LA PLATA, Md. - The Charles County Sheriff's Department today released the following incident and arrest reports.
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA: On May 10 at 2:26 a.m., Officer T. Yates conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding on Crain Highway near Vernon Road in Waldorf. When he approached the vehicle, he detected a strong odor of alcohol. Officer Yates conducted a search of the driver and felt a handgun magazine in the driver’s pocket. Officer Yates attempted to detain the driver by putting him in handcuffs but the driver attempted to flee the scene on foot. A short struggle ensued before Officer Yates arrested the driver, Ricardo Cunningham, 26, of Washington D.C., as other officers arrived. The passenger, Carlette Capri Brown, 22, of Waldorf was also taken into custody without incident. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers discovered a handgun, marijuana, crack cocaine and packaging materials. The approximated street value of the drugs was $7,350. The handgun had been reported stolen in Prince George’s County. Cunningham and Brown were charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a handgun in commission of a crime, distributing drugs with a firearm, theft valued at more than $500 and possession of stolen property. Cunningham was also charged with resisting arrest, speeding and a registration violation. They were being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner.
BOMB THREAT ARREST: On May 9 at 1 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to High Roads School located at 101 Catalpa Drive in La Plata for a report of a bomb threat. Upon arrival, officers found a young male had called the school and made the threat. Using 9-1-1 phone records, investigating officers from the Juvenile Resource’s Unit identified the cell phone used to make the call and subsequently arrested a 16-year-old Waldorf boy. The boy was charged with falsely reporting a destructive device and misusing telephone equipment. He was released to a parent. Sgt. C. Rye investigated.
MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH: On May 5 at 8:08 p.m., a 1990 Nissan was traveling north on Route 301 when it struck the back of a 2005 Jeep stopped in the left turn lane at the intersection of Mattawoman Drive. The driver and passenger of the Nissan exited the vehicle and fled. Charles County Sheriff’s Officer R. Kimble, who was nearby, witnessed the suspects running and chased them on foot. Officer Kimble apprehended the driver and a citizen who stopped to assist stopped the passenger and held him until the officer had the driver in custody. The driver was identified as Romulo Castillo, 35, of an unknown residence and the passenger as Ruben Hernandez, 19, of Waldorf. Castillo was found to be intoxicated and did not have a license. He was charged with driving while impaired, driving under the influence, two counts of hit and run, fleeing and eluding and driving without a license. He was being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner. Hernandez was released. No one, including the 52-year-old driver of the Jeep, was injured due to the crash.