LEONARDTOWN, Md. (July 13, 2010) - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.
FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT: On July 12, Corporal Johnson responded to a residence on Old Hollywood Road in Hollywood for a report of an assault. Investigation revealed Regina Ann Gatton, 43 of Hollywood, was involved in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Gatton struck the victim with her vehicle. The victim sustained injury to his shoulder and hand. Gatton was arrested and charged with first degree assault.
TRESPASSING: Golden Beach Civic Association owns five park areas in Golden Beach, Mechanicsville. The park areas close at dark and are posted with "no trespassing" signs along with a sign advertising the park rules to include a notice stating the parks are closed after dark. The sheriff's office has previously investigated complaints of vandalism, disturbances, and trespassing in the park areas. On July 4, DFC Graves responded to one of the Golden Beach park areas for a report of a suspicious incident. DFC Graves contacted Joseph Ross West, 21 of Mechanicsville, who was on park property after the park was closed. Dfc. Graves explained the park rules to Joseph West and told him it was illegal to trespass on the park property after closing. Dfc. Graves then sent West on his way. On July 12, DFC Graves was patrolling the park areas of Golden Beach and observed Joseph West on Gold Beach park property after hours. West was arrested and charged with trespassing.
FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION: On July 12 at approximately 4:00 pm, a 2003 Honda Civic driven by Shelby Wood, 16, of Leonardtown, was traveling southbound on Point Lookout Road between St. Andrew's Church Road and Fairgrounds Road. Wood's vehicle was struck from the rear by a 1996 Lincoln Town Car driven by Justin Macrae, 28, of Leonardtown. The collision sent Wood's vehicle into the northbound travel lane of Point Lookout Road where it collided with a 2003 Honda Pilot driven by David Butler, 45, of Mechanicsville. Wood's vehicle then traveled sideways back into the southbound lane of Point Lookout Road where it collided with a northbound 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by Richard Schmidt, 49, of Hollywood. Wood was transported by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Schmidt was transported by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital. Macrae and Butler were not transported to the hospital. Members of the St. Mary's County Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Preliminary investigation indicates speed and alcohol are not believed to be contributing factors at this time. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact DFC Timothy Reese at 301-475-4200 ext. 9115.