LA PLATA, Md. (March 24, 2008) - The Charles County Sheriff's Department today released the following incident and arrest reports.
FLEEING POLICE: On March 22 at 3:44 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Officer D. Almassy observed a vehicle traveling 91 mph in a 50 mph zone on Riverside Road in Indian Head. He attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle fled to the intersection of Riverside and Smith Point roads, where the driver exited the vehicle and ran into the woods. Officer Almassy apprehended the driver but a struggle ensued. As additional officers responded to assist, the officer deployed his Taser, subduing the subject. The driver was arrested and was identified as Russell Alan Buchanan, 32, of Indian Head. Buchanan was charged with assaulting a police officer, two counts of fleeing and eluding police, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, reckless driving, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to display a driver’s license. He was being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner.
PROPERTY DESTRUCTION: On March 22 at 1:30 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Office Lt. C. Becker was traveling south on Route 301 near Balsam Run in Bel Alton when someone threw a rock at his marked police cruiser. The rock struck and damaged the cruiser’s windshield. Officers searched the area but the suspect was not located. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 301-932-2222 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Sgt. S. Burrows is investigating.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: On March 22 at 1:22 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to Legends of Waldorf located at 1290 Smallwood Drive West in Waldorf for the report of a fight in the parking lot. Upon arrival, officers observed a group of people fighting. The officers ordered them to stop but when the group refused to comply, one of the officers deployed pepper spray. After approximately 20 officers and the Maryland State Police had responded to control and disperse the crowd, seven people were arrested including:
-- Charles Giovonne Shanks, 23, of Suitland for disorderly conduct
-- Julius Jovan Ford, 24, of Charlotte Hall for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace
-- Ebony Tamathy Green, 21, of La Plata for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace
-- Tarsheona Anedra Gaines, 23, of Nanjemoy for second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest
-- Jarell Francis Curtis, 23, of Temple Hills for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace
-- Marcus Lorenzo Proctor, 26, of Indian Head for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace
-- Margaret Elizabeth Meredith, 22, of Mechanicsville for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace
The arrested individuals were transported by the Sheriff’s Office’s paddy-wagon to the Charles County Detention Center, where they were being held pending appearances before a district court commissioner. Sheriff’s Officers Kimble and D. Major investigated.
DRUG ARRESTS: On March 21 at 3:08 a.m., the Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Policing Unit and Emergency Services Team served a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 block of Chapelside Court in Waldorf. The warrant was the result of an ongoing drug investigation by COPS Officer C. Caldwell. Officers recovered marijuana with a street value of $6,000, packaging material, digital scales, drug paraphernalia and money. Brian Christian Bannon, 18, and Caitlin Bridgette Bannon, 19, both of Waldorf, were charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Brian Bannon was also charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. They were being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending appearances before a district court commissioner.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: On March 21 at 12:26 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to Club Icon located at 2106 Crain Highway in Waldorf, where a large crowd had gathered in the parking lot. Several fights began to occur and Officer R. Kimble attempted to arrest a 17-year-old Greenbelt, Md., boy but the boy resisted. Officer Kimble deployed his Taser, subduing the boy. The boy was charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. Meanwhile, Officer P. Deboe arrested a 17-year-old Fort Washington boy for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. The juveniles were transported to the Waldorf District Station and were released to guardians.
AGENCY MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH: On March 20 at 4:33 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Officer J. Alpert was responding to an emergency with his police cruiser’s lights and siren activated. When he approached the intersection of Route 301 and VFW Road, he waited for northbound traffic on Route 301 to stop and then proceeded slowly through the intersection. The driver of a Toyota drove around the stopped traffic into the intersection and the Toyota subsequently struck the officer’s police cruiser. Officer Alpert was treated at Civista Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota, Cana Annie Walker, 25, of Clinton, was uninjured. Sgt. J. Powell is investigating.