Charles County Sheriff's Reports

LA PLATA, Md. (January 3, 2012)—The Charles County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.

HOMICIDE: On Dec. 31 at 7:57 a.m., officers responded to a single family house in the 5100 block of Marbury Run Road in Marbury for the report of a death. When officers arrived, they spoke with one of the resident's, George Ronald Tanner, Jr., 42, who told them he and his roommate, Luther Russell Huffman, 49, had been drinking together during the overnight hours and at some point became involved in an argument which subsequently led to an altercation. During the fight, Tanner pushed Huffman to the ground and repeatedly kicked him. Afterwards, Tanner went to sleep and left Huffman on the floor. When Tanner awoke, he found Huffman in the same place he left him but Huffman was deceased. Tanner subsequently called police and told them about the events. Huffman was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where an autopsy revealed he died as a result of blunt force trauma. Tanner was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and remanded to the Charles County Detention Center. Det. C. Shankster is investigating.

MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG POSSESSION AND ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICER: On Dec. 31 at 2:34 a.m., officers responded to a gas station in the 5100 block of Hawthorne Road in Indian Head for the report of a suspicious vehicle. When officers arrived, they observed the vehicle leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed and then strike two guardrails, a mailbox and a parked car before becoming disabled. Officers checked on the driver, Justin Robert Proctor, 24, of Indian Head, and learned his driver's license was suspended. As officers attempted to arrest Proctor, he became combative and bit one of the arresting officers. He was subdued and placed under arrest. Marijuana, glassine baggies, and crack cocaine were found inside the car. Proctor was charged with assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and drug possession. PFC D. Graham is investigating.

RECKELSS ENDANGERMENT: On Dec. 31 at 2:26 a.m., officers responded to the 8800 block of Cottongrass Street in Waldorf for the report of an assault in which shots were fired. Upon arrival, officers learned two people were trying to crash a party and when asked to leave, they began fighting with other partygoers. The subjects eventually left but fired several shots from a shotgun into the air. No one was injured and officers are working on leads to indentify the suspects. Officer B. Moore is investigating.

OFFICERS FIND POUND OF MARIJUANA DURING TRAFFIC STOP: On Dec. 30 at 1:57 a.m., officers observed a vehicle run a red light at Smallwood Drive and St. Patrick's Drive. Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the driver refused to pull over. Stop sticks were deployed but the driver continued heading north on Crain Highway. Officers created a rolling roadblock at which point the driver rammed one of the police cruisers. The suspect's car became disabled near Brandywine and the driver, Christopher Cyprus Crawford, 30, of Fort Washington, was apprehended. Crawford, who was combative, was driving under the influence of heroin and cocaine and had to be transported to Civista Medical Center. Officers found more than a pound and a half of marijuana inside his car. He was charged with assault on a police officer, possession with intent to distribute drugs and multiple traffic offenses and remanded to the Charles County Detention Center.

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: On Jan. 1 at 4 a.m., officers responded to the 3400 block of Medway Street in Indian Head for a 9-1-1 hang up which appeared to be domestic-related. When officers arrived, they heard several gunshots. They stopped two males who were in the area and learned one of them had fired a shotgun but threw it upon seeing the officers. A shotgun was recovered from a grassy area and the suspect, Gregory Donnell Mattox, 25, of Indian Head, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. No one was injured. Officer B. Moore is investigating.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY ENFORCEMENT: On Dec. 28, officers assigned to the Traffic Operations Unit conducted commercial vehicle inspections near Old Route 5 in Hughesville. A total of 21 commercial trucks were stopped: 5 vehicles were placed out of service for safety violations, 9 citations and 4 warnings were issued.