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Andrew Burgess at 301-475-4200, ext. 78041 or email andrew.burgess@stmaryscountymd.gov.

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

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.

Download and Share the St. Mary's Sheriff's Office mobile app: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a48820650

Identity Needed for Person of Interest in Theft Investigation

 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is seeking the identity of the woman pictured, a person of interest, in a theft investigation. 

On Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 2:35 am, a catalytic converter was stolen from a parked vehicle at the SouthPoint Church on St. Andrew's Church Road in Leonardtown. The pictured female was in the general area at the time of the theft and may have additional information. 

Anyone with information about the identity of the person or this incident is asked to call Deputy Nicholas Hill at 301-475-4200, ext. 78078 or email nicholas.hill@stmaryscountymd.gov. Case # 17287-23 

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.