Assault alleged at Ridge bonfire party
A judge ordered Monday that Charles R. Davis, 20, of Ridge remain in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond on charges of committing a first-degree assault on two people Friday night at a bonfire party in the southern St. Mary’s community.
Charging papers allege that Davis took a shotgun out of a truck, pointed the weapon at Richard Ince and Montez Ford and repeatedly struck Ford with a crowbar that Ford had taken out of his car trunk.
Police located Ince and Ford at St. Mary’s Hospital, court papers state, and Ince reported that he was hit on the back of the head and knocked unconscious during the incident at the residence off Point Lookout Road. Ford and Ince told police that Davis made racist remarks and threats toward Ford before the altercation, and witnesses said that other people at the party pulled Davis off Ford, according to a statement of probable cause filed by St. Mary’s sheriff’s deputy K.M. Nelson, who listed the case as a hate crime in a statement of charges.
Davis told police that he was threatened with a knife before he took out the unloaded shotgun, and that he did not hit anyone with the crowbar, according to court documents.
Third suspect charged in home robbery
Jonathan McLain Barnes, 19, of Morganza remained jailed in lieu of $50,000 bond after a court hearing Monday on charges of armed robbery and conspiracy in court papers alleging he took part in beating a Lexington Park man last week and taking items from his residence.
St. Mary’s detectives earlier arrested two other men in connection with the Sept. 11 predawn incident, including 20-year-old Dontavious J. Holley of Lexington Park on charging papers alleging he drove Barnes and Lamonte Javelle Morgan to Calvin Eugene Mason’s home at Lord Calvert trailer park. Holley entered the home as the two other suspects beat Mason until he was unconscious, according to charging papers alleging that Morgan, 19, of Callaway struck Mason with a baseball bat during the attack.
Narcotics officers report seizing synthetic marijuana
St. Mary’s narcotics detectives report that they raided the Corner Store business in Callaway last Thursday and seized nearly 200 grams of “K-2” synthetic marijuana and more than 210 smoking devices. The seized items were valued at $4,500, according to the release by vice-narcotics Capt. Daniel Alioto. No charges were reported from the ongoing investigation.
Reward offered for tips on unsolved crimes
Citizens with information about unsolved crimes in St. Mary’s can collect a cash reward by calling Crime Solvers 24 hours a day at 301-475-3333. They can withhold their name and later collect their reward through a number-identification system.
St. Mary’s County Crime Solvers is a nonprofit organization that assists law enforcement in solving open investigations that may not have been closed without the extra incentive of anonymity and an offer of a reward of up to $2,000, providing the information leads to an arrest or indictment.
The Crime Solvers board of directors meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at the county’s Northern Senior Center in Charlotte Hall. To be considered for membership on the board, attend a meeting or call the Crime Solvers chairperson at 301-472-4630 for details.
Contributions to the Crime Solvers reward fund can be mailed to St. Mary’s Crime Solvers at 40265 Beach Drive, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Contributions to the fund are tax deductible.
Sheriff welcomes text-message tips
Cell phones and other handheld communication devices can be used to send text messages with tips for the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office, by texting TIP239, plus the message, to CRIMES, numerically 274637. For more information on the text-message program, go online to www.smscrimetips.com.
Police tips line open
Maryland State Police in Leonardtown operate a Tips Line at 301-475-2936, inviting anyone with information about a crime that has occurred, or they expect may occur, to anonymously report that information 24 hours a day to authorities. Citizens may use the same telephone number to report concerns to police that do not involve criminal activity.
JOHN WHARTON
