LEONARDTOWN, Md. (February 28, 2013)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
THEFT, THEFT SCHEME, POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE: On February 21, deputies responded to the J.C. Penney for a report of an employee theft. Investigation revealed between the dates of January 15 and February 14, employee Benjamin Joseph Culbert, 22 of Great Mills, stole more than $1,000 in currency. Further investigation revealed Culbert was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, suspected Percocet, without a prescription. Culbert was also in possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. Culbert was arrested and charged with theft, theft scheme, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia.
VIOLATION OF PAROLE ARREST: On October 22, 2010 Jerron Alonzo Jennings was involved in a motor vehicle collision which resulted in the death of Richard Arland Jackson of Bowie. Mr. Jennings was indicted for vehicle manslaughter. On April 11, 2012 Jerron Jennings was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. On August 3, 2012 he was sentenced to 10 years, all but 18 months suspended and he was committed to the St. Mary's County Detention Center.
On October 26, 2012 Jerron Jennings was medially paroled and released to home detention to allow for medical surgery and treatment.
On February 19, the Parole Commission issued a Parole Violation Warrant directing the arrest of Jarron Jennings. The Parole Warrant Statement of Charges cited a violation of "Condition #8 - shall not conduct yourself as not to present a danger to yourself of others."
Jerron Jennings' Parole Agent Rodriguez-Carrasquillo affirmed: "Mr. Jennings was released from custody for medical purposes. He was released with the understanding that during his surgery/recovery he would be incapacitated and unable to be a danger to himself or others. On January 31, Mr. Jennings was cleared by his physician and no longer required physical therapy. Mr. Jennings will meet with his physician in a year. Since Mr. Jennings is no longer incapacitated medically, Mr. Jennings has the potential to be a danger."
On February 25, Jerron Jennings was arrested and returned to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. Jennings is being held in the St. Mary's County Detention Center pending a parole violation hearing.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: On February 15, deputies responded to a residence on William Drive in Mechanicsville for a report of a disturbance. The victim and witnesses heard glass breaking in her driveway. When the victim went out to investigate she saw a male, later identified as Craig Joseph Denham, 37 of Mechanicsville, running down the street from her property line. The victim and other witnesses gave chase, stopped and detained Denham until police arrived. Further investigation lead to the arrest of Denham for destruction of property.
POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE: On February 15, Cpl. Connelly stopped a vehicle on Three Notch Road and Wildewood Parkway in California for a vehicle registration violation. As a result of the traffic stop, James Aaron Eugene Justice, 28 of Lexington Park, was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while his privilege to drive in was suspended. Further investigation and a consent search lead to the discovery of suspected marijuana. Justice was additionally charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - suspected marijuana.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On February 16, deputies responded to a residence on Mt. Zion Church Road in St. Inigoes for a report of an assault. Investigation revealed Victoria Elaine Burnett, 57 of St. Inigoes, was engaged in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into an assault when Burnett struck the victim in the face. Burnett was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
TRAFFIC SAFETY OPERATIONS: The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit and members of the Special Operations Division conducted two separate comprehensive traffic enforcement operations recently. These operations concentrated on enforcement of various traffic safety initiatives, to include distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving, impaired driving, occupant protection (i.e., seatbelt and child safety seat use), and young/inexperienced drivers.
On February 21, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., an enforcement operation was conducted on Route 246/Great Mills Rd. between Route 5/Point Lookout Rd. in Great Mills and Route 235/Three Notch Rd. in Lexington Park. Great Mills Rd., which ranges between posted speed limits of 35 mph and 40 mph, is a high-crash area and frequent complaints of aggressive driving are received by the Sheriff's Office. As a result of this operation, 52 traffic stops were conducted yielding 23 citations, 40 warnings, and 5 safety equipment repair orders (SERO). An enforcement operation such as the one conducted on the evening 02/21/13 will continue to be scheduled quarterly throughout 2013.
On February 23, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., an enforcement operation was conducted on Route 5/Point Lookout Rd. between Route 245/Hollywood Rd. and Route 234/Budds Creek Rd. in Leonardtown. Point Lookout Rd. in Leonardtown, with a posted speed limit of 40 mph, is also a location with a high volume of motor vehicle collisions and traffic complaints. As a result of this operation, 46 traffic stops were conducted yielded 34 citations, 14 warnings, and 4 SERO.
Enforcement operations have been conducted at this same location since February 2012, from either 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. These operations, with the assistance of the Leonardtown barrack of the Maryland State Police, will continue throughout 2013.
Motorists in St. Mary's County are encouraged to drive safely, especially on Great Mills Rd. between Great Mills and Lexington Park and Point Lookout Rd. in Leonardtown.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On February 10, deputies responded to a residence in Great Mills to act a conservator of the peace while Joseph Aloysius Curtis, 49 of Great Mills, removed personal belonging from the residence. The conservator process was explained to Curtis. It was further explained to Curtis that any property with disputed ownership must be left at the residence. Curtis became upset and was asked to leave the residence. Once outside, Curtis assaulted a third party by pushing the man in the chest. The assault was witnessed by deputies. Curtis was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On February 10, deputies responded to a residence on Glouchester Court in Lexington Park for a report for a disturbance. Investigation revealed Carroll Michael Milburn, 29 of Lexington Park, was engaged in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Milburn struck the victim in the face, ribs and head. Milburn was arrested and charged with second degree assault.
TELEPHONE "KIDNAPPING" EXTORTION SCAM: On February 11, local law enforcement received six calls from concern citizens who had received telephone calls from a man asking vague, personal questions regarding their family members. The man claims their family member was involved in a motor vehicle accident with his relative. The man tells the victim he is holding their relative captive until a family member goes to a local Western Union or some other money wiring service and wires money to him in the amount of the vehicle damages caused by their relative. The "damage" is usually several hundred to several thousands of dollars. Thus far, all calls have come from a 301 exchange.
This kidnapping extortion scam is very similar to extortions scam which occurred recently in Miami, Florida, Middlesex County, New Jersey and Martinsburg, West Virginia in late 2012 and early 2013. See below links:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/08/15/a-warning-about-fake-kidnapping-scams/
http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2012/12/police_in_middlesex_county_war.html
http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/589906/Officials-warn-against-rash-of-extortion-scams-by-phone--email.html?nav=5006
These calls are very alarming. Should you receive a similar phone call claiming a family member is being held captive, the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office recommends:
-- Use cautions and DO NOT divulge any personal information regarding yourself or any of your family members;
-- Ask probing questions of the caller and gather as much information about the caller as you can;
-- Have the caller describe your family member, the vehicle you family member was allegedly operating, and where/when the accident occurred, etc;
-- Attempt to contact and/or account for relatives;
-- DO NOT wire any money and contact the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office or your law enforcement immediately.
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://somd.me/presumed-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. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at
http://somd.me/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at
http://somd.me/expungeme .