On Sunday July 30, 2006 at 4:30 a.m., Charles County Sheriff's officers responded to Holiday Inn at 45 St. Patrick's Drive in Waldorf for the report of suspicious activity. Investigation revealed that a witness observed a male suspect leaning inside a Cadillac Escalade. A minivan occupied by additional suspects was parked next to him. The suspects fled prior to officers' arrival.
The officers checked the Escalade and discovered damage indicating it had been broken into. While attempting to locate the owner of the Escalade, a further check of the parking lot revealed that the suspects had also forced entry into a Ford Excursion SUV. The owner of that SUV, a Hurdle Mills N.C., man, advised that a large amount of electronics had been stolen from his vehicle.
Later that day, at approximately 6 a.m., officers observed a suspicious Honda Accord stopped beside one of the damaged vehicles at Holiday Inn. The Accord, which was occupied by four male suspects, left the parking lot. Officers pursued the car and stopped it near the intersection of Crain Highway and Plaza Drive. The officers observed electronics equipment and burglar's tools in the vehicle. The occupants were arrested for the destruction of property and theft at the Holiday Inn.
Throughout the day, the Sheriff's Office received additional reports of the theft of property from motor vehicles. Officers took reports for property destruction and thefts from one vehicle in the 4100 block of Bluebird Drive in Waldorf; one vehicle in the 4100 block of Falcon Place; one vehicle in the 6000 block of Sienna Place; one vehicle in the 2600 block of Merkwood Court; and two vehicles in the 1200 block of Merkwood Lane. In each case, the suspects stole property from the vehicles including cash and electronics equipment. The suspects also attempted unsuccessfully to force entry into a vehicle in the 3200 block of Devonshire Court.
Subsequently, the suspects charged for the Holiday Inn thefts were charged with additional counts of thefts. Kenneth O'Dell Pollard, 19, of Washington, D.C., the driver of the Honda Accord, was charged with six counts of theft valued at more than $500, theft valued at less than $500, attempted theft valued at less than $500, three counts of destruction of property valued at less than $500, one count of destruction of property valued at more than $500, possession of burglar's tools with intent to force entry into a vehicle, eight counts of being inside a motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft and numerous traffic charges. He was being held at the Charles County Detention Center on $75,000 bond.
Donte Washington, 21, of Washington, D.C., was charged with theft of property valued at more than $500, destruction of property valued at more than $500, possession of burglar's tools with the intent to force entry into a motor vehicle and being inside a motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft. He was released from the Charles County Detention Center on personal recognizance and additional charges against him are pending.
Two Washington, D.C., boys, ages 16 and 17, were charged as juveniles with destruction of property valued at more than $500, destruction of property valued at less than $500, seven counts of theft of property valued at more than $500, theft of property valued at less than $500 and theft scheme. The 17-year-old was wanted as an adult by the United States Marshal Service for robbery. He is being held at the Charles County Detention Center. The 16-year-old was wanted as a juvenile by Prince George's County Police and is being held at the Cheltenham Youth Facility.
The suspects in the maroon van first seen at Holiday Inn were not located. Det. G. Higgs is investigating.