LA PLATA, Md. (September 20, 2011)—The Charles County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
UPDATE ON HIT-AND-RUN CRASH ON CHAPEL POINT ROAD: Thomas Mark Roepcke, 47, the bicyclist who was struck by a car during the overnight hours of Sept. 1 and 2 on Chapel Point Road and left critically injured, died on Sept. 10 as a result of the injuries he sustained. The driver of the striking vehicle, a 21-year-old woman from Pomfret, left the scene but was located by sheriff's officers two days after the crash. The CCSO Traffic Operations Unit is continuing the investigation.
FATAL CAR CRASH: On Sept. 16 at 11:40 p.m., officers responded to the 7700 block of Poorhouse Road near Pisgah for the report of a single-vehicle crash. A preliminary investigation showed the driver, Dawn Lisa Montgomery, 28, of Indian Head, was operating a Ford F-150 pick-up truck west on Poorhouse Road when she lost control of her vehicle, struck a tree, and overturned in a drainage culvert. A passing motorist spotted the truck and notified authorities. Emergency responders extracted the victim, who was not wearing a seatbelt, from the truck but she was pronounced deceased on the scene. The CCSO Traffic Operations Unit is investigating.
PATROL OFFICERS APPREHEND THEFT SUSPECT: On Sept. 19 at 3:27 p.m., officers responded to the SunTrust Bank inside Safeway on Shining Willow Way in La Plata for a silent hold-up alarm. When officers arrived, bank employees pointed to a man they suspected was in the process of stealing money from the ATM. Investigation revealed the suspect, John Nathaniel Watts, 33, of no fixed address, disguised himself as an employee of a company that services ATM machines. He gained entry into the machine and was in the process of stealing the money when employees recognized him as the same man who stole money from the ATM in July. Watts was arrested and charged with attempted theft, theft over $10,000 for the July incident and possession of a fraudulent document. The Criminal Investigations Division is investigating.
BURGLARY: On Sept. 19 between 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., unknown suspect(s) broke into a house in the 14000 block of Beverly Drive, Hughesville, and stole a small amount of money. Officers canvassed the area and located a person who saw a green, mid-size truck with an extended cab parked in the victim's driveway at about 12 p.m. It's not clear if the operator of the truck was involved in the burglary. Officer B. Clark is investigating.
PATROL OFFICERS LOCATE ROBBERY SUSPECT: On Sept. 16 at 4:33 p.m., officers responded to the area of Homecoming Lane in Waldorf for the report of a robbery. A preliminary investigation showed the victim, 13, was approached by three teenagers, one whom he knew, who demanded money. One suspect pulled an object that the victim thought was a knife and threatened the victim as the others went through his pants pockets and stole money. Officers developed suspect information and subsequently arrested one of the suspects - a 15-year-old - and charged him with armed robbery, first-degree assault and theft. Officers are in the process of identifying the other suspects. Officer K. Newman is investigating.
BURGLARY: On Sept. 16 between 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., unknown suspect(s) broke into a house in the 2700 block of Sprague Drive in Waldorf and stole jewelry and a computer. The suspects gained entry by kicking in the front door. Officers canvassed the area and processed the scene for evidence. PFC J. Foster is investigating.
DRUG ARRESTS: On Sept. 16, officers arrested five people in connection with drug activity near a park on Albany Way in Waldorf. Acting on numerous tips from residents who live in the area, officers conducted surveillance and observed a group of males using drugs. As officers approached, the suspects fled but were apprehended a short distance away. Officers recovered suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia on the scene. The suspects, four juveniles and one adult, were charged with possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Cpl. Cusmano, PFC Cooney and PFC DePaulo investigated.
TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO WARRANT SERVICE: On Sept. 15 at 7:39 p.m., Cpl. D. Savoy initiated a traffic stop near the 7900 block of Keech Road in Waldorf after observing the vehicle swerve and cross the center line. The driver, Thomas Martin Welch, 48, of Nanjemoy, failed several field sobriety tests. A computer check revealed he had an open warrant for violation of probation. Welch was arrested and charged with numerous traffic violations and the warrant was served.
THEFT: On Sept. 15 at about 4:48 a.m., unknown suspects stole tires and rims from a car parked in the 2600 block of Lacrosse Place in Waldorf. Officers processed the scene for evidence and are following leads. The Criminal Investigations Division is investigating.
FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: On Sept. 14 at 6:47 a.m., officers responded to a townhouse complex in the 10800 block of Nautica Place in Waldorf for the report of someone banging on the walls. The first officer to arrive on the scene approached the house and knocked on the front door. A woman answered and pointed a handgun directly at the officer's face with her finger on the trigger. The officer managed to retrieve his firearm and ordered the woman to drop the weapon. She lowered the gun but refused to drop it at which point the officer was able to grab it from her. The suspect, Thomasena Patricia Harrison, 68, of Waldorf, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and assault on a police officer.
OFFICERS APPREHEND ROBBERY SUSPECTS: On Sept. 14 at 10:42 a.m., officers responded to the Shell Gas Station at 3185 Crain Highway, Waldorf, for the report of a citizen armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim who advised he was robbed at gunpoint while making a gas delivery to the business. Officers canvassed the area and located witnesses who observed the suspects run to the Capital Clubhouse. As officers set up a perimeter, they found a back pack containing a handgun near the side entrance of the building. One of the suspects then exited the side door; he was apprehended without incident. A second suspect was located inside the building. Both suspects were positively identified as being involved in the robbery. Jerrell Deshawn Tibbs, 24, and Robert Larry Stevenson, 19, both of Waldorf, were charged with robbery and remanded to the Charles County Detention Center. Cpl. C. Smith and PFC C. Barrows are investigating.
THEFT: On Sept. 13, during the overnight hours, unknown suspects stole tires from a car parked in the 2200 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf. Officers processed the scene and are pursuing leads. The Criminal Investigations Division is investigating.