LEONARDTOWN, Md. (May 26, 2015)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
HEAD-ON CRASH IN CHAPTICO: On May 25 at 1:30 p.m., Sergeant Porter was traveling on Budds Creek Road near Horseshoe Road, when he witnessed a head-on vehicle crash. Both drivers were subsequently flown to Prince George's Shock Trauma with serious injuries. There were no other occupants in either vehicle.
Sheriff's Office Collision Reconstruction Team members responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The preliminary investigation indicated a 2004 Infiniti G35, operated by David M. Hyson, age 53, of Lusby, was traveling westbound on Budds Creek Road. A 1997 Ford Ranger truck, operated by Walter L. Payne, 3rd., age 27, of Mechanicsville, was traveling eastbound on Budds Creek Road. For unknown reasons, the driver of the Ford Ranger crossed the center line and struck the Infiniti head on. Both drivers were last listed in stable condition.
Contributing factors are undetermined at this time. Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Deputy First Class Brandon Foor ID #235 at 301.475.4200 X 2265.
OPERATION BORDER2BORDER KICKS OFF CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN: On May 19, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Leonardtown and Prince Frederick Barracks of the Maryland State Police, conducted seatbelt compliance checks on both sides of the Thomas Johnson Bridge as part of the Border2Border Seat Belt Compliance Initiative.
During the operation, a total of 1,728 vehicles passed through and 70 vehicles were stopped. Those vehicle stops resulted in 34 seatbelt citations, 16 cellphone citations, 1 license citation, 16 warnings and 1 safety equipment repair order.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK ON THREE NOTCH ROAD: On May 22 at 7:04 a.m., deputies responded to Three Notch Road at the intersection of Chancellors Run Road for a serious motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Deputies found a pedestrian, identified as Portia Gantt, age 23, of California, lying unresponsive in the center lane of Three Notch Road. Gantt was transported to Baltimore Shock Trauma by Maryland State Police Trooper 7 in stable condition.
Sheriff's Office Collision Reconstruction Team members responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The preliminary investigation indicated Gantt was crossing the southbound lanes of Three Notch Road in the crosswalk with an active walk signal from the pedestrian light when she was struck by a 2005 Ford Mustang operated by Ahmed Makin, age 22, of California. At this time, speed and alcohol do not appear to be contributing factors in this collision.
Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to call Corporal Brian Connelly, ID #151 at 301.863.4816 X 1456.
STUDENTS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AFTER SENIOR PRANK: On May 20 students at Chopticon High School arrived at school to find thousands of lady bugs inside the hallways. The investigation, conducted by Corporal Holton, School Resource Officer assigned to the school, revealed 5 suspects entered the school by forcing open a door at approximately 3:40 am on May 20. Once inside, the suspects wearing masks and hooded sweatshirts, released approximately 72,000 lady bugs throughout the school.
During the investigation, Corporal Holton identified 7 total suspects, including the 2 who waited in the car while the others entered the school. He also determined one of the suspects ordered the lady bugs off of the internet.
Four male, juvenile suspects have been charged with 4th Degree Burglary, Property Destruction Under $1,000, and Disruption of School Activities. The 4 suspects were released to the custody of their parents after being processed. The 3 remaining male, adult, suspects will be charged by criminal summons.
Incident Briefs
5/18/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence on Sue Drive in Lexington Park, and stole property. CASE #28738-15
5/18/2015 THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) entered a secured cell tower site in the area of the Charlotte Hall Farmer's Market, and stole several cell batteries. CASE #28691-15
5/18/2015 THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) entered a secured cell tower site in the area of Chancellors Run Road in California, and stole several cell batteries. CASE #28657-15
5/19/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a vacant residence on Coltons Point Road. Nothing appeared to have been stolen. CASE #28899-15
5/19/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect forcibly entered a shed on Village Court in Great Mills, and stole 2 Honda XR100 motorcycles. Both motorcycles were later recovered on Fox Chase Drive. CASE #29000-15
5/19/2015 ATTEMPTED BURGLARY: The homeowner reported hearing noises at the front door as if someone was trying to force entry. Entry was not gained and no suspect(s) were located. CASE #29205-15
5/19/2015 COUNTERFEIT COMPLAINT: An unidentified suspect attempted to purchase a vehicle with counterfeit bills. The victim refused the sale. CASE #29098-15
5/19/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspects entered Chopticon High School during the night and placed several bales of straw containing lady bugs throughout the school. CASE #29214-15
5/20/2015 STRONG ARMED ROBBERY: An unidentified suspect reached into the register while the clerk was completing a sale and attempted to steal money at the Dollar General store located in Charlotte Hall. After a brief struggle with the clerk, the suspect fled the store on foot without the money. CASE #29287-15
5/20/2015 STOELEN MOTORCYCLE RECOVERED: Deputy Tirpak responded to Commerce Avenue and recovered a 2000 Yamaha motorcycle that had been hidden in the tall weeds. The investigation determined the motorcycle had been stolen from a home on Galley Lane in Lexington Park. CASE #29224-15
5/21/2015 BURGLARY: Sometime between 5/15/15 and 5/17/15, unknown suspect(s) entered a residence on Yowaski Mills Road in Mechanicsville, and stole property. CASE #29376-15
5/21/2015 BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unsecured vehicle on Castaway Circle in Lexington Park, and stole money. CASE #29320-15
5/21/2015 PROPERTY DESTRUCTION: Unknown suspects(s) threw eggs at a vehicle on Searfoss Court in Lexington Park, causing damage. CASE #29329-15
5/21/2015 THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) stole a 2003 Ford Explorer from a residence on Eric Road in Lexington Park. CASE