THEFT ARREST: As part of an ongoing investigation into numerous thefts of copper and other metals, detectives from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office were conducting surveillance Jan. 30 on Jason Wayne Slater, 33, of Waldorf, who they suspected of being involved in the thefts. At 12:28 p.m., detectives observed Slater steal parts from a heating and air conditioning unit at a residence in the 900 block of Stone Ave.
Jason Wayne Slater, 33, and Carie Marie Tiller, 33, both of Waldorf, were arrested in connection with theft of copper and other metals. (Arrest photos)
After Slater fled the scene with the stolen material, patrol officers stopped his blue Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Slater and Carie Marie Tiller, 33, of Waldorf – a passenger in the vehicle and a suspected accomplice in the thefts – were subsequently arrested.
Following the arrest, detectives executed a search warrant at the residence on Tadcaster Circle where Slater and Tiller live. There, they recovered evidence from other metal thefts.
Detectives are continuing their investigation to determine which other thefts Slater and Tiller committed. In the meantime, Slater and Tiller have been charged with theft, burglary, property destruction, conspiracy to commit theft and carrying burglar’s tools. They are being held at the Charles County Detention Center, each on a $5,000 bond.
Metal thefts have increased in recent months throughout the United States, including in Charles County where in the last two months, 21 metal thefts have occurred. The thieves often dismantle the air-conditioning and heating units at churches or vacant houses and remove the copper coils and piping. In other cases, thieves have targeted construction sites. In addition to conducting investigations into each theft in Charles County, the Sheriff’s Office has also distributed flyers and made reverse 911 calls to at-risk businesses.
Anyone with additional information about the recent metal thefts may contact the CCSO at 301-932-2222 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment.
FLEEING POLICE: On Jan. 31 at 2:40 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Officer D. Harrison observed two suspicious vehicles – a Chevrolet Tahoe and a passenger vehicle – at Bensville Park on Bensville Road in Waldorf. The vehicles began to leave and Officer Harrison followed. Shortly thereafter, the officer attempted to stop the vehicles on Bensville Road near Route 228. The Tahoe fled onto Route 228 toward Prince George’s County. Officer Harrison lost sight of the passenger car, which had fled in another direction. Officers continued pursuing the Tahoe. When one of the officers deployed stop sticks, the Tahoe struck the device and the driver lost control of the vehicle. The Tahoe went into a ditch and the driver attempted to flee on foot. Officers quickly apprehended him. He was identified as Rodney Peter Quarles, Jr., 25, of Charlotte Hall,
pictured above. Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and checked Quarles for injures. Officers then transported Quarles to the Charles County Detention Center, where he was charged with fleeing and eluding police, failing to obey a lawful order and resisting arrest. He is being held at the Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner.
BURGLARY: Sometime between 5:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30, suspect(s) entered a home in the 13200 block of AG-Supply Place in Charlotte Hall and stole a PlayStation 3 gaming system and games. The suspect(s) also stole coins. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Charles County Sheriff’s Office at 301-932-2222 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment. Officer D. Behm is investigating.
THEFT: On Jan. 29 at 2:21 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to a residence in the 7700 block of Port Tobacco Road in Port Tobacco for the reported theft. The investigation revealed that sometime in the previous two weeks, suspect(s) stole equipment from a detached shed and adjacent field on the property, including bush hog, rake, and plow tractor attachments and an air compressor. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the CCSO at 301-932-7777 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment. Officer J. Campbell is investigating.
THEFT: On Jan. 27 at 9:18 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to Embassy Dairy located at 12435 Mattawoman Drive in Waldorf for the reported burglary. The investigation revealed that sometime in January suspect(s) entered the facility and removed steel and copper pipes. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the CCSO at 301-932-7777 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment. Officer J. Morales is investigating.
THEFT: Sometime between Jan. 24 and Jan. 27, suspect(s) severed the fuel lines and stole gasoline from vehicles parked at Smallwood Storage located at 11615 Rubina Place in Waldorf. The vehicles were parked in a fenced area. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the CCSO at 301-932-7777 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment. Officer J. Foster is investigating.
HOME INVASION: On Jan. 26 at 11:35 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to a residence in the 4200 block of Mockingbird Circle in Waldorf for the reported home invasion. The investigation revealed three male suspects armed with a handgun forced entry into the residence and ordered the home’s two occupants, a 65-year-old male and a 66-year-old female, to lie on the floor. One of the suspects held the victims at gunpoint while the other suspects gathered property from the residence. The three suspects then fled the residence with stolen property.
During the investigation, officers obtained a description of the vehicle in which the suspects had been observed fleeing. A vehicle with a matching description had been the subject of a suspicious vehicle call earlier that morning. Officers then responded to a residence on Proctor Place in Waldorf, where officers recalled observing the described vehicle.
Julien Antonio Fort (left) and Quayshaw Deangelo Jenifer, both are age 20 and reside in Waldorf. (Arrest photos)
Shortly after arriving at the Proctor Place residence, officers observed two male suspects walk outside. When the officers attempted to approach the suspects, the suspects fled into the woods. During the subsequent search, the CCSO notified two nearby schools – North Point High School and Davis Middle School – and the schools went briefly into a lockdown mode as a precaution. The officers found the two suspects a short time later in the area of Proctor Place. They identified them as Julien Antonio Fort and Quayshaw Deangelo Jenifer, both of whom are 20 and reside in Waldorf. Officers determined Fort and Jenifer were responsible for the home invasion. Officers found the third suspect in the home invasion, Carterrys Abednega Morgan, 21, of Waldorf, hiding under a bed in the Proctor Place residence.
The suspects were arrested and charged with armed robbery, assault, theft and burglary and were being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending appearances before a district court commissioner. Officers recovered the stolen property. The motivation for the robbery remains under investigation.
Det. C. Baker investigated.