Police briefs

Friday, Nov. 27, 2009

Two charged with robbing deliveryman

A judge ordered this week that Ricardo Anthony McCaskill, 20, and Demetrius Anthony Williams, 21, both of Great Mills, remain in jail without bond on charging papers alleging they robbed a pizza deliveryman at gunpoint last month in a Great Mills neighborhood.

St. Mary's detectives arrested the two suspects, court papers state, through their investigation of Mitchell Allen Hedlund's report that he was delivering pizza on the night of Oct. 21 at Knockeyon Lane when a gunman robbed him of less than $100 and ran away.

Williams told police during questioning last week that he "orchestrated" the robbery carried out by McCaskill and a third person, according to a statement of probable cause filed by detective Robert C. Merritt.

McCaskill denied taking part in the robbery, court papers state. McCaskill and Williams were charged with armed robbery, and McCaskill also was charged with a handgun offense.

Detectives report that an additional arrest is forthcoming in the investigation.

Man charged with burglary, assaults

A judge ordered this week that Tavon P. Matthews, 29, of no fixed address, remain jailed in lieu of $75,000 bond on charging papers alleging he broke into a Lexington Park home last Saturday and punched a former girlfriend in the mouth.

St. Mary's sheriff's deputies charged Matthews with first-degree burglary and a second-degree assault on Tyasha Evette Milline at the Valley Estates Drive home, and the suspect also was charged with attempted first-degree assault in the court papers alleging he threatened to kill Devon Lawrence Thomas with a knife outside the residence.

Matthews also was charged with committing a second-degree assault on Megan Francine Holt and Dorothy Elizabeth Watson during the incident investigated by sheriff's deputy Michael Boyer.

Reward offered in probe of burglary

Law officers in St. Mary's are seeking the public's help through the county Crime Solvers program in their probe of the theft of two tires, a fan belt, car battery and engine pulley reported missing Nov. 2 from a barn off Maypole Road in Leonardtown.

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 St. Mary's County 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 St. Mary's County 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 Crime Solvers fund are tax deductible.

Sheriff's office welcomes text 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 about the text-message program, go online to www.smscrimetips.com.

Police Tips Line open at barrack in town

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 at the police barrack.

Citizens may use the same telephone number to report concerns to police that do not involve criminal activity.