St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Crime Report for July

							MEDIA RELEASE

July 27, 2009

                              St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
                               Crime Report for July 27, 2009

        On July 17, 2009, members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, along with Trooper
Pitcher from the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack gathered additional information in
the daytime burglaries that took place from May 27, 2009 through July 2009. Two additional
suspects, Thomas Andrew Tolson, age 22 of Mechanicsville, and Brian Robert Flynn II, age 23 of
Mechanicsville, were identified. They were charged with First Degree Burglary and Theft Under
$500.00. They were incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. Additional charges
are pending a review with the State’s Attorney’s Office.

        On July 18, 2009, deputies responded to Monterey Place in Leonardtown for a report of
an assault. The investigation revealed Thomas Brian Burchett, age 27 of Leonardtown, was in a
verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Burchett punched the
victim several times in the face with his fist. Burchett was arrested and charged with Second
Degree Assault.

        On July 18, 2009, deputies responded to Donovan’s Pub in California for a report of a
disturbance. Upon arrival, deputies observed Mitchell Jamel Tiant, age 25 of Leonardtown,
standing in the parking lot yelling profanity and throwing his hands in the air in an aggressive
manner. Deputies told him to stop yelling and cursing as it was drawing the attention of others
standing around. Mitchell continued his disorderly behavior. Mitchell was arrested and charged
with Disorderly Conduct. Mitchell spit in the face of Deputy Michael Boyer as Deputy Boyer was
walking Mitchell into the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. Mitchell was also charged with
Second Degree Assault.

         On July 18, 2009, witnesses observed Donald Sheldon Strickland, age 34 of Great Mills,
break into a 2006 Toyota Highlander and steal two purses. Strickland then fled in a silver Dodge
van. Witnesses were able to provide deputies with Strickland’s name, physical description and
vehicle description. A lookout was broadcast and several hours later Strickland was located
driving the suspect vehicle by Trooper Wesley Jefferson of the Maryland State Police
Leonardtown Barrack. Strickland was wearing the same clothing he was wearing when he broke
into the vehicle and two purses were observed in plain view inside of Strickland’s vehicle.
Strickland was arrested and charged with Fourth Degree Burglary, Destruction of Property and
two counts of Theft Over $500.00 and two counts of Theft Under $500.00.

         On July 19, 2009, deputies responded to Mattapany Road in Lexington Park for a report
of a disturbance. The investigation revealed Raymond Francis Chase Jr., age 55 of Lexington
Park, was involved in an altercation with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when
Chase bit the victim on the arm and then confronted the victim with a knife and stated “I will cut
you” as he chased the victim.

         On July 19, 2009, deputies responded to the Knight Life Bar in Mechanicsville for a report
of a fight in the parking lot. The investigation revealed Joseph Lavon Mason, age 35 of Lexington
Park, pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at the victim who was attempting to break up
a fight between two individuals in the parking lot. As Mason was pointing the gun at the victim, he
made a comment that he would shoot anyone that got into the fight. The fight was witnessed by
an off-duty U.S. Capital Police Officer. Mason fled in a green Ford Taurus. A short time later,
Mason responded to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office where he was interviewed and
charged with First and Second Degree Assault.

         On July 19, 2009, deputies responded to Horse Shoe Road in Clements for a report of a
disturbance. The investigation revealed Robert Fitzgerald Carter, age 45 of Clements, was in a
verbal altercation with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Carter smashed
the victim’s head into a wall. Carter was arrested and charged with Second Degree Assault.

         On July 19, 2009, deputies responded to Budds Creek Road in Chaptico for a report of a
domestic assault in progress. The investigation revealed John Lee Farrell Sr., age 54 of
Chaptico, was in a verbal altercation with the victim, which escalated into a physical assault when
Farrell struck the victim in head several times with a metal trash can. The victim fell to the floor.
Farrell then grabbed the victim by the hair and smashed her head against the floor. Farrell was
arrested and charged with Second Degree Assault.

        On July 20, 2009, Aimee Sharelle Moore, age 36 of Lexington Park, was charged with
Second Degree Child Abuse and Second Degree Assault for striking a 15-year-old female, who
was in her care and custody, in the face several times causing redness and swelling.

         On July 20, 2009 at approximately 0250 hours, the St. Mary’s County Emergency
Communication Center received a 911 call advising approximately fifteen males were fighting in
the parking lot of the Wawa on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. Deputies responded and
found numerous persons inside and outside of the Wawa yelling and arguing with each other.
Deputies recognized several of the subjects as members of the “Boom Squad” and “Outsyderz”
gangs. Deputies also noted some of the individuals involved in the disturbance were also
involved in a shooting incident with the past month. Deputies attempted to quell the crowd but
were unsuccessful. Deputies detained several individuals as they attempted to determine what
was causing the disturbance. The investigation revealed the detained subjects were causing
such a disturbance that several potential customers would not stop and enter the business. In
addition, several individuals had to take shelter inside of the Wawa for fear of their safety. The
following individuals were arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct:

    1.      Jerome Anthony Chase, age 46 of Mechanicsville
    2.      Joseph Darren Brooks, age 32 of Lexington Park
    3.      Elvis Tyrell Frederick, age 23 of Loveville
    4.      Lerrel Eric Carey, age 20 of Lexington
    5.      Calverio Terrill Somerville, age 19 of Leonardtown
    6.      Travis Jermaine Walton, age 26 of Lexington Park
    7.      DeShawn Anthony Carey, age 20 of Lexington Park
    8.      George Vernon Maddox Jr., age 29 of Lexington Park
    9.      Anthony Leon Brooks, age 28 of Ridge
    10.     Demarcus Anton Spears, age 19 of Leonardtown
    11.     Antonio Derrell Washington, age 20 of Lexington Park

        On July 20, 2009, Christopher Michael Sherman, age 20 of California, was served with a
Protective Order ordering he have no contact with the petitioner of the Protective Order. The
order is effective until July 19, 2010. On July 22, 2009, Sherman attempted to contact the
petitioner by phone. When Sherman did not reach the petitioner by phone, he contacted her in
person at the Burch Mart in Hollywood. Sherman was arrested and charged with Violating the
Conditions of a Protective Order.

       On July 21, 2009, David Matthew Morley, age 30 of Leonardtown, was charged with
Second Degree Assault on a Criminal Summons. On July 3, 2009, Morley assaulted Gudlaug
Hanna Lytle in California.

         On July 21, 2009, Corporal Patrick Handy was patrolling the area of Chancellors Run
Court in Great Mills when he observed Demetrick Nathrio Maddox, age 22 of Great Mills,
standing in the parking lot speaking with three others. Maddox observed Corporal Handy and
briskly began to walk off towards a green Oldsmobile which was parked in the parking lot. As
Maddox was walking, Corporal Handy observed him place his hand near his waistband and look
back over his shoulder at Corporal Handy. Maddox stopped and bent down next to the vehicle in
a manner consistent with placing something onto the ground. Maddox then stood up and
attempted to walk away from the vehicle. Maddox was ordered to stop and he complied. Deputy
First Class Keith Moritz checked the area where Maddox bent down and located a Ruger 9mm
handgun. A computer check of the handgun revealed the gun was stolen from Charles County in
2001. Maddox is a convicted felon on parole for robbery. Maddox was arrested and charged
with Possession of a Handgun After Being Convicted of a Crime of Violence, Possession a Stolen
Regulated Firearm, and Carrying a Concealed 9mm Semi-Automatic Handgun on his Person.

        On July 22, 2009, deputies responded to a residence on Gooseneck Road in Lexington
Park for a report of a child abuse. The investigation revealed Ella Maxine Glenn, age 41 of
Lexington Park, assaulted a 13-year-old female who was in Glenn’s care and custody. Glenn
dragged the youth partially down a set of stairs by her feet, kicked and punched the victim in the
back, then pushed the victim the rest of the way down the stairs and slapped the victim in the
face. Glenn was arrested and charged with Second Degree Assault and Second Degree Child
Abuse.

        On July 25, 2009 at 0008 hours, a 2008 Ford F-450 dual-wheel pickup truck, operated by
George Michael Bowes Jr., age 31 of Callaway, was traveling north on Piney Point Road in the
area of Happyland Road in Valley Lee when the truck crossed the centerline into the southbound
lane of Piney Point Road and collided head-on with a 2009 Audi A4 sedan driven by Russell
Edward Wenzel, age 58. The front seat passenger was identified as Melissa Anne Wenzel, age
58. Both reside in Tall Timbers. Bowes and Russell Wenzel were transported to St. Mary's
Hospital where Mr. Wenzel died of his injuries. Melissa Wenzel was transported by Maryland
State Police Helicopter Trooper 7 to Prince George’s Shock Trauma Center with critical injuries.
The investigation is being continued by the Sheriff's Office Collision Reconstruction Team. Any
persons who witnessed the accident are asked to contact Corporal Emory Johnson at 301-475-
4200 x9030.

       The Bureau of Criminal Investigations is currently reviewing daytime burglaries that
occurred from May 15, 2009 through July 16, 2009. The burglaries in question range from Ridge
to Mechanicsville. If anyone feels they were a victim or could identify evidence that was
recovered, please contact detectives at 301-475-4200 x9119.

         If any additional information is needed, please contact the Duty Officer at 301-475-4200
x1900.