Police briefs

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Fort Washingtonman chargedwith pot possession

Sheriff’s officers approached a man in the parking lot of a business in the 2100 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf after they saw him smoking marijuana at 11:55 p.m. July 12, police reported.

The man fled but was caught a short distance away.

Officers allegedly found a bag of marijuana and charged Keith Darcel Goines, 28, of Fort Washington with marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.

Officer D. Walker investigated.

False tags leadto arrest

A 40-year-old Washington, D.C., man was arrested July 11 after reportedly displaying false tags on his car.

Stopped at around 2 a.m. by state police trooper J. Edelen near Billingsley Road for a broken taillight, the tags of the car being driven by Raymond N. Harris were not on file. Harris showed Edelen a Virginia driver’s license, which correctly identified him, according to police reports.

Harris was arrested and charged with displaying false government identification.

Bowie knife found

After trooper J. Wilson stopped a northbound car on Crain Highway at 1:10 a.m. July 15, he noticed the driver had allegedly been drinking alcohol.

When trooper T. Scott arrived to assist, police found Jared William Swindell, 19, of Cheltenham allegedly had a knife and a BB gun in his vehicle. Swindell was charged with DUI, and wearing or concealing a dangerous weapon.

Two arrestedon drug charges

Sheriff’s officers arrested two Waldorf men after spotting drug paraphernalia inside their car at a traffic stop, according to a police report.

The officers stopped the car at 1:47 a.m. July 17 in the 8500 block of Bowie Road in Nanjemoy after observing a traffic violation. After they saw the drug paraphernalia, officers arrested the driver, Raymond Taylor, Jr., 46, of Waldorf, and the passenger, John Hawkins, 42, of Waldorf. Taylor was charged with driving on a suspended and revoked license, and both men were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officer E. Weaver investigated.

Three arrestedin burglary attempt

Three men were arrested after sheriff’s officers saw them trying to steal an all-terrain vehicle from Gardiner Equipment on Vernon Road in Waldorf, police report.

At 2:15 a.m. July 16, officers responded to the business for a burglary in progress call. When officers arrived, they saw the three men trying to steal an ATV from the business. The suspects tried to get away from police, but were caught a short distance away.

The men had driven to Charles County in a car stolen from Prince George’s County, police said. The car was recovered on Holly Auto Center Lane. The men, Nathaniel Joshua King, 26, of Washington, D.C., Marlin Antwoine Nichols, 20, of Arlington, Va., and Letrace Guy Green, 23, of Washington, D.C., were charged with burglary, destruction of property, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and rogue and vagabond. They were held at the Charles County jail on $50,000 bonds.

Police recover three stolen vehicles

Sheriff’s officers recovered stolen motorcycles and a stolen car July 15.

At 7:55 p.m., the officers were tipped off that Randy Allen Forgette, 34, of Annapolis was allegedly going to try to sell stolen motorcycles to a pawn shop in the 3100 block of Leonardtown Road in Waldorf. Officers went to the shop and saw two motorcycles that had been stolen in Anne Arundel County in Forgette’s pickup truck, police said. Forgette was arrested and charged with motor vehicle theft. He was held at the county jail to wait for a bond hearing.

Officer J. McKenzie investigated.

Officers working an auto theft detail found a stolen car in the parking lot of a shopping center in the 12500 block of Mattawoman Beantown Road in Waldorf. Police tried to stop the driver, but he jumped out of the car and ran away. The driver, a 17-year-old Waldorf boy, was eventually arrested and charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, theft over $500 and driving without a license. He was held at a juvenile facility.

Waldorf woman robbed

At 5:12 p.m. July 15, sheriff’s officers went to the 4200 block of Drake Court in Waldorf for an armed robbery call.

A man had approached a woman as she was getting her mail, showed a handgun and demanded money, police said after investigating. The victim complied, and the man fled in a vehicle occupied by two other men, reported police.

Anyone with information should call the major crimes unit at 301-609-6481. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS.

A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for the tip that leads to the arrest or indictment of the suspect.

Police investigate motorcycle theft

The reported theft of a motorcycle at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek reached trooper E. Page at 5:17 p.m. July 20.

At the raceway, the trooper spoke with a 25-year-old man from Woodbridge, Va., who said someone had stolen his blue and white, 2003 Suzuki GSXR600 with Virginia registration 531772. The motorcycle had a ‘‘TI” exhaust system and was valued at $5,000, police reported.

The investigation continues.

La Plata man charged with pot possession

A La Plata man was arrested by a Maryland State Police trooper in Leonardtown after a traffic stop July 15.

Darrion Demond Hutchins, 31, was driving a white Lincoln Town Car when he was stopped on Leonard Hall Drive at Baldridge Drive in Leonardtown by trooper C. Evans. When speaking with Hutchins, the trooper noticed the smell of burnt marijuana coming from the car. Hutchins was found to be in possession of a plastic bag of marijuana, a digital scale and a drug paraphernalia, police reported.

Hutchins was arrested at 6:42 p.m. and taken to the St. Mary’s County jail where he was held pending a bond review.

Arson suspectedin shed fire

Authorities suspect a Bryantown shed fire on July 20 was the result of arson, according to a report by Deputy State Fire Marshal Don Brenneman.

The owner of the wooden shed on Roosevelt Place discovered the blaze and alerted authorities at about 9 p.m. Three firefighters from the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department responded and controlled the fire within a minute.

Investigators determined the fire, which cause an estimated $100 in damage, started at a chair inside the shed, according to the report.

An investigation is ongoing.

Police chase downWaldorf man

A driver attempted to escape police after a sheriff’s officer tried to pull him over in the 2400 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf at 2:16 a.m. July 20, police reported. The driver was stopped a short distance away. Officers found marijuana inside the car and arrested Corness Maro Gray, 42, of Waldorf. He was charged with fleeing and eluding, possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license.

Sgt. S. Myers investigated.

Motorcyclist fightsofficer, police say

After noticing a motorcycle didn’t have registration plates, a sheriff’s officer tried to pull it over in the 6600 block of Crain Highway in La Plata at 4:30 p.m. July 19. As the officer was walking to the motorcycle, the driver attempted to flee. The officer stopped the driver, who started struggling against arrest, police said. The driver, Lynn Young, 22, of Landover, was charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and traffic offenses.

Officer M.A. Bourgeois investigated.

Two men shotin argument

Two Charles County men were shot in a July 19 argument with a man in the 600 block of Kent Avenue in La Plata, police reported.

At 1:01 a.m., sheriff’s officers and officers with La Plata Town Police responded to the reported shooting. The victims were a 22-year-old La Plata man and a 19-year-old Indian Head man. They had left a friend’s apartment and were walking toward the parking lot when a 21-year-old man they knew approached them, police said after investigating.

The man, Christopher Scott Sellitto, of no fixed address, began arguing with the pair, according to police.

During the argument, Sellitto fired one round from a shotgun, wounding both victims.

Sellitto fled, and the 22-year-old victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated for injuries that weren’t life-threatening, police said. The 19-year-old victim refused medical treatment.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Sellitto with attempted murder, but he has not been located. Anyone with information about Sellitto’s whereabouts should call 301-609-6515.

Waldorf mancharged in stabbing

On July 9, sheriff’s detectives arrested Shawn Patrick Riley, 22, of Waldorf in connection with the stabbing of a 17-year-old boy July 2 in the 5800 block of Hammerhead Court in Waldorf.

Riley was charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon. Riley was held at the county jail.

Officer C. Baker is investigating.

Bethany Rodgersand Sara K. Taylor