LEONARDTOWN, Md. (May 11, 2009) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.
SHOPLIFTING, CDS VIOLATION: On May 8 at 8:48 p.m. Deputy Seyfried responded to the BJ's Wholesale Club in California for the report of a theft. Investigation revealed Joseph Dale Thomas, age 50, of Lexington Park exited the business with a 32" Sharp Aquos LCD Television and placed the item into the rear of a vehicle. An employee of the store exited the business and yelled for Thomas to stop. This was overheard by a bystander who pursued Thomas and captured him after a short foot chase and detained. Deputy Seyfried arrived and took custody of Thomas. A search incident to arrest revealed Thomas had CDS paraphernalia and CDS in his coat pocket. Thomas was arrested, charged with Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS Paraphernalia, Theft Over $500, Malicious Destruction of Property under $500 and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
CDS VIOLATION: On May 9 at 10:23 p.m. Deputy M. Boyer was responded to a disturbance call on Midway Drive, Lexington Park, Md. 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, Possession of Paraphernalia and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
THEFT: On May 9 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 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 Mill's 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 at 8:42 p.m. deputies responded to Dorchester Hall at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) in 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 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.