PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (September 17, 2012)—The Calvert County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
WEEKLY SUMMARY: During the week of September 10 through September 16 deputies of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office responded to 1,509 calls for service throughout the community.
NEW MOPED/SCOOTER LAW: Sheriff Mike Evans would like to remind the citizens of Calvert County of the new law affecting moped and motor scooter drivers that takes effect October 1 of this year. The law encompasses three components; mandatory titling with a decal, mandatory insurance and mandatory helmet use. Drivers who violate the new law will be issued warning tickets and/or traffic citations for violations. Sheriff Evans states "This new law is in effect to protect the drivers and passengers of mopeds and motor scooters and members of law enforcement hope that the public will adhere to it for their own safety and the safety of other vehicles on the road."
ANIMAL CRUELTY: On August 27, Calvert County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Officer C. Montgomery responded to Allied Partners Veterinary Emergency Service (APVES) at 4135 Old Town Road in Huntingtown for the report of cruelty to a cat. The cat had been brought to APVES two days earlier by John Gregory Hayden, Jr., who stated that the cat had been accidentally hit in the head with a croquet mallet. Hayden's wife indicated the family wished for the cat to be euthanized so he would not suffer, which was done immediately.
Investigation into the cat's injuries by ACO Montgomery revealed that Hayden had become angry and struck the cat with the mallet because it had defecated in the house. Hayden, 30 of Owings, was later arrested and has been charged with aggravated cruelty to an animal, which carries a possible penalty of imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding $5000 or both.
THEFT FROM VEHICLE: Sometime overnight between September 9 and 10 someone smashed the front passenger window of a vehicle that was parked in the 8700 block of C Street in Chesapeake Beach and stole a black TomTom GPS. DFC J. Norton is investigating.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: The driver side window of a vehicle parked on Frederick Avenue at Sea Breeze Court in North Beach was smashed by an unknown object causing $200 in damage overnight between September 9 and 10. Nothing was stolen from inside the vehicle. DFC J. Norton is handling the investigation.
THEFT FROM VEHICLES: Two unlocked vehicles parked outside a home on Marina Overlook in Lusby were entered at around 2:00 a.m. on September 10. Some money and a Sirius satellite radio receiver were stolen. DFC R. Weems is investigating.
THEFT FROM VEHICLE: In the early morning hours on September 13, someone entered an unlocked vehicle on 10th Street in Chesapeake Beach and stole the Maryland registration card and insurance card. Dep. J. Cutchin is investigating.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: A victim advised Dep. J. Migliaccio that on September 14 between 8:45 a.m. and noon, her vehicle was parked at the Dash-In parking lot on Chesapeake Beach Road in Owings and someone smashed her front passenger window. She advises that the vehicle had been left unlocked and that nothing of value was in the car at the time. Nothing appears to have been stolen.
DRUG ARREST: On September 15 at 5:44 a.m. a citizen called in a possible drunk driver swerving in southbound traffic lanes on Md. Rt. 4 near Ferry Landing Road in Dunkirk. DFC A. Locke conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the driver, identified as Obai Sherrif, 28 of Cheverly, to be in possession of suspected drugs. Sherrif was arrested and charged with DUI and possession of marijuana, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia; a plastic baggie, and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia; BackWoods Cigars.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: A woman advised DFC J. Parsons that on September 16 at 1:38 a.m. as she was driving on White Sands Boulevard in Lusby, someone threw an object at her vehicle, shattering the rear window of her SUV. Parsons determined that someone had thrown a full beer bottle at the vehicle. No suspects were located and no one was injured. The damage is estimated at $200.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: DFC J. Parsons arrested a man for disorderly conduct on September 16 at 3:45 a.m. after he was called to a home on Swaggers Point Road in Solomons. Upon arrival Parsons observed the man running through the front yards of homes. Witnesses advised he had been banging on the door of a home and screaming that he was going to kick the door in. Parsons arrested Brandon Matthew Creech, 24 of Solomons, and charged him with disorderly conduct after Creech ignored advice from police and continued to be a disturbance.
DRUG AWARENESS: In July of 2009 the Prescription Drug Abuse Disposal Committee was formed in order to educate Calvert County residents to proper prescription medication disposal and to increase awareness of prescription drug abuse. The committee, which has changed its' name to Prescription Drug Abuse Abatement Committee (PDAAC), meets monthly to collect and share data, develop awareness events and activities, promote disposal of expired and unused medications and develop resource information.
National and state data indicate a dramatic increase in prescription drug abuse. During the past five years Calvert Substance Abuse Services has seen a 350 percent increase in requests for treatment for prescription drug abuse. The statewide average is 103 percent. The county's State's Attorney's Office has seen the number of "pill" cases increase almost double the amount from last year and 2012 is not yet over. Additionally, many crimes ranging from burglary, theft, sexual assault, robbery and child neglect occur because the defendant is addicted to or uses pills. Eighty-two percent of Calvert County's foster care children were removed from homes in which drug or alcohol were a contributing factor to their removal.
The Prescription Drug Box located at the Sheriff's Office can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and collected over 600 pounds of medications last year.
On September 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the College of Southern Maryland Prince Frederick Campus will feature a Prescription Drug Abuse Community Forum. All are welcome and refreshments and door prizes will be provided. Also, September 29 is Prescription Drug "Take Back" Day when citizens can bring their unused and/or expired medications from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to any of the following locations:
-- The Calvert County Sheriff's Office in Prince Frederick
-- Mt. Hope Community Center in Sunderland
-- Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach
-- Southern Community Center in Lusby
For more information, please contact the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse at 410-535-3733 or e/mail them at caasa@co.cal.md.us or visit http://www.disposemymeds.org.
Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumption_of_innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned.