LEONARDTOWN, Md. (March 23, 2010) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 19, deputies responded to a residence on Liberty Street in Lexington Park for a report of a domestic assault. Investigation revealed Alicia Mariah Peterson, 18, of Lexington Park, was in a verbal dispute which escalated into a physical assault when Peterson struck the victim in the back of the head with her shoe. Peterson was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 19, deputies responded to a residence on Jillian Court in California for a report of a domestic assault. Investigation revealed
[name and age removed as a courtesy--court dropped charges on 20-DEC-2011 after the
case had been placed on the Stet Docket] was in a verbal dispute which escalated into a physical assault when
[the suspect] struck and bit the victim in the face. [The suspect] was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER: On March 19, deputies responded a residence on Chief Drive in Mechanicsville for a violation of a protective order complaint. Investigation revealed Thomas Bernard James, 46, of Lexington Park, was served with a final protective order on August 11, 2009 which remains in effective until August 11, ordering no contact between James and the petitioner of the order. On March 19, James made contact with the petitioner/victim in violation of the order. James was located and arrested.
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE: On March 19, Dfc. K. Meyers stopped a 2002 Hyundai Elantra driven by Taj Isreal Wright, 24, of Washington, D.C. for speeding. A motor vehicle driver's license check revealed Wright was not licensed to operate a motor vehicle. Wright was arrested for driving without a license. A search of Wright's person incident to the arrest revealed a baggie containing suspected marijuana on his person. Wright was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, suspected marijuana.
ROBBERY: On March 20, Deputy M. Green responded to a robbery call. Investigation revealed Walter Dennis Cooper, 27, of no fixed address, approached the victim near the wooded area of FDR Blvd in Lexington Park and asked the victim for cigarette rolling papers. As the victim was attempting to give Cooper rolling papers, Cooper struck the victim several times in the face and stole a bag of tobacco, baseball hat and the victim's tennis shoes. Cooper was located a short time later and charged with robbery, second degree assault and theft.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 20, deputies responded to Copsey Corner Lane in Mechanicsville for a report of a domestic assault in progress. Investigation Shellie Marie Karis, 42, of Mechanicsville, was in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into to physical assault when Karis swung a hammer at the victim. The hammer struck the victim's arm causing a scratch. Karis was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 20, deputies responded to the Olde Town Pub on Washington Street in Leonardtown for a report of a fight in progress. Investigation revealed William Lawrence Lake, 32, of Piney Point, arrived at the pub intoxicated and wearing a bandana. The business has a policy which does not permit the wearing of bandanas inside of the establishment. Lake was asked to remove the bandana or leave. Lake became angry and struck on employee of the pub in the chest and left the business. Lake returned a short time later and again entered the business wearing a bandana. When asked to leave and escorted to the exit he again struck an employee as he walked outside of the business. Once outside Lake began yelling obscenities which drew the attention of others inside and around the pub. Lake then ran towards a pub employee in an aggressive manner. Fearing for the safety of their employee, other employees grabbed Lake and placed him on the ground. Lake was restrained by employee until the police arrived. Lake was charged with second degree assault and disorderly conduct.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 21, deputies responded to Sewell Road in Lexington Park for a conservator of the peace call. Once on the scene, Melania MNM Compian, 44 of Lexington Park, began yelling obscenities at the deputies and the owner of the house. As Compian was retrieving her personal property from the residence, she became for agitated and began swing her arms and fists towards the owner of the home. Compian's fist struck Deputy Green. Compian was arrested for second degree assault.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 21, deputies responded to a residence on Swamp Lane in Avenue for a report of a domestic assault. Investigation revealed Christina Marie Renea Wedding, 25 of Avenue, was in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Wedding struck the victim threw a hair brush striking the victim. Wedding then struck the victim in the arm with a table lamp. Wedding then struck the victim with a chair. Wedding was arrested for second degree assault.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 21, deputies responded to a residence on Whiskey Creek Road in Hollywood for a report of a domestic assault in progress. Investigation revealed Crystal Wendy Shorter, 44 of Hollywood, was engaged in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Shorter picked up a two foot by one foot metal cross and stated to the victim "if you call the police then I'll kill you." Shorter, who was extremely intoxicated, then attempted to hit the victim with the cross. The victim grabbed the cross from Shorter and attempted to calm her down. Shorter then began to hit the victim in the arms, head and check. Shorter bit the victim. Shorter was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
DISORDERLY INTOXICATION: On March 22, Sheila Christine Vernon, 40 of no fixed address, was observed by numerous citizens walking in the travel portion in the path of traffic on Great Mills Road at Quatmann Drive in Lexington Park. Deputies located Vernon in the middle of the roadway. Vernon was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and was arrested for public intoxication endangering herself in others.
FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT: On March 21, deputies responded to a residence on Sandy Court in Mechanicsville for a report of an assault in progress. Investigation revealed James Phillip Bellflower, 48 of Mechanicsville, was angry and engaged in a verbal dispute with the victim over a cat which would not go outside. During the dispute the cat scratched Bellflower. As a result Bellflower punched the victim in the back with his fist. Bellflower then threw a cup of hot coffee at the victim striking the victim in the face and torso. Bellflower went to the bedroom, retrieved a .45 caliber Springfield Arms Model 1911 handgun, loaded it in front of the victim and stated: "You better not call the cops." Bellflower placed the handgun in a back pack and left the residence in a Toyota Corolla.
A lookout for the vehicle was broadcast for Bellflower and the vehicle. Deputy First Class Labrack located the vehicle operating southbound on Thompson Corner Road in Mechanicsville. Dfc. Labrack attempted to stop the vehicle by activating his emergency equipment but Bellflower did not comply. Instead, he accelerated the vehicle and attempted to flee. Bellflower continued to attempt to elude the deputies and traveled into Charles County until Bellflower crashed his vehicle on North Ryceville Road in Charles County. Bellflower then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended after a short foot chase. Deputies recovered three .45 caliber magazines, but the handgun was not on Bellflower's person or inside of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Bellflower disposed of the handgun prior to being stopped by the deputies. Bellflower is a convicted felon.
Bellflower was arrested and charged with numerous offenses including:
1. Second degree assault
2. First degree assault
3. Transporting a handgun upon public roads used by the general public
4. Possession of a handgun
5. Using a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence
6. Resisting arrest
7. Being a convicted felon in possession of a regulated firearm