LEONARDTOWN, Md. (May 22, 2009) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office this week released the following incident and arrest reports.
CDS VIOLATION: On May 9, 2009 at 10:23 P.M. Deputy M. Boyer was responded to a disturbance call on Midway Drive, Lexington Park when he observed Darwin T. Banks, age 36, of Lexington Park fleeing the scene as police arrived. Deputy Boyer observed Banks discard an object from his pant pocket and toss it on the ground. The item was recovered and found to be a metal smoking device containing suspected CDS. Banks was arrested, charged with Possession of CDS, and Possession of Paraphernalia and he was incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
THEFT: On May 9, 2009 at 11:14 P.M. Deputy Seyfried responded to Chesapeake Cab Company after a patron refused to pay the required fare. Contact was made with Debra L. Peluso, age 29, of Great Mills who was uncooperative and shouting profanities at the driver and officer. Request for payment was made several times and Peluso refused. Peluso was extremely intoxicated and continued to act in a disorderly manner. She was placed under arrest, charged with Theft under $100, Disorderly Conduct and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
PROSTITUTION, INDECENT EXPOSURE: On May 10, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. deputies responded to the area of Great Mills Road and Lexwood Dr. after a citizen reported a female subject exposing herself to passing motorist on Great Mills Road. Dfc. J. Maletto arrived on the scene and observed Sheila C. Vernon, age 39, of no fixed address standing in the roadway soliciting the operator of a motor vehicle, who she had stepped in front of for sexual acts and exposing her breasts. Vernon was placed under arrest, charged with Prostitution, 2 counts of Indecent Exposure and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
ASSAULT 2ND DEGREE: On May 10, 2009 at 8:42 P.M. deputies responded to Dorchester Hall, St. Mary's City for the report of a domestic assault. Investigation revealed the victim, an 18 year-old female, had been hit in the face with an open hand, choked, kicked in the head, pushed over several objects, bit on the arm and pushed into a wall by Kieran S. McCleery, age 18, of Silver Springs, following a verbal argument. McCleery was located, placed under arrest, charged with Assault 2nd Degree and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
ASSAULT 2ND DEGREE: On May 10, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. Cpl. D. Corcoran responded to a residence in Lexington Park for the report of an assault. Investigation revealed the victim and Chau Pham, age 26, of Lexington Park were involved in a verbal domestic dispute when Pham pushed the victim out of a chair and threw the chair on top of her. Pham was placed under arrest, charged with Assault 2nd Degree and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
ASSAULT 2ND DEGREE: On May 11, 2009 at 7:06 P.M. Deputies responded to a private residence in Mechanicsville for the report of an assault. It was determined Michael Allan Gatton, age 44, of Mechanicsville had assaulted the female victim by slapping her with an open hand and ripping a cell phone from her. Gatton was arrested on the scene without further incident, charged with Assault 2nd Degree and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
LEXINGTON PARK SPECIAL OPERATION: On May 15 the Special Operations Division with the assistance of patrol officers conducted an operation in the CSAFE area of Lexington Park. This operation was a collaborative effort performed in conjunction with various agencies including the St. Mary's County Department of Social Services, Walden Sierra, Pathways, Three Oaks Shelter, and Adult Parole & Probation. The goal of the operation was to utilize various resources in the county in a proactive effort to identify violators of quality of life crimes, arrest or cite as appropriate, and refer to services when deemed necessary. During this operation, numerous violations were observed resulting in the following subjects being arrested and or charged:
-- Dinah M. Baker, 45, Lexington Park, Disorderly Conduct
-- Thomas R. Banks, 52, Lexington Park, Alcohol Violation
-- Rose M. Briscoe, 45, Lexington Park, Alcohol Violation
-- Edwina D. Fenwick, 46, Lexington Park, Alcohol Violation
-- Latisha A. Bush, 26, Lexington Park, Bench Warrant FTA
-- Amy R. Fitzgerald, 36, Lexington Park, Civil Citation Alcohol Violation
-- John T. Merrill, 47, Lexington Park, Trespassing
-- Joseph K. Morgan, 46, Trespassing
In a continuing effort to address quality of life issues and other community-identified crime-related concerns, future operations will be conducted.