Southern Maryland police briefs

Man charged for alleged armed home invasion

On March 1 at approximately 11 p.m., officers responded to Hope Circle in Waldorf for reports of an armed home invasion.

Edgar Demetrius Barnes, 32, went to the house to confront the mother of his two children, who lives separately from him. According to charging documents, Barnes had another woman with him at the time of the alleged invasion.

The documents say Barnes was upset about the children’s mother’s new significant other disciplining the children.

Upon arrival at the house, Barnes allegedly forced his way inside, splitting the door frame. Barnes was looking for the other man while allegedly brandishing a handgun.

Barnes allegedly gave his handgun to the woman who arrived with him after the mother threatened to call the police. The woman fled the scene with the handgun and two children, according to the charging document.

Officers arrived and detained Barnes, who faces a home invasion charge.

Officers recover handgun after hearing gunshots

On March 2, Charles sheriff’s officers heard multiple gunshots fired at the Berkley Square Shopping Complex in Waldorf while working a secondary security assignment.

After approaching the area they heard the shots from, they found a man wearing a green sweat suit and white tennis shoes, who was allegedly reaching in the area of his waistband as he was walking away from the area, charging documents say.

Officers were within five feet of the man when they ordered him to stop, but he attempted to run, still holding onto the object concealed in his waistband, according to charging documents.

After catching up with the man, officers told him he was under arrest, but the man pulled away, allegedly struck an officer’s face and reached for the object in his waistband, the documents say.

An officer deployed his Taser, bringing the man to the ground. Officers attempted to put the man in handcuffs, but he refused to let go of the object in his waistband, and an officer used the Taser two more times, charging documents say.

After putting handcuffs on the man, officers recovered a loaded .40-caliber Smith & Wesson gun from the man’s waistband and allegedly found shell casings in the area the man was originally walking from.

The man was identified as Eric Figeroux, 28, of Waldorf and was found to be prohibited from owning a handgun due to a prior felony conviction in 2016.

Figeroux is charged with resisting arrest, illegal possession of ammo, illegal firearm possession, second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and other related charges.

Man with firearm allegedly threatens delivery people

On Feb. 26 around 9 a.m., Charles sheriff’s officers arrived at the area of Agricopia and Savanna Drive in La Plata for the report of an assault with a weapon.

Officers located two individuals who identified themselves as delivery people who were bringing new appliances to a customer’s house. According to charging documents, the two said that a woman came up and began a verbal argument over their truck blocking a bus stop.

The woman called her husband, Joron Trawiek Hawley, 40, to assist her. Hawley allegedly engaged in the argument and pulled up his shirt, revealing a handgun inside his waistband to intimidate the two individuals, charging documents say.

In an interview at the scene, Hawley told officers that the two individuals had weapons on them, which were a box cutter and a wrench used for their delivery job, the documents say.

Hawley claimed that the two were aggressive and took fighting stances toward him and that he had a valid wear and carry permit. Officers checked the handgun, which was loaded, and were able to verify Hawley’s wear and carry permit.

Hawley’s wife was questioned and stated that the two continued to work despite their argument and never brandished the weapons in a threatening manner, sometimes putting the objects down to focus on a different task, the charging documents say.

Hawley is charged with first- and second-degree assault and illegal firearm usage.

Man allegedly chokes woman

Charles sheriff’s officers were told about an alleged assault that occurred between Brandyn Leon Smith, 23, of Waldorf and his girlfriend on March 5.

The woman reported that she was allegedly placed in a choke hold and had her breathing restricted until she felt like she was going to pass out. She fought for air by turning her neck to the crook of Smith’s arm, but Smith readjusted his chokehold every time she would turn, charging documents say.

Officers found evidence of the assault from a 4-inch vertical abrasion to the left side of the girlfriend’s neck and an approximate ½-inch circular abrasion to the back of her right shoulder, the documents say.

Multiple other injuries were found that the woman reported being from Smith in the last week, including a golf ball-sized contusion to her left lower jaw, a contusion on her left cheek, an abrasion under her left collarbone and two circular bite marks to her back, charging documents say.

Smith faces first- and second-degree assault charges.

Shooting in Hollywood under investigation

On March 9, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting in a business parking lot in the 24000 block of Three Notch Road in Hollywood. Upon the arrival of deputies, an unidentified male victim was located with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Detectives and crime lab technicians with the criminal investigations division responded to assume the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Kortnie Marsch at 301-475-4200, ext. 8179, or Kortnie.Marsch@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or send a text to Crime Solvers at 274637. Type “Tip239” in the message block and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation.

One arrested for threats

The St. Mary’s sheriff’s office reported Sean Michael Rice, 34, of Great Mills was arrested early Monday morning by deputies after he allegedly made threats of violence against himself and family members.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, during the course of the investigation, Rice was found to be in possession of a rifle, a handgun and evidence of illegally manufacturing firearms at his residence.

Rice was charged with three counts of illegal firearm possession after being convicted of a crime of violence, rifle/shotgun possession with a felony conviction, three counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm and other related weapons offenses.

Rice is being held without bond. A district court hearing on the charges Rice is facing is scheduled for March 21.

Callaway man charged with thefts, assault

In two separate documents, through the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, court summonses have been issued for a 51-year-old Callaway man. The defendant — identified in court papers as Keith Adamson — is facing a total of seven misdemeanor theft charges plus a charge of second-degree assault.

