LEONARDTOWN, Md. (March 5, 2012)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER: On March 2, deputies responded to a disturbance on Terrance Road in Lexington Park. Investigation revealed on January 5 that Andrew Leo Sewell, 23, of Lexington Park, was served with a protective order commanding he have no contact with the petitioner. The order is effective until January 4. On March 2, Sewell violated the conditions of the order by entering onto the petitioner's property and contacting the victim. Sewell was arrested and charged with violating the conditions of a protective order. Arresting Deputy: Dfc. Green #218.
TRESPASSING: On March 2, deputies responded to the Donut Connection in Lexington Park for a report of a trespasser. Investigation revealed Dewayne Cornelius Chisholm, 31, of Lexington Park, was causing a disturbance inside of the establishment. Chisholm had been asked to leave several times by management, but he refused to leave. Deputies made contact with Chisholm. Deputies served him with a written notice not to trespass and asked him to leave the property. Chisholm initially complied and left the property but returned a short time later. Chisholm was arrested and charged with trespassing. Arresting Deputy: Dfc. Rogers #210.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT, DRUG ARREST: On March 3, Cpl. Summerville responded to an assault in progress call on Lockes Crossing Road in Mechanicsville. As a result of the investigation, Justin William Hudson, 33, of Mechanicsville, was arrested for second degree assault. A search incident to Hudson's arrest revealed he was in possession of a cigarette box containing a foil wrapper rolled into the form of a smoking device containing suspected controlled dangerous substance residue and a foil wrapper containing suspected Oxycodone. Hudson charged with second degree assault, possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Arresting Deputy: Cpl. Somerville #78.
THREATS OF ARSON, FALSE STATEMENT: On March 3, deputies began a threat of arson investigation. Investigation revealed Giuseppe Andrea Clopper, 25 of Lexington Park was in a dispute with the victim. Clopper called the victim and told her that he (Clopper) was going to put a bomb in her vehicle and burn her house down. As deputies were investigating, Clopper called 911 and reported to emergency dispatchers that the victim was chasing him and trying to run him over with her vehicle. Deputies responded to the emergency complaint and contacted Clopper. Further investigation revealed Clopper fabricated his emergency call. The victim's vehicle was parked at her residence and had not been driven. Clopper was arrested charged with threats of arson and making a false statement. Arresting Deputy: Cpl. Milam #36.
DECEASED WOMAN FOUND: On February 27 at 11:16 a.m. police units responded to the report of a female lying on a path unresponsive to the rear of St. Mary's Square in Lexington Park. Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad responded to the scene, initiated CPR and transported the victim to St. Mary's Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. BCI was contacted and assumed the investigation. The female was identified as Edwina Denise Fenwick, 49, of Lexington Park. Initial investigation did not reveal any signs of external injuries to Ms. Fenwick. The body was transported to the Medical Examiners Office in Baltimore where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.
ARMED ROBBERY: On March 1 at 02:19 a.m., an armed robbery occurred at the Exxon/Dash In on Three Notch Road in Charlotte Hall. Two male subjects, both of whom were armed, approached an employee and demanded money. The subject pictured on the right is wearing a Washington National's winter hat. The employee complied and the subjects fled the area in a dark blue passenger car with an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency. Information about this crime and suspect(s) is being sought. Persons wishing to provide information can directly contact Detective Sarah Russell at 301-475-4200 ext. 9105. You may also provide information by contacting Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333 or Text your information to CRIMES (274637). Simply enter "TIP239" (847239) before your tip. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
MAN SHOT DURING ASSAULT: On March 3 at 11:36 p.m., police responded to a private residence in Mechanicsville for the report of a disturbance with shots being fired. Upon arrival it was determined an adult male victim had received a gunshot wound to the leg. BCI was contacted, responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Investigation by detectives determined the adult male victim had been involved in a physical confrontation inside and outside the residence with several persons residing at the residence. The victim was able to flee the residence at which time the suspect, Paul A. Reed, age 46, of Mechanicsville exited the residence, approached the victim and fired two shots at the victim one of which struck the victim in the leg. The victim fled from the residence and hid until police arrived. The victim was transported to St. Mary's Hospital where he was treated and released. Reed was placed under arrest, transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Assault 1st Degree. Reed was later released from the detention center after posting a $75,000 bond.
BARRICADE RESULTS IN MAN BEING HELD ON $500,000 BOND: On March 3 at approximately 3:00 a.m., deputies responded to a residence on Mervell Dean Road in Hollywood for a check the welfare. It was reported Joseph Leonard Anderson, 53, of Mechanicsville was armed and threatening to harm himself. Responding deputies located Anderson on the property inside of a two story shed/workshop. Deputies attempted to contact Anderson but he refused to communicate and fired several shots inside of the workshop/shed. As a result, a perimeter was established and a barricade called.
Members of the St. Mary's County Emergency Services Team, Critical Incident Negotiations Team and K-9 units responded to the scene. In addition, the Calvert County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Team were contacted and responded to the scene to assist. Sheriff's Office crisis negotiators attempted numerous times to contact Anderson via telephone. Anderson refused to answer the phone for the negotiators. With the aide of the Emergency Response Teams the negotiators attempted face to face communication with Anderson. Anderson refused to comply with the request of the officers and took a defensive stance by throwing large items and barricading all ingress and egress points to the workshop/shed.
At one point during the attempted negotiations, Anderson exited the workshop/shed through a second story door and fired several shot from a long gun at two tactical deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office and the two deputies (negotiators) from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. Anderson's shots did not strike the deputies. Calvert County Sheriff Office tactical deputies, upon being fired upon, returned fire. No one was injured.
Anderson eventually spoke with negotiators and at approximately 10:34 a.m. he surrendered and was taken into custody. Detectives from the St. Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigation assumed the investigation. Anderson was transported to St. Mary's Hospital for an emergency evaluation and was subsequently released. Upon his release he was charged with: 4 Counts of First Degree Assault; 4 Counts of Second Degree Assault; and Reckless Endangerment. Anderson is being held in the St. Mary's County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
TRAFFIC SAFETY INITIATIVE - PASSING ON SHOULDER: The Traffic Safety Division of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office has received numerous traffic safety complaints of motorist passing in an area not designed as a passing zone. Specifically, motorists have reported that during evening rush hour traffic, drivers are violating traffic law by utilizing the northbound shoulder portion of Maryland Route 5 just prior to Bay Ridge Road to pass vehicles waiting for the traffic light at Maryland Route 5 and Maryland Route 246 to change green.
Maryland Transportation Article Sec. 21, Paragraph 304 Subsection C prohibits "Driving a motor vehicle off roadway while passing vehicle." Motorist illegally passing on the shoulder of the roadway may receive a $110.00 fine and 1 point on their driving record. If the illegal passing contributes to a motor vehicle collision the penalty increases to a $150.00 fine and 3 points. A roadway is defined as "white line to white line." The shoulder is not a designated as a travel portion of the roadway.
On February 27, the Traffic Safety Unit conducted a traffic initiative in the area of Maryland Route 5 and Bay Ridge Road in Great Mills from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The purpose of this operation was to educate drivers and enforce Maryland Traffic Law, specifically Article Sec. 21, Paragraph 304 Subsection C: "Driving motor vehicle off road while passing vehicle." Sheriff's deputies stopped 163 motorists who violated traffic law. A total of 56 written warnings and 107 verbal warnings were issued.