LEONARDTOWN, Md. (April 11, 2008) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Department this week released the following incident and arrest reports.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: On April 9, St. Mary's County BCI detectives arrested Leonardtown High School Drum Line Coach, Scott Thomas Strandberg Jr., a 24 year old male, from Lexington Park, and charged him with child sexual abuse. Strandberg was arrested after detectives learned of the coach having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 16 year-old female student. Incidents occurred at Strandberg's home and on a school bus, between September and November 2007. Strandberg was incarcerated at the St. Mary's County Detention Center.
THEFT BY EMPLOYEE: On April 10, Deputy Michael Licausi responded to Belk's Department Store in California, for a report of a theft. Upon arrival he met with the loss prevention officer who reported Danielle Samantha Rebecca Garner, 18, of Hollywood, an employee of the store, had stolen several items and made fraudulent refunds and/or returns between April 2 and April 7, 2008. The thefts were recorded via the in store video surveillance cameras. Danielle Samantha Rebecca Garner was arrested and charged with two counts of theft and one count of theft scheme.
THEFT, BURGLARY: On April 10, St. Mary's BCI detectives arrested Billy Wayne Ammons, 36, of Hughesville, for a January burglary to a garage on Route 5 in Mechanicsville and a March 24 residential burglary on Rt. 5 in Mechanicsville. In addition, a 17 year-old juvenile from Hughesville was also arrested for the March 24 burglary. Ammons was charged with 2 counts of burglary, and 2 counts of theft and incarcerated at the St. Mary's County Detention Center. The juvenile was charged with 1 count of burglary, theft and property destruction and released to a parent.
ILLEGAL DRUGS: On April 6, at approximately 9:30 pm Deputy Jason Graves observed two suspicious vehicles in the parking lot of Chesapeake Wholesale Inc. after hours. Businesses in the area have recently been the victim of burglaries and/or destruction of property. As Deputy Graves drove up to the vehicles the driver's pulled off. Deputy Graves was able to stop one of the vehicles and identify the operator as Reginald Alan Price 42 of Clements. As Deputy Graves was speaking with Reginald Price he noticed a partially smoked marijuana cigarette in the ashtray of the vehicle. Deputy Graves asked Reginald Price to exit the vehicle. Reginald Price refused and drove off. After a pursuit Reginald Price was again stopped and arrested. Search incident to the arrest revealed suspected crack cocaine, prescription drugs and controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. Reginald Price was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances and attempting to flee and elude the police.
ILLEGAL DRUGS: On April 9, Deputy M. Boyer was at a residence on Sanners Lane in Lexington Park, to serve a summons. As Deputy Boyer approached the residence he could hear voices and smell an order of burnt marijuana in the garage of the residence. Deputy Boyer approached the garage and contacted the individuals inside of the garage. One of the individuals inside the garage was identified as Stephen Simon Maxson II, 21, of Blacksburg Virginia. Mr. Maxson was sitting on a couch in the garage. Deputy Boyer asked the parties about the odor of marijuana. All individuals denied the presence of illegal substances. Deputy Boyer asked for a consent search of the garage which was granted. Deputy Boyer located a bag containing suspected marijuana under the cushion of the couch were Stephen Maxson was seated. Stephen Maxson was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - marijuana.
TRESPASSING: On April 9, Deputy Marci Faulkner responded to the CVS Pharmacy in Great Mills for a loitering complaint. Upon arrival she contacted the assistant manager of the CVS who reported Mary Elaine White, 50, of Lexington Park, had been asked numerous times by the management to leave the parking lot of the business and to stop asking customers for money. White refused to do so and remained in the parking lot of the business. White was arrested and charged with trespassing.
ILLEGAL DRUGS: On April 8, Deputy Michael A. Licausi was patrolling the area of Town Creek Drive in California when he observed the passenger of the vehicle traveling directly in front of him open the passenger door and throw a small black item from the vehicle. Deputy Licausi also observed the same vehicle to have a cracked windshield which is an equipment violation. Deputy Licausi initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. As Deputy Licausi was stopping the vehicle he observed the occupants of the vehicle throw another small brown object from the vehicle as it was stopping. Deputy Licausi contacted the three occupants of the vehicle. Corporal Michael Butler arrived on the scene and checked the area where the items were thrown. Corporal Butler recovered a black plastic bag containing suspected crack cocaine and a cigar wrapper containing suspected marijuana. Further investigation revealed the items, thrown from the vehicle, belonged to Tyrone Lamar Butler, 19, of California. Butler was the rear passenger of the vehicle. Butler was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.
DNA TRAINING: On April 8, members of the St. Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the State's Attorney's Office attended updated training on the collection, preservation and value of DNA as evidence. The training was conducted by Forensic Scientist Kathryn Busch, from the Biology Unit of the Maryland State Police, Forensic Sciences Division and will aid investigators and prosecutors in staying up to date with current trends and technologies.
WELCOME FAIR: On Friday, April 4, Senior Deputy First Class Hume Ross and Senior Deputy First Class Chad Hartzell participated in the Community Information and Welcome Fair at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. The Community Fair was held to inform new citizens of the business and services within St. Mary's County.
SENIOR SAFETY SEMINAR: St. Mary's Triad/S.A.L.T. hosted a senior safety seminar on elder abuse and neglect. Corporal Diane Fenwick presented the information to the seniors. Several areas of abuse and neglect were discussed to include physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, neglect, abandonment and self neglect. Additionally, Corporal Fenwick explained the indicators of possible abuse, who abuses elders and why, and what the senior can do to help avoid such abuse. The seminar was hosted at the Northern Senior Center on March 25, the Cedar Lane Senior Center on April 1, and the Loffler Senior Center on April 8.