Complaints filed by Adamson’s two accusers said on March 9 he allegedly stole several items, including a bed, an envelope containing cash, a credit card and several medications. Adamson is also alleged to have assaulted a man and then took his cellphone.

Charges were filed the same day as the alleged thefts and assault. A district court hearing on the charges filed against Adamson is scheduled for April 26.

Escapees sought

The St. Mary’s sheriff’s office is seeking the whereabouts of Ashley Lauren Markart, 31, of Lexington Park for escape.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, Markart had been on home detention for weapons charges, and on March 5 she removed her court-ordered GPS monitoring device and fled the area.

The sheriff’s office is also seeking the whereabouts of Daniel Steven Connelly, 34, of an unknown address, for escape.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, on March 7, Connelly, who is an inmate at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, removed his court-ordered GPS monitor while at an inpatient treatment facility in California. He then allegedly left the area.

Anyone with information about Markart’s or Connelly’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Joseph Bowling at Joseph.Bowling@ or 301-475-4200, ext. 1959.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or send a text to Crime Solvers at 274637. Type “Tip239” in the message block and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation. With Crime Solvers, you never have to give your name. You may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

Thefts at pharmacies under investigation

On March 6 at 9:08 p.m., deputies from the Calvert sheriff’s office patrol bureau responded to the CVS Pharmacy on Ward Road in Dunkirk for the report of a theft that just occurred.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, the complainant said two men entered the store, stole body lotion from the shelf and fled the area in a white passenger vehicle.

One suspect is described as having long black dreadlocks and was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, and black pants. The other suspect is bald and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white writing on the front.

While deputies were searching the area, a second call came in at 9:28 p.m. for a theft that just occurred from the CVS Pharmacy on Bayside Road in Chesapeake Beach. Details of the Chesapeake Beach incident matched those reported at the Dunkirk incident.

According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Brenna Hudson located a white Honda Accord with two occupants matching the description of the theft suspects on Route 260 in the area of Jewell Road. Hudson attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled at a high rate, reaching speeds of 95 mph, failing to stop. Due to the speed and rain, the pursuit was terminated just prior to the county line.

The estimated value of stolen property from the CVS in Dunkirk is $1,000. The estimated value of stolen property from the CVS in Chesapeake Beach is $800.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding these incidents or possible suspects is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 410-535-2800 or by email at ccsotips@calvertcountymd.gov. Contact Deputy Michael Daily at michael.daily@calvertcountymd.gov for the Dunkirk theft. Contact Deputy Brenna Hudson regarding the Chesapeake Beach incident at Brenna.Hudson@calvercountymd.gov.

Beach man jailed on assault, sex offense charges

The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded on March 10 to an incident at an Owings residence. According to court papers filed by Deputy James Sturdivant, two women at the house reported separate incidents involving the defendant, identified as Michael R. Quillen, 25, of Chesapeake Beach.

One woman told Sturdivant the defendant punched her and grabbed her by the neck. The deputy wrote in charging papers that the woman told him that Quillen said he “was going to kill her.”

The other woman alleged Quillen inappropriately touched and groped her.

Quillen was apprehended while fleeing the scene on foot.

Sturdivant said in court documents there appeared to be alcohol consumption that contributed to the defendant’s actions.

Quillen was charged with one count each of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, third-degree sex offense and fourth-degree conduct, plus two counts of intoxicated endanger.

He is being held without bond and has a district court hearing on the charges scheduled for April 8.

Huntingtown man charged with assault, theft and robbery

On March 7, an arrest warrant was issued for a 43-year-old Huntingtown man who allegedly assaulted a Huntingtown woman and took her cellphone during a domestic argument. According to court papers, the incident occurred at a residence March 6.

The woman who filed the complaint stated the defendant — Benjamin Balderson — took the cellphone out of her pants pocket, pushed her when she attempted to get it back and fled the residence.

After Balderson was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, misdemeanor theft and robbery, he posted $1,500 bond and was released.

A district court hearing on the charges Balderson is facing is scheduled for April 5.

February robbery remains under probe

On Feb. 16, Trooper Pavel Hernandez-Miguel of the Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barrack responded to the Dash In located on Chesapeake Beach Road in Owings for the report of a robbery in progress. An employee told Hernandez-Miguel that two suspects took approximately $200 from the cash register along with several packs of cigarettes before fleeing.

The suspects were described as a Black male, approximately 6-feet tall and weighing between 195-200 pounds, wearing a black hooded jacket, gray jeans and black athletic shoes and a white male, approximately 5 foot, 8 inches and weighing between 150-175 pounds, wearing a gray hooded jacket, light blue jeans, and black and white Vans shoes.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the state police Prince Frederick barrack at 410-535-1400 or email pavel.hernandez-migel@maryland.gov.

Ring theft investigated

On Feb. 26, Deputy Savannah Huy of the Calvert sheriff’s office responded to a home on Manor Court in Owings for a reported theft. The complainant told Huy someone stole a 14-karat gold crest ring from the house. The ring measures 23.5 mm across the top and tapers to an 8 mm shank. The ring has the Prince George’s County Fire Department shield on top and is valued at approximately $1,895.

Anyone with information regarding the theft should call the sheriff’s office at 410-535-2800.