SERIOUS ACCIDENT: On Thursday night, September 20, 2007, at approximately 7:47 P.M., patrol units from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of Poplar Ridge Road and Hillside Drive in Lexington Park for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving an overturned vehicle. When units arrived on the scene they found a Ford Explorer that had come to rest on it's driver's side and the operator, Mary Jeanette Riffe, 49 of Hollywood had been ejected.
Collision reconstructionists were requested, responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. It was discovered that the Ford Explorer had been traveling north-bound on Poplar Ridge Road in the area of Peachtree Way when for an unknown reason it left the north-bound side of the roadway and entered into a ditch. The vehicle continued to travel in the ditch until it struck a culvert went airborne then struck the ground and overturned several times before coming to rest on the driver's side.
At the time of the collision Ms. Riffe was not restrained by a seatbelt.
The primary causes of the collision at this time are speed and driver error while other contributing factors are still under investigation.
Ms. Riffe was flown from the scene by Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 7 to Prince George's County Shock Trauma Unit where at the time of this press release she was listed in critical condition.
The collision investigation is being continued by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Reconstruction Team.
DRUG RAID: On September 20, 2007 Detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), assisted by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Team, executed a Search and Seizure Warrant on Langley Park Way in Great Mills. The target of the warrant was Thomas Darnell Evans,
age 27 (pictured at left).
BCI Narcotics Detectives had already indicted Suspect Evans for Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine with the intent to Distribute and Possession of Marijuana. Evans was located inside the target residence and items of evidence that was seized included Cocaine, Marijuana and a loaded 380 caliber handgun. The handgun was reported stolen through the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack.
Evans is currently out on Parole for a shooting that took place several years ago. He was charged with the additional charges of Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun and Theft under $500.00. Evans is currently being held without bond on the Grand Jury Indictment.
POSSESSION OF COCAINE: BCI Detectives indicted and arrested Terrell Wayne Vaughan
(pictured at left), 22, of Nanjemoy, Md., for Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of Cocaine. He is currently being held without bond.