LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Feb. 7, 2014)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
ROBBERY ARRESTS: On January 30 at 10:30 p.m., deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery in the area of Pacific Drive and Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. Upon arrival deputies made contact with the adult male victim who stated he was walking home when he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown black males. The two suspects began assaulting the victim and produced a dark in color handgun before taking property belonging to the victim. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division were contacted and assumed the investigation.
On February 4, detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence in St. Clements Crossing and recovered evidence related to the robbery. On February 5, detectives located and arrested Saivon C. Sharpe, age 20, and Daquan C. Holden, age 18, both of Lexington Park. Sharpe and Holden were charged with Armed Robbery, Robbery, Firearm use while Committing a Felony- Violent Crime, Assault 1st Degree, Assault 2nd Degree and Theft less than $1,000. Both were incarcerated in the St. Mary's County Detention Center under a $300,000 bond each. Additional charges are pending a case review with the States Attorney's Office.
DEPARTMENT WELCOMES FOUR NEW DEPUTIES: On January 28, Sheriff Tim Cameron along with several civilian and sworn members of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office watched as four new deputies were sworn into office. Sheriff Cameron then presented each deputy with their sheriff's office badge and credentials.
The new officers are Deputy Amber R. Logue #290; Deputy Matthew L. McCuen #291; Deputy Brian P. Fennessey #292; and Deputy Rachael L. Roszell #296.
The deputies graduated from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy on Friday, January 31.
Drug summit for parents: An open discussion about pills and heroin in St. Mary's County
HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
Over the past several years, opiate abuse in the United States has increased at an alarming rate and illustrates a growing population's insatiable drug appetite as approximately 95% of the worlds opiates are consumed by the United States which comprises about 5% of the world's population. Unfortunately, the St. Mary's County community has experienced a similar trend, as illicit and pharmaceutical based opioids remain the drug of choice for many people in our community who struggle with drug addiction.
To date, the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office (SMCSO) determined five deaths in St. Mary's County can be attributed to heroin overdoses and two deaths occurred as the result of a prescription drug overdose. In 2013, St. Mary's county experienced an increase in opiate overdose deaths. The statistics further illustrate the need to work aggressively to prevent, detect, and apprehend individuals involved in the distribution and diversion of opioids.
Law enforcement investigators and members of the medical community who are responsible for investigating opiate drug diversion crimes are often met with significant challenges. Due to the complex structure of most drug distribution networks, dismantling an illicit drug organization is resource and time intensive.
DRUG USE IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY - THE FACTS
Although there appears to be an inextricable relationship between the abuse trends of pharmaceutical opiates and heroin, the St. Mary`s county Sheriff`s Office, through its investigative efforts, has discovered an apparent increase in the prevalence of heroin. For example, year-to-date statistics indicate a more than 6% decrease in pharmaceutical diversion cases and a 58% increase in heroin investigations from 2012 through 2013. Notwithstanding the current trend, the diversion of pharmaceutical opiates and chronic abuse of heroin continue to be a major concern for public safety and health officials who recognize the nexus between drug related crimes and other serious crimes, both which significantly diminish the quality of our communities.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
The Sheriff`s Office remains committed to fighting opiate abuse in St. Mary's County as members of the Narcotics Unit work to dismantle and disrupt prescription medication and heroin distribution networks. To meet this challenge, the SMCSO will continue to create and maintain partnerships with community organizations like Walden Sierra, Inc., Medstar St. Mary's Hospital, the St. Mary's County Board of Education, the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, and the St. Mary's County Department of Aging to promote awareness of this issue while also refining current investigative techniques to remain effective in preventing, detecting, deterring, and apprehending individuals who participate in the diversion and distribution of opiates.
THE PUBLIC IS CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THIS SPECIAL EVENT: FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Hollywood Volunteer Firehouse located on Three Notch Road in Hollywood.
INMATE ASSAULT: On February 4, Deputy Vessozi responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center for an assault. The investigation revealed inmate Steven Wayne Carter, 55, of no fixed address, grabbed the victim inmate and poked him in the face with his hand. Carter was charged with 2nd Degree Assault on DOC Employee (inmate) and 2nd Degree Assault.
VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER: On February 4, Deputy Wesner responded to a residence in California, for a violation of a protective order. The victim alleged suspect Heather Elaine Voithofer, 43, of Hollywood, made contact with the victim by phone in violation of an active protective order. Deputy Wesner located Voithofer and placed her under arrest. She was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Violation of a Protective Order.
Warrant Services
Kyrel Antonio Lewis, 20, of Waldorf, on 02/4/2014 for violation of probation by Deputy First Class Vezzosi
Donald Sheldon Strickland, 34, of Great Mills, on 02/4/2014 for violation of probation by Deputy LaFave
Jeffery Howard McDonald, 46, of Ridge, on 02/4/2014 for Bad Check by Deputy Pleisse
Jamie Lee Emory, 21, of California, on 02/4/2014 for failure to appear in court by Deputy Pleisse
Sandra Louise Birch, 41, of Lexington Park, on 02/5/2014 for failure to comply court order by Deputy T. Shomper
Wyatt Corey Herriman, 26, of Mechanicsville, on 02/5/2014 for violation of probation by Deputy Kerns
Tracy Spencer Blackwell, 20, of Joppa, on 02/5/2014 for failure to appear in court by Deputy Potter
Dayna Renee Lancaster, 39, of Lusby, on 02/5/2014 for failure to appear in court by Corporal Ross
Thomas Oakley Burch IV, 24, of Lexington Park, on 02/5/2014 for violation of probation by Deputy Kerns
Amy Rebecca Dunlap, 46, of Mechanicsville, on 02/5/2014 for failure to appear in court by Deputy Beyer
Kevin Russell Bryant, 23, of Lexington Park, on 02/6/2014 for failure to appear in court by Deputy Teague
Robert Scott Slaughter, 42, of Mechanicsville, on 02/6/2014 for attachment for contempt of court by Deputy Flerlage
Joshua David Faunce, 20, of Abell, on 02/5/2014 for 1st Degree Burglary by Deputy Kerns
Criminal Summons Services
Christina Marie Fetty, 35, of Lexington Park, on 02/4/2014 for Theft Under 4100 (2 counts), Theft Scheme Under $1,000, Trespass Private Property, and Theft Under $1,000 by Deputy Pleisse
Heather Marie Bates, 34, of Leonardtown, on 01/30/2014 for Theft Under $100 by Corporal O'Connor
Thomas Michael Murphy Sr., 33, of Mechanicsville, MD Bad Check by Corporal O'Connor
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 .