LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Aug. 25, 2008) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.
POSSESSION OF CONTRABAND: On 08/19/08 during an unscheduled search of the work release dormitory unit within the St. Mary's County Detention Center, correction's staff discovered contraband (cellular telephone & U.S. currency) located in the shoes of inmate, Martin Durell Yates, 19, of Loveville. Correctional staff also discovered a cellular telephone under the mattress of Thomas Emmanuel Gross, 22, of Great Mills. Cellular telephones and U.S. currency is considered contraband by policy of the Detention Center. Contraband within a place of confinement is illegal in Maryland. Martin Durell Yates was charges with two counts of possession of contraband. Thomas Emmanuel Gross was charge with one count of possession of contraband.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Correction's personnel developed information regarding two inmates removing and concealing spokes from the blade guard of a large floor fan located in the dayroom of a housing unit within the St. Mary's County Detention Center. Correction's personnel investigated further and discovered inmate, David Eric Strain, 21, of Waynesboro, Virginia and Marcell Deon Blackiston, 23, of Leonardtown, broke off and removed two metal spokes from the fan guard, shaped the spokes into a "U" shape, sharpened the ends and concealed the spokes under a storage room door. The spokes were recovered and Marcell Deon Blackiston and David Eric Stain were charged with malicious destruction of property. The fans were removed from the dayroom.
ILLEGAL DRUGS: On 08/22/08 at approximately 3:45 pm Correctional Officer A. Holton observed inmate Ryan Andrew Murray, 22, of Mechanicsville, remove a small plastic baggie from the coin return slot of a pay phone in the booking area of the St. Mary's County Detention Center. Murray attempted to conceal the plastic baggie in the waist band of his pants. Murray noticed Officer Holton watching him so he attempted to discreetly place the baggie back into the coin return slot. Officer Holton summoned the assistance of Correctional Officer First Class Goddard who immediately retrieved the plastic baggie. The plastic baggie contained five yellow pills bearing an imprinted Transformer's logo. Poison Control was contacted. The pills were suspected Ecstasy, a controlled dangerous substance of schedule I. Murray was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - Ecstasy.
THEFT OVER $500.00: On 08/22/08 Deputy M. Licausi responded to a residence on Earl Dean Road in Lexington Park for a report of a theft. Investigation revealed the victim's roommate, Holly Renee Hauck, 31, of Lexington Park, as the primary suspect in the theft. The victim left for work on 08/22/08 at approximately 5 am and returned home on 08/22/08 at approximately 3:45 pm. The victim locked his bedroom door prior to leaving. Upon returning home the victim noticed the door had been pried open and was unlocked. The victim went to contact Ms. Hauck and knocked on her bedroom door. Ms. Hauck did not answer. The victim opened Ms. Hauck's door and notices some of the items which had been taken from his bedroom. The suspect was located and transported to the Sheriff's Office. A consent to search waiver was completed and signed by Ms. Hauck. Ms. Hauck's bedroom was searched and the stolen items were located along with suspected cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Holly Renee Hauck was charged with theft over $500, destruction of property, possession of cocaine, and possession of paraphernalia.
ILLEGAL DRUGS: On 08/23/08 Corporal C. Morley was patrolling the area of Pegg Road and Lexington Drive in Great Mills as a part of "Operation Most Wanted Weekend" when he observed a silver Ford being operated by Ryan Michael Page. Upon passing the vehicle Corporal Morley observed an unidentified front seat passenger, lean back in the seat and hold up a folded paper to his face in an attempt to conceal his identity. The vehicle then sped down Lexington Drive and pulled into a private driveway. Corporal Morley followed the vehicle and parked just down from the driveway. Corporal Morley suspected the passenger was attempting to hide his identity and Corporal Morley wanted to get a better look at the subject. As Corporal Morley was approaching the vehicle, Page immediately exited the vehicle and stood next to it. The passenger also got out of the vehicle, dropped his cellular phone on the ground and without stopping to pick the phone up he began walking towards the front door of the residence at a fast pace. This action made Corporal Morley even more suspicious of criminal activity. Corporal Morley asked the subject his name. The suspect gave a name and continued towards the front door and entered the residence. Page produced a Maryland driver's license confirming his identity as Ryan Michael Page, 23, of Leonardtown. A check of Mr. Page's driving record revealed Mr. Page's license was suspended. Ryan Michael Page was arrested for driving while suspended. Search incident to arrest revealed a larger baggie containing a small baggie of suspected crack cocaine, a small baggie containing suspected powdered cocaine and a small baggie of suspected marijuana. Corporal Morley contacted the owner of the residence, which the other suspect had entered and obtained permission to search the residence. A search of the residence revealed a rear bedroom window was open and the suspect apparently fled the area. A search of the area for the suspect yielded negative results. Page was charged with driving while suspended, possession of controlled dangerous substances - crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and marijuana.
FALSE NAME TO A POLICE OFFICER: On 08/23/08 Brad Alvin Bowman, 40, of Clements, was stopped for a traffic violation by Deputy First Class K. Moritz. Mr. Bowman gave a false name and date of birth to Dfc. Moritz. Unknown to Bowman, the name he provided belonged to a person who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Dfc. Moritz, believing Mr. Bowman was the person he stated he was, arrested Mr. Bowman. Once at the St. Mary's County Detention Center and after being served with the warrant, Mr. Bowman provided correctional officers with his correct name and date of birth. Mr. Bowman stated he lied to the Deputy because his license to drive in Maryland was revoked. Correction's staff verified Mr. Bowman's true identity through fingerprints and an on file photograph. Bowman was charged with driving while revoked and making a false statement to a police officer.
FOURTH DEGREE SEX OFFENSE: On August 18, 2008 Deputy R. McCoy responded to a residence in Lexington Park for the report of a sex offense. Investigation revealed Lisa M. Tippett, age 43, of No Fixed Address, had inappropriately touched the breasts of a 13 year-old female. Contact was made with Tippett, who was extremely intoxicated. Tippett was placed under arrest, charged with a fourth degree sex offense and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.