LEONARDTOWN, Md. (March 10, 2011)—The St. Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) released the following incident and arrest reports. BCI is an investigative team comprised of detectives from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police, Leonardtown Barrack. The unit was established on July 1, 2003 and is based in Leonardtown.
ARREST ON PRIOR SHOOTING: During the early morning hours of January 30, police units responded to a report of shots being fired into a business in Callaway. Dfc. S. Ruest of the Patrol Division conducted an investigation into the incident and identified a suspect in the case. On March 7, detectives from BCI assisted Dfc. Ruest in the composition and execution of two search and seizure warrants leading to the recovery of various items of evidence and the arrest of Brandon Thomas Gardner, age 27, of Callaway. Gardner was charged with Reckless Endangerment, two counts of Assault Second Degree, and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
APPARENT ACCIDENTAL DEATH UNDER INVESTIGATION: On March 9 at approximately 8:45 a.m., the Mechanicsville Fire Department and Rescue Squad responded to Summerdale Court in Mechanicsville for the report of a critically injured person. The injured subject was identified as Kenny Lee Staley, Jr., age 24 of Charles County. Mr. Staley was transported to St. Mary's Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The preliminary investigation revealed Mr. Staley was accidentally struck by a falling tree while clearing a wooded lot. Detectives with BCI are continuing the investigation. Mr. Stanley's body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore to identify the cause and manner of death.