Southern Maryland police briefs

Woman charged in connection with hit and run

On June 30 at 2:05 a.m., officers responded to Mall Circle in Waldorf for the report of a hit-and-run crash.

While officers were on the scene, the driver of the striking vehicle was observed in the parking lot. Officers attempted to contact the driver, but she allegedly fled, according to a release from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

As officers attempted to stop her and prevent her from leaving the mall parking lot, the driver allegedly collided with two patrol cars, injuring one officer. The driver continued to flee, left the parking lot and fled to Billingsley Road where she eventually stopped, the release said.

The driver, LaTanya Lisa Lee, 31, of Upper Marlboro, was arrested without further incident and charged with assault, fleeing and eluding, negligent driving, driving while impaired and other related offenses. Lee was released from the Charles County Detention Center on June 30 on an unsecured $3,500 bond. PFC Karopchinsky is investigating.

Cash reward offered in road rage stabbing case

On June 30 at approximately 10:57 p.m., officers responded to a residence in Waldorf for the report of a stabbing.

When officers arrived, they located an adult male with several stab wounds. The victim was transported to a hospital with serious injuries, according to a release from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

A preliminary investigation revealed the victim, a food delivery driver, was stopped at a red light on St. Patrick’s Drive at Crain Highway in Waldorf when two vehicles pulled up and positioned themselves on either side of his car, the release said.

The occupants of both cars began arguing with the victim. The victim and the occupants of the other two vehicles got out of their cars at which time the victim was stabbed multiple times. He got into his car and drove to his house where a family member called 911. The suspects fled.

Through investigation, officers were able to locate surveillance footage showing the two suspect vehicles involved. One of the vehicles appears to be a dark SUV and the other appears to be a dark sedan, the release said. Anyone who may have witnessed this assault or who has information about the case is asked to call Detective Baxley at 301-609-6504.

Man arrested after allegedly stealing eyeglass frames

On July 3 around 11:25 a.m., officers responded to the LensCrafters, located at 11110 Mall Circle in Waldorf, for the report of a theft. An assistant manager told officers that a man, later identified as Wesley Donzell Brown, 31, of Silver Spring, allegedly entered the store wearing a book bag and began walking around, charging documents say.

The assistant manager said she observed Brown with a pair of eyeglass frames in his hand, but soon after lost sight of the frames, the documents say. Brown exited the store and the assistant manager saw multiple frames missing from display cases.

Officers obtained a description of the suspect and were able to locate Brown walking in the area of Smallwood Drive and Mall Circle. Brown was allegedly wearing a pair of stolen eyeglass frames with a price tag still hanging on them, the documents say.

After searching Brown, officers located 10 more pairs of frames, jewelry and T-shirts from JCPenney and earbuds and T-shirts from Target, the documents said.

The frames’ value totaled $2,787 and the goods from JCPenney were around $298, while value of the items from Target were $79.59, according to charging documents.

Brown was charged with felony theft, a felony theft scheme and two counts of misdemeanor theft.

Woman charged with first-degree arson

On July 6 around 6:22 p.m., the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal responded to a structure fire at 111 Woodland Road in Indian Head.

Prior to their arrival, the command of the Indian Head Volunteer Fire Department informed the office that a pile of clothes had allegedly been ignited by the homeowner’s daughter, according to charging documents.

While en route to the scene, officers received information that the suspect, Brianna Young, 18, of Indian Head, was attempting to gain entry to her sister’s house in Prince George’s County, charging documents say.

Young was located and allegedly admitted to pouring lighter fluid on clothing and igniting it. She allegedly sent photos to a family member, who alerted 911 in turn, the documents say.

As sheriff’s deputies arrived, they allegedly observed Young fleeing the scene. Young is charged with malicious burning in the first degree and first-degree arson.

Shooting incident under probe

On July 6, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of shots fired in the 21000 block of Pacific Drive in Lexington Park. Witnesses told deputies they saw individuals in two vehicles near Pacific Drive in the area of Columbus Drive as an occupant of one vehicle was shooting at the other vehicle.

The vehicles were not located, and shell cases were recovered. No injuries were reported. One bullet was later located that had struck a residence in the area.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, the criminal investigations division has assumed the case, and anyone with information about it is asked to contact Detective Benjamin Raley at 301-475-4200, ext. 8076.

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.

Drug arrest made

On Sunday while performing proactive patrol on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, Deputy Bradley Kirscht saw Robert Darnell Willett, 61, of Lexington Park walking in the area. Kirscht recognized Willett as wanted on a warrant for drug possession.

According to a St. Mary’s sheriff’s office press release, Kirscht confirmed the warrant was active and was advised Willet also had a criminal summons for theft charges. After being arrested, the subsequent search of Willett uncovered suspected crack cocaine and paraphernalia.

Shooting incident investigation yields arrest

During the early morning hours of July 3, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Davione Syheme Mason, 23, on a search and seizure warrant at a residence on Flower Drive in Lexington Park. According to a sheriff’s office press release, the warrant was served by detectives with the criminal investigations division with assistance from the emergency services team.

Detectives identified Mason as a suspect following a June 26 shooting incident on Columbus Drive in Lexington Park. No injuries were reported, but the investigation revealed a bullet hole in a nearby residence, and several shell casings were located at the scene.

Mason, who resides in Lexington Park, was charged in the arrest warrant with handgun on person, loaded handgun on person and reckless endangerment.

