LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Oct. 22, 2013)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING: On October 21 at 6:30am, deputies assigned to the Patrol Division responded to a residence for a domestic assault in progress. A female victim fled the residence after she was assaulted by the suspect who had a knife. She told the 911 operator that the suspect was going to harm another female inside the residence with the knife. The suspect was identified as John Otha Dickens Jr., 24, of Lexington Park.
Upon arrival, a witness notified deputies that Dickens was armed with a knife and/or a handgun. Deputies heard screams coming from the residence and immediately made entry. Deputies located Dickens in an upstairs bedroom actively assaulting a female victim. The first deputy to enter the room, Corporal J. Kirkner, a 13 year veteran of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, ordered Dickens to stop. Dickens continued to assault the victim. Corporal Kirkner fired 2 rounds from his agency issued firearm, ending the assault.
Dickens was flown to an area hospital by Maryland State Police helicopter for non-life threatening gunshot wounds. The female victim and the child were treated at Medstar St. Mary's Hospital for non-life threatening wounds. None of the deputies were injured.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division and the Office of Professional Responsibilities responded to the scene to assume the investigation. Criminal charges against Dickens are pending a review with State's Attorney Richard Fritz. Corporal Kirkner was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both investigations.
On October 20, Dickens was charged with 2 counts of domestic related assault by the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack. He was released at 8:42pm the same day on a $7,500.00 bond. He was to have no contact with the victim as a condition of his release.
THEFT, POSSESSION CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE & PARAPHERNALIA: On October 15, Deputy Tirpak responded to the Walmart, located in California, for a reported shoplifter. Loss prevention personnel observed the suspect, Amy Marie Blount, 34, of Lusby, select a car battery and leave the store without paying. Blount was placed under arrest and a search was conducted. A smoking device containing suspected cocaine residue was found inside Blount's purse. Blount was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Theft Less Than $1,000.00, Possession Controlled Dangerous Substance - Not Marijuana, and Possession Paraphernalia.
THEFT: On October 15, Deputy John Davis responded to the McKay's Food Store located on Signature Lane in Lexington Park for a reported theft. The manager of the business observed a subject conceal a bottle of cough syrup in a messenger bag and attempt to leave the store without paying. The subject was identified as Alvernon NMN Brown, 20, of Lexington Park. He was charged with Theft Less Than $100.00 by Criminal Citation.
THEFT: On October 15, Corporal Goodwin responded to the Mckay's Food Store located on Signature Lane in Lexington Park for a reported theft. The manager of the business observed a subject concealing items of merchandise in her purse. She then attempted to leave the business without paying. The subject was identified as Dana Marie Royster, 29, of Lusby. She was charged with Theft Less Than $100.00 by Criminal Citation.
ASSAULT: On October 10, Deputy Shane Cameron responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center for an assault between two inmates. Suspect, Nicholas NMN Kelson, 18, of Lexington Park, was recorded on video surveillance throwing a cup of liquid on the victim. Kelson was charged with 2nd Degree Assault by Deputy Cameron.
ASSAULT: On October 15, Corporal Daniel Snyder responded to a residence on Foxchase Drive in Great Mills for a reported assault. The victim reported suspect Roshaundra Davenna Dyson, 27, of Valley Lee, struck the victim in the face with hands and scratched the victim's face and neck during an argument. Dyson was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with 2nd Degree Assault.
SEX OFFENDER: Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division, Sex Offender Unit, received information a registered sex offender, Khalid J. Smith, 31, of Clinton, was residing at a residence on Onion Fields Lane in California. Following an investigation by detectives, it was learned that Smith had been convicted of a sex offense in Ohio and had been granted permission from authorities in Ohio to reside in Clinton. Smith had registered as a Tier II sex offender through the Maryland Registry and provided an address in Prince George's County. Following surveillance of the residence on Onion Fields Lane it was determined Smith was residing at the residence.
On October 22, a Search Warrant was executed at the residence and Smith was taken into custody without incident. Smith was served with an outstanding warrant charging him with Knowingly Fail to Provide Address Change to the Sex Offender Registry as Required by Law and incarcerated in the Detention Center pending an appearance before a District Court Commissioner.
ASSAULT AT SPRING RIDGE MS: On October 21, a 13-year-old male student was being escorted to class by school staff members at Spring Ridge Middle School. While being escorted, he struck one of the staff members in the face with his hand. The juvenile was charged with 2nd Degree Assault by Corporal Maloy and released to a parent pending contact by Juvenile Services.
ASSAULT AT GREAT MILLS HS: On October 21, a 17-year-old female student and a 15-year-old female student at Great Mills High School assaulted each other during a fight at the school. Both juveniles were charged with 2nd Degree Assault and Disruption of School Activities by Corporal Kristi Nelson. They were released to a parent pending contact by Juvenile Services.
RAPE AT GREAT MILLS HS: On October 21, a victim was alleged being sexually assaulted by 2 male students at Great Mills High School. An investigation was conducted by Corporal Kristi Nelson which revealed that on October 17 the victim was forced into a bathroom at the school by a male suspect. The victim was then sexually assaulted by the male suspect and by a second male suspect already inside the bathroom. After a review of the investigation with the State's Attorney's Office, both 16-year-old male suspects were charged with 4th Degree Sexual Offense, 2nd Degree Assault, and False Imprisonment by Corporal Nelson. Both suspects were detained by Juvenile Services and transported to the Cheltenham Youth Facility pending court appearances.
