LA PLATA, Md. (Aug. 12, 2009)—The Charles County Sheriff's Office recently released the following incident and arrest reports.
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS: The Charles County Sheriff's Office will be conducting sobriety checkpoints on August 14. The Sheriff's Office is not disclosing the time or location of the checkpoints but signs on the roadway will advise motorists as they approach it. Officers will check all vehicles that pass through the checkpoints and drivers who are found to be intoxicated will be arrested. Delays for motorists are expected to be minimal.
BANK ROBBERY: On Aug.11 at 10:44 a.m., the suspect entered the PNC Bank at 6315 Crain Highway in La Plata and announced a robbery. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded cash from several tellers. The tellers complied and the suspect fled into a wooded area to the rear of the bank. No one was injured. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40-45 years old, wearing a white Nike baseball cap, sunglasses, jeans and red and black tennis shoes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Charles County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit at (301) 609-6497. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call crime Solvers at1-866-411-TIPS. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for the tip that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspect. Detective S. Fetterolf is investigating.
ARRESTS IN MURDER: Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey announced that members of the Major Crimes Unit arrested Trayzon Xsabain Harvey, 14, of Waldorf, and Benjamin William Thomas, 18, of Waldorf, in connection with the murder of Jeremias Gutierrez, 30, who was stabbed during a robbery on July 28 in the 900 block of Truro Lane in Waldorf. Harvey was arrested early this morning and Thomas was arrested on August 5 after detectives identified them as suspects. Both were charged with first-degree murder and remanded to the Charles County Detention Center with no bond.
Sheriff Coffey said the arrests came as the result of an intense investigation involving dozens of detectives. "From the onset, we hit the streets hard and worked the leads we had. We spent many hours interviewing a lot of people - those who knew the victims and worked with the victims to those who lived in the neighborhood or traveled through the neighborhood. In addition, while detectives were on the scene of the stabbing, they recovered a piece of stolen property that was linked to a theft that occurred in a nearby neighborhood just hours before the stabbing. "We felt the evidence was probably left behind by the suspects and so we saturated that neighborhood with officers and conducted many more interviews. In essence, we spoke with anyone and everyone who came through both neighborhoods. We left no stone unturned," said Sheriff Coffey. "From that, we developed information that led us to Harvey and Thomas."
During the course of the investigation, detectives linked Thomas and several other suspects to an armed robbery that occurred on Truro Lane on July 17. Brandon Russell Hamilton, 22, of Waldorf, Janeal Jerome Thompson, 17, of Bryans Road, Hugh A. McClaugherty, 16, of Waldorf and another 16-year-old male from Waldorf (who was 15 at the time of the robbery) were arrested and charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and theft. "Our investigation showed both cases were related and the victims were targeted because they were known to carry money," said Sheriff Coffey.
More arrests are possible as detectives continue their investigation into both cases. Citing the progress and the arrests, Sheriff Coffey said, "I can't emphasize enough how proud I am of the work performed by our Agency. Their efforts led to the removal of six violent felons from our neighborhoods."
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Major Crimes Unit at (301) 609-6481. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.