LEONARDTOWN, Md. (April 29, 2010) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.
GRAND JURY INDICTMENT: On April 28, a St. Mary's County Grand Jury issued an indictment for Royal Franklin Kessick III, 48 of Niles, Michigan for motor vehicle manslaughter, negligent driving, failure to drive right of center, and failure to drive within a single lane in connection with a fatal motor vehicle collision which occurred on July 11, 2009. Kessick was driving his motor vehicle northbound on Three Notch Rd. near Park Hall Rd. He crossed the center line and drove onto the southbound shoulder where he struck Hugo Gonzalez, 44 of St. Leonard, who was riding a bicycle. Gonzalez died at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision.
ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICER: On April 28, Cpl. Margaret Smolarsky responded to the Carter Building in Leonardtown to serve a warrant on Daniel K. Douglas, 19, of Mechanicsville. Deputy Smolarsky encountered Douglas at the Office of Parole and Probation inside the Carter Building. While attempting to arrest Douglas, he resisted, assaulted Deputy Smolarsky and fled the building. Deputy Campbell and Deputy Smolarsky pursued Douglas who was apprehended in the parking lot after a brief struggle. Douglas was charged with two counts of assault on a police officer (Assaulted Smolarsky during initial contact and Campbell during a struggle in the parking lot), Resisting Arrest and was served a warrant for a probation violation.
DOMESTIC ASSAULT: On April 28, Deputy Michael George responded to a residence in Leonardtown for an assault. Deputy George learned Steven M. Fink, 32, of Leonardtown, became involved in an argument with his wife (victim). The argument turned physical and the victim was assaulted causing visible signs of injury. Fink was charged with Second Degree Assault and released to the custody of the St. Mary's County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
ESCAPEE CAPTURE: On April 29 around 1030 a.m., Inmate Donald NMN Taylor, a registered sex offender, was brought back into the detention center and is no longer an escapee.
TRESPASS: On April 28, Deputy Anthony Whipkey and Sgt. Harold Young were investigating a suspicious person in the parking lot of Big Lots in Lexington Park. During the investigation, Walter R. Hairston, 54, of Lexington Park, was identified by an employee of Big Lots as Panhandling outside the business. Hairston was advised to leave the area and not to return however, he failed to heed the direction given and returned to Big Lots. Hairston was arrested by Deputy Whipkey, charged with Trespass and released to the St. Mary's County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.