ASSAULT AT CHOPTICON HIGH SCHOOL: On October 2, two 15-year-old male students at Chopticon High School began arguing in the school cafeteria. The argument escalated when one of the students (suspect) began to assault the other while seated at the lunch table. A female student, who was not involved in the incident, was struck by the student during the assault. The investigation was conducted by School Recourse Officer Corporal Holton and resulted in the arrest of the suspect on October 17. He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault and Disturbance of School Activities and released to a parent pending contact by Juvenile Services.
ASSAULT AT COUNTY JAIL: On October 17, Deputy First Class Green responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center in Leonardtown, for a reported assault. The investigation revealed that inmate Oliver Henry Wood Jr., 53, of Waldorf, struck another inmate in the face during an argument. Wood was charged with 2nd Degree Assault by Deputy Green.
TRESPASSING: On October 17, deputies responded to the Lex's Laundromat located on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park for a noise complaint. Deputy Flerlage contacted several male subjects standing in the area. During that contact, Deputy Flerlage learned one of the subjects, identified as Eric Dwayne Dickerson, 41, of Abell, had been issued a notice not to trespass for the property on October 8 by Deputy First Class T. Snyder. Dickerson was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center by Deputy Flerlage, He was charged with Trespass Private Property.
ASSAULT: On October 18, deputies responded to a 911 disturbance call at a residence in Lexington Park. The victim alleged that a man with a knife had entered the residence. On arrival, Deputy Schultz found suspect Walter Dennis Cooper, 30, of Hollywood, standing on the porch. The victim further alleged Cooper entered the residence without permission, displayed a knife, and threatened the victim with it. Cooper was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center by Deputy Schultz. He was charged with 1st Degree Burglary and 1st Degree Assault.
TRESPASSING: On October 18, Corporal Goodwin responded to the Medstar St. Mary's Hospital for a trespassing complaint. Suspect Camille Nanette Commodore, 27, of no fixed address, was refusing to leave the hospital. Corporal Goodwin ordered Commodore to leave the hospital and she refused. Commodore was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center by Corporal Goodwin. She was charged with Trespass Private Property. Commodore was arrested a second time by Deputy Foor after she returned to the hospital and refused to leave later the same day. She was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Trespass Private Property.
SHOPLIFTING: On October 18, Deputy Tirpak responded to the Walmart, located in California, for a reported theft. An employee alleged suspect Donald James Rowley, 25, of Hollywood concealed items of merchandise and left without paying. Rowley was charged with Theft Under $100.00 by Criminal Citation.
SHOPLIFTING: On October 16, Corporal Kirkner responded to the Best Buy store located in California for a reported theft. An employee of the store alleged suspect Paul Vincent Bell, 22, of Lusby, removed an item of merchandise from the packaging and attempt to leave without paying. Bell was located and placed under arrest by Corporal Kirkner. He was charged with Theft Under $100.00 by Criminal Citation.
ASSAULT: On October 19, Deputy First Class Boyer contacted a victim at Sheriff's Office Headquarters. The victim alleged being assaulted by suspect Lavonte Devow King, 22, of Park Hall, during an argument earlier the same day. DFC Boyer observed evidence of fresh injury on the victim. He located King and placed him under arrest. King was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with 2nd Degree Assault.
MAN ACTING CRAZY AT SHOOTING SCENE: On October 21, deputies were securing the scene of a shooting incident in the area of Bristol Avenue in Lexington Park. Suspect Joshua Lydell Brooks, 30, of Lexington Park, arrived on the scene and began to yell profanities at deputies. Brooks then attempted to enter the crime scene area by crossing the crime scene tape. Deputy Wesner ordered Brooks to get back and he refused. His conduct caused a crowd of onlookers to become angry. Brooks was advised he was under arrest at which time he took an aggressive stance toward Deputy Wesner. Brooks resisted arrest, but was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Brooks was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center by Deputy Wesner and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Fail to Obey Reasonable Law Enforcement Officer, and Obstructing/Hindering an Investigation.
MARIJUANA FOUND ON MAN BOOKED FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR: On October 22, Deputy Flerlage located and arrested Justin Darnell Biscoe, 26, of Lexington Park, on an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear in court at a residence in Lexington Park. Biscoe was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center where a secondary search was conducted of his person by Corrections Staff. An amount of suspected marijuana was located on his person during the search. Biscoe was additionally charged with Possession Controlled Dangerous Substance - Marijuana and Possession Controlled Dangerous Ssubstance in Place of Confinement.
MARIJUANA FOUND DURING TRAFFIC STOP: On October 22, Deputy Potter conducted a vehicle stop for a traffic violation in the area of Great Mills Road and Saratoga Drive in Lexington Park. A baggie containing an amount of suspected marijuana was located in plain view on the floor of the vehicle. The driver, identified as Trenton Deonn Barnet, 24, of Lexington Park, was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Possession Controlled Dangerous Substance - Marijuana: Less Than 10 grams.
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 .