On July 5, Mason was ordered held without bond. A district court hearing on the charges Mason is facing is scheduled for Aug. 5.

Man charged with assault, reckless endangerment

According to documents on file in district court, on July 1 a 35-year-old Mechanicsville man was charged with four counts each of first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. The charges against Christopher Michael Sherman stem from an alleged incident that occurred on June 18.

According to charging papers filed by Deputy Andrew Burgess of the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office, Sherman allegedly fired a 9 mm handgun three times in the direction of a man and three females living a short distance from his home. No injuries were reported.

The alleged shooting occurred following a verbal argument between Sherman’s wife and one of the females, Burgess stated in charging documents.

A female witness told Burgess she heard a verbal argument, dogs fighting and “approximately three to four gunshots.” A male witness said he heard “approximately six gunshots in rapid succession.”

Burgess said the defendant admitted to owning a handgun but “denied shooting the gun or being in possession of a gun at the time of the argument.”

After initially being held without bond, on July 3 Sherman was released on his own recognizance. A district court hearing on the charges Sherman is facing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

Charlotte Hall woman charged with theft

According to documents on file with district court, on July 1 charges of theft were filed against a 38-year-old Charlotte Hall woman.

The charging papers, filed by Deputy Michael Rycyzyn of the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office, said Jessie R. Colburn is alleged to have stolen approximately $2,000 worth of jewelry from the California Walmart on June 23. Rycyzyn’s investigation revealed that someone “had tampered with a lock on a display case to gain entry.”

Rycyzyn stated surveillance camera footage and photos of the defendant were provided to deputies by the store’s loss prevention officer. He said Colburn was identified through the motor vehicle administration.

“At first she denied any involvement,” Rycyzyn said. After being shown images of the alleged theft, she admitted to being at the store, later adding that “all the jewelry is now gone and unable to be returned,” Rycyzyn stated in court papers.

A search of the defendant’s purse yielded “various earrings and necklaces.” Colburn was charged with felony theft and two misdemeanor counts of theft. She was released after posting $3,500 bond.

St. Leonard woman sentenced for child abuse

A 56-year-old St. Leonard woman who pleaded guilty in April to a charge of child abuse/custodian, was sentenced July 1 in Calvert County Circuit Court. The defendant, Brenda Lou Bassett, received a 15-year sentence, of which all but 120 days was suspended by Judge Mark S. Chandlee. Bassett will have five years of supervised probation once she’s released from jail.

According to court documents filed by Detective Joshua Buck of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 13, 2023, a 3-month-old baby boy who had been dropped off at Bassett’s day care center had sustained a fractured leg.

Buck stated when he interviewed Bassett she initially denied any involvement with the baby’s injuries. However, she soon provided a confession and later provided investigators with a statement, which was recorded.

After initially being held without bond, Bassett posted a $100,000 bond and was released.

Three days after Bassett was sentenced, her attorney, Melissa Ann Miller, filed a motion for reconsideration of the sentence, citing that prior to the September 2023 incident her client had no criminal record.

Felony charges dropped against Huntingtown man

On July 5, District Court Judge Robyn Riddle dismissed felony charges filed in April against a 66-year-old Huntingtown man. The defendant, David Earl Bustin, is alleged to have fired his shotgun on Hardesty Road a few yards away from where a man and woman were riding bicycles. The couple was participating in a charity bike rally at the time.

According to court documents, Bustin told Detective William Freeland of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office he was “unloading his shotgun” at the time.

Bustin is still charged with one count each of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Both charges are misdemeanors. A district court trial on the charges is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Owings man facing assault charges

On July 2, Deputy Ian Tunnell investigated an alleged assault that occurred near the North Beach boardwalk.

According to Tunnell, a man identified as Terrel Terrence Gross, 32, of Owings allegedly assaulted a man who was in the company of the mother of his children. According to court documents, Gross and his accuser got into a verbal argument, which turned physical. Gross is alleged to have grabbed his accuser by the neck and started choking him.

Gross is charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault.

On July 3 a court summons was issued for Gross. A district court hearing on the charges he is facing is scheduled for Aug. 19.

Huntingtown woman arrested for alleged assault

On July 6, Deputy Casey Hill investigated a reported assault and theft at a Huntingtown residence.

Hill stated in court papers that two women got into a verbal argument at an Independence Day party. One of the women told Hill the defendant, Jessica Nicolle Perkins, 44, of Huntingtown, “attacked her through the open driver’s side window” when she attempted to drive away.

Perkins’ accuser said the defendant dragged her through the driver’s side window, then slapped, punched and kicked her.

Hill stated Perkins’ accuser “sustained numerous injuries to her head, chest, shoulders, arms, legs and fingers.” After taking the accuser’s account and observing her injuries, Hill stated in charging documents, “all of the injuries were consistent with the alleged assault.”

The defendant’s accuser also said Perkins took her cellphone and bank card and damaged her checks and driver’s license.

Perkins was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, misdemeanor theft and malicious destruction of property. After initially being held without bond, Perkins posted $5,000 bail and was released.

Unsolved vandalism at garden

The town of North Beach reported July 4 that someone vandalized the new lights installed at Mark R. Frazer Sunrise Garden. Authorities are actively seeking any information that could help identify those responsible.

Anyone who saw any suspicious activities or can provide details is asked to contact Deputy Michael Contic at 443-624-1591 or via email at Michael.Contic@calvertcountymd.gov.