Police briefs

Friday, April 11, 2008

Federal grand jurors have indicted Ronald Glenn Draper Jr., 36, of Mechanicsville on six child pornography offenses, and he also faces a local charge of committing a fourth-degree sexual offense with a boy last year.

Draper worked from 1998 to 2006 as a clerk with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ resource assessment division, according to an agency spokesman who said the charges against Draper followed a Maryland Natural Resources Police investigation begun after his employment ended.

The federal indictment alleges that Draper received digital images of child pornography by computer beginning in April 2005, and that in September 2007 he possessed more than 600 images of child pornography. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of nine computers and other equipment. The warrant obtained in St. Mary’s against Draper was issued after natural resources police Cpl. John Milbourne filed an application alleging the suspect unlawfully fondled the juvenile visitor at his Mechanicsville home last June. The boy told the officer, court papers state, that Draper previously had twice committed the offense in another state with the boy when the child was a pre-teenager.

Woman charged with burglary, assault

Tracy L. Graves, 33, of Newburg was released this week on 10 percent of $3,500 bond after her arrest on charging papers alleging she broke into a Huntersville area home last Sunday and punched its owner.

In addition to third-degree burglary and a second-degree assault on Vincent Shontere, Graves was charged with destroying property at the residence and assaulting responding sheriff’s deputy William Watters.

Avenue man charged with assault

A court commissioner has issued a summons charging Charles D. Raley of Avenue with a second-degree assault on another man who identified himself in a charges application as an employee of the suspect.

Albert T. Woodland of Charlotte Hall alleged in the charges application that Raley kicked him on March 22 when Woodland used his feet to close a door at a job site in Lexington Park.

Empty canoe prompts search

The discovery of a canoe with a cooler of beer and bait worms but no occupant last Sunday in the Patuxent River near Hollywood prompted a wide search, officials report, but no casualties were found.

Hollywood firefighters and Maryland Natural Resources Police said Wednesday that no missing-persons reports were received, and that the canoe likely broke free from its moorings during rough weather.

Car chase ends in drug arrest

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Reginald Alan Price, 42, of Clements, on April 6 and charged and charged him drug violations and attempting to flee from the police. According to police papers, while Dep. Jason Graves was patrolling near the intersection of Route 5 and Route 234 in Leonardtown at about 9:30 p.m., he saw two vehicles near a closed business in an area that has recently had break-ins. Graves stopped one of the cars and identified the driver as Price. When the deputy asked Price to exit the car, he refused and drove off. After a short chase, Price was stopped and placed under arrest.

During a search of Price’s car following the arrest, suspected crack cocaine, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found inside.

Reward offered in probe of theft

Law officers in St. Mary’s are seeking the public’s help through the county Crime Solvers program in their probe of the theft this month of copper welding leads valued at $2,050 from a work truck parked off Route 5 in Mechanicsville.

Citizens with information about this case and other crimes in St. Mary’s County 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 for about one hour on the second Thursday of every other month at 7:30 p.m., in the conference room of the sheriff’s office at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown. To be considered for membership on the board, attend a meeting or call the sheriff’s office at 301-475-8008.

Contributions to the Crime Solvers reward fund can be mailed to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Solvers Division, P.O. Box 275, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. Contributions to the fund are tax deductible.

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.

JOHN WHARTON