LA PLATA, Md. (April 16, 2008) - The Charles County Sheriff's Department today released the following incident and arrest reports.
DRUG POSSESSION: On April 16 at 2 a.m., Sgt. T. Verdiglione stopped a vehicle for speeding on Route 210 in Bryans Road. An investigation revealed the driver, Christopher Michael Yates, 27, of Pomfret, was intoxicated. Further investigation revealed a passenger in Yates’ car, Calvin Edward Wright II, 31, of Indian Head, was in possession of marijuana. Cpl. J. Murphy and Officer J. Freeman arrested Yates and Wright. Yates was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and Wright was charged with possession of marijuana. They were being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending appearances before a district court commissioner.
FLEEING POLICE: On April 15 at 9:23 p.m., Officer E. Weaver observed a Ford Explorer pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone in the 7700 block of Poorhouse Road in La Plata. Officer Weaver attempted to stop the vehicle but the vehicle fled to the intersection of Bicknell and Sweetman roads, where the driver finally stopped. The driver was identified as Marcus Antonio Washington, 19, of Marbury and charged with fleeing and eluding police, passing in a no-passing zone, reckless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign. He was being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner.
ARMED ROBBERY: On April 15 at 3:15 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the Wal-Mart located at 11930 Acton Lane in Waldorf for the report of a theft in progress. Upon arrival, officers discovered one of the store’s loss prevention officers had chased the suspect across the street. After officers established a perimeter, Officer G. Barnhart found the suspect but the suspect ran. Officer Barnhart and Officer C. Stufft caught the suspect after a brief foot chase. The suspect was identified as Frank Luther Burkhart, 44, of Clinton. The investigation revealed Burkhart stole a DVD from the store and when confronted by loss prevention personnel, he brandished a razor blade before fleeing the scene. A search subsequent to Burkhart’s arrest revealed he was in possession of marijuana. He was charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, theft of property valued at less than $500 and possession of marijuana. He was being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner. Officer Stufft investigated.
RECOVERED VEHICLE/BURGLARY: On April 15 at 4:48 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Cpl. J. Hastings and Officer J. Rager responded to Tractor Supply located at 10795 Wawa Lane in White Plains for the report of a theft in progress. A citizen had contacted the Sheriff’s Office after observing a man and a woman steal a mini-bike and place it into the bed of a pickup truck. Cpl. Hastings had previously patrolled Tractor Supply’s parking lot and was familiar with what property had been stolen. Officers on the scene discovered the suspects had cut an alarm security cable, removed the mini-bike and fled. Soon after, Officer D. Walker saw a pickup truck at the intersection of Piney Church and Billingsley roads that matched the description of the truck provided by the citizen. He stopped the vehicle and the occupants, Sirri Ann Garner, 35, of Nanjemoy and Daniel Wayne Hoppe, 30, of no fixed address, were detained. Officers determined Garner and Hoppe were in possession of bolt cutters and the stolen mini-bike. Garner and Hoppe were arrested and charged with fourth-degree burglary, theft of property valued at less than $500, auto theft, destruction of property valued at less than $500 and possession of burglar tools. They were being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending appearances before a district court commissioner. Officer Rager investigated.
THEFT: The Charles County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 16-year-old Cobb Island boy for stealing money from a cash register on two occasions at the Cobb Island Market, located at 17005 Cobb Island Road in Cobb Island. When the owner discovered that, during March and April, an unidentified suspect had stolen money from a cash register in the market’s ice cream parlor, he notified Cpl. R. Calloway, Cobb Island’s community policing officer. On April 14 at 7:50 p.m., Cpl. Calloway was conducting surveillance in the parking lot when the accused stole money from the cash register and left the store. Cpl. Calloway apprehended him. The accused was charged with two counts of theft valued at less than $500 and was released to a parent. Cpl. Calloway is investigating.