Wanted man caught by police at gas station

Friday, June 12, 2009

"He wasn't escaping from anything" and police located him, learned his identity and served him the warrant, said Jeanine Howard, public information assistant at the Calvert County Sheriff's Office.

According to the sheriff's office, Joseph Michael Lewis, 23, of Deale was apparently late for court on Wednesday so a bench warrant was immediately issued. When someone stated, "Hey that guy is wanted," he took off on foot, and was later apprehended at the Prince Frederick Exxon station where he was served with two bench warrants. One warrant was from the sheriff's office and one from the Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barrack for failure to appear for court on a theft scheme charge.

Lewis was charged with failure to appear and after a bail review Thursday morning, he was committed to the Calvert County Detention Center.

Lewis also has two other pending cases in the Calvert County District Court, one for theft scheme and theft over $500 and another with four charges of fraud, including fraud of identity to avoid prosecution, both with a trial date of July 15, court records state.

CAROL HARVAT