LA PLATA, Md. (April 30, 2013)—The Charles County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
DUI CHECKPOINT: On April 28, CCSO officers assigned to the Traffic Operations Unit, with the assistance of patrol officers, the TAC Unit and COPS officers, conducted a DUI checkpoint near the 3900 block of Livingston Road in Indian Head. As a result of the operation, 950 cars passed through the checkpoint: three people were arrested for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one person was charged with DUI. Officers issued 19 citations, 7 warnings and 11 equipment repair orders. In March, CCSO officers charged 62 people with DUI - the largest number of DUI arrests made in a one month period over the last several years.
MAN CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AFTER ALERT NEIGHBOR CALLS POLICE: On April 26 at 4:36 p.m., a citizen called police to report a suspicious male walking around a house that was being foreclosed on in the 6400 block of Warren C Eller Drive in La Plata. The caller stated the man was dropped off by a person in a blue car and that the man was carrying a green bag. The caller indicated the subject was at the rear of the house where he stayed for several minutes before entering. When officers arrived, they found the front door locked. As the officers went to the rear, they spotted the subject inside. The man was taken into custody and identified as James Edward Martin, 33, of Great Mills. The scene was processed and officers found the green bag filled with copper pipes which Martin apparently just cut; there was water damage to the floor. Martin was charged with burglary and theft. Officer D. Raby made the arrest.
ATTEMPT BURGLARY: On April 26 at 12:24 p.m., officers received a call for a possible burglary in progress in the 2200 block of Sandalwood Drive in Waldorf. The homeowner said she was inside her house when she heard her doorbell ring several times. When she answered the knock, she saw a black female at the door who said she had an appointment. At the same time, the homeowner heard a loud crash near her back door. She looked and saw a black male with a crow bar trying to gain entry inside her house. Both suspects fled without gaining entry. The suspects match a similar description of suspects wanted in connection with a burglary that occurred earlier in Prince George's County. Their vehicle, a black SUV, was observed in both cases. The female suspect is in her early 20's, black hair pulled back, between 5'2" - 5'5" and a thin build. She was wearing business attire. The male suspect is in his early 20's and wore his hair in dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail. Pfc P. DeBoe is investigating.
ATTEMPT BURGLARY: On April 25 at 9:45 p.m., officers responded to the 4600 block of Prestancia Place in Waldorf for the report of a prowler. The homeowner said she observed a male wearing dark clothing trying to get inside her house through an open patio door. The victim was able to close the door and the suspect fled. Officer S. Chandler is investigating.
MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE DRUGS: On April 25 at 6:45 officers responded to the area of Doncaster Drive and Rison Drive in Indian Head for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon approaching the car, officers found a large knife inside the vehicle. They also discovered marijuana and a digital scale. The driver, Jesse M. Sweeney, 18, of Waldorf, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Officer M. Bourgeois is investigating.
STUDENT CRIME SOLVERS TIP LEADS TO DRUG ARRESTS: On April 25 at 10:13 a.m., Officer M. DePaulo, a school resource officer at Mattawoman Middle School, received a Crime Solvers tip indicating a student was in possession of marijuana. After further investigation, a total of three students between 13 - 14 years-old were found to be in possession of marijuana. They were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and released to their parents. Since the inception of the Charles County School Crime Solvers program in 2007, more than 2,200 tips have been received resulting in more than 580 closures.
Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in Charles County that leads to an arrest or indictment. Anyone with information about a crime may contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or Text CHARLES + your tip to CRIMES or visit www.ccso.us to submit a web tip. All callers remain anonymous.
Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://somd.me/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://somd.me/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://somd.me/expungeme .