LA PLATA, Md. (July 18, 2013)—The Charles County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
FATAL CRASH INVOLVING PEDESTRIAN: On July 13 at 12:53 a.m., officers responded to the area of Berry Road near Cassidy Street in Waldorf for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. A preliminary investigation showed the pedestrian, Matthew Daniel Douglas, 17, of Waldorf, was on the westbound side of Berry Road when he was struck by a Lexus being operated by a 57-year-old man from White Plains. The driver of the Lexus stayed on the scene and emergency personnel responded. The victim was transported to Prince George's Hospital Center where he died several hours later as a result of his injures. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Pfc. P. McPherson of the CCSO Traffic Operations Unit is investigating.
COUPLE CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE POLICE REPORT: On July 9 at 1:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Copley Avenue near Stoddert Avenue for the report of a hit and run crash. When officers arrived, a man told them he had been hit by a black Honda Accord. Numerous officers responded and began canvassing the area in search of the striking car. Paramedics arrived and began treating the man for his alleged injuries. But, soon after, a witness contacted police and reported something different. They saw the man and a female friend sitting on the curb just prior to the alleged crash and at no time were they struck by a car. Officers spoke with the man again at which point he admitted he had not been struck and that he filed the report so that he and his friend could obtain prescription medicine to sell for heroin. CCSO officers arrested the man and woman, both 44, and charged them with filing a false statement.
AIR CONDITIONER STOLEN: Between July 1 - July 12, an air conditioner was stolen from a vacant home in the 13300 block of Budds Creek Road in Charlotte Hall. Officer C. Garner is investigating.
BURGLARY: On July 12 between 1:45 a.m. - 2:45 a.m., several tow trucks were broken into in the 3300 block of Leonardtown Road in Waldorf. Electronics and other items were stolen. Also, a green dirt bike, which was on the property, was reported stolen.
WANTED SUSPECT LOCATED: Deionte William Johnson, 19, of Indian Head, who was wanted in connection with two armed robberies that occurred in Indian Head earlier this year, was arrested last night in Prince William County, Virginia. Johnson is being held on a bond and will face two charges of robbery when he returns to Maryland.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE OBTAINS ARREST WARRANT FOR ROBBERY SUSPECT/CRIME SOLVERS OFFERING REWARD: Charles County Sheriff's detectives are asking for the public's help in locating Deionte William Johnson, 19, of Indian Head who is wanted in connection with two armed robberies in Indian Head: one occurred on May 19 at a motel and the other occurred on May 29 at an apartment building. In both cases, Johnson is charged with approaching the victims, pulling a handgun and demanding money. No one was injured in either case. Johnson is 5'10", 165 lbs., brown eyes and black hair. He goes by the nickname "Ony." Anyone with information about Johnson's whereabouts is asked not to approach him but rather call the CCSO at (301) 932-2222 or Detective Austin at (301) 609-6504. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411- TIPS or Text CHARLES + your tip to CRIMES or visit http://www.ccso.us to submit a web tip.
BURGLARY: On July 13 at 12:20 p.m., officers responded to the 2500 block of Snow Hill Court in Waldorf for the report of a burglary in progress. A man called police after observing his neighbor's rear door shattered. Officers and a K-9 team searched the house and learned the burglary occurred sometime between July 6 - July 13. Several items were stolen. Officer C. Garner is investigating.
THEFT FROM AUTO: On July 13 during the overnight hours, someone broke into a car in the 3100 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf and stole a laptop, headphones and a webcam which were left inside the vehicle. Cpl. C. Strafella is investigating.
THEFT FROM AUTO: On July 13 between 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., someone broke into a car in the 4500 block of Crain Highway in White Plains and stole a purse that was left inside. A computer check showed the victim's credit card was used later that day at a business in Washington, D.C. Officers are pursuing leads. Anyone with information is asked to call Pfc. M. Hancock at (301) 932-2222. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411- TIPS or Text CHARLES + your tip to CRIMES or visit http://www.ccso.us to submit a web tip.
VANDALS DESTROY MAILBOXES: On July 12 between 12 a.m. - 1 a.m., someone destroyed several mailboxes in the area of Pale Morning Court and James Lee Drive in Hughesville. Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information should contact Officer A. Duckett at (301) 932-2222. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411- TIPS or Text CHARLES + your tip to CRIMES or visit http://www.ccso.us to submit a web tip.
TIP TO CHARLES COUNTY CRIME SOLVERS LEADS TO ARREST OF THREE ROBBERY SUSPECTS: A tip to Charles County Crime Solvers led to the identity of three suspects responsible for the June 24 armed robbery of a Hughesville gas station. Based on the tip and other evidence, detectives with the Charles County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division obtained arrest warrants charging Brandon Lee Bates, 20, Kevin Clifford Bates, 25, and Bernard Richard Brady, III, 21, all of Mechanicsville, with armed robbery.
Sheriff Rex Coffey said he commends the anonymous tipster for providing police with information. "The Crime Solvers program has been an excellent resource for us because there are those folks who want to 'get involved' but prefer to remain anonymous. Crime Solvers allows them to do just that."
During the robbery, two suspects entered the Hughesville Sunoco in the 8100 block of Leonardtown Road, displayed guns and demanded money. After the robbery, an employee followed the suspects outside where one of the suspects fired a shot before they fled. No one was injured.
A press release was issued and surveillance photos were released and soon after, a tipster - who heard about the case on a local radio station - called Crime Solvers with a tip. Detectives pursued the lead, examined other evidence and subsequently obtained arrest warrants.
The Bates' were arrested on July 11 and Brady was arrested on July 15. Brandon Bates is being held at the Charles County Detention Center with no bond; his brother Kevin is being held on a $100,000 bond and accomplice Brady is being held on a $100,000 bond. The investigation is continuing.
For more information about Charles County Crime Solvers, visit their website at http://www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/charles-county-crime-solvers.
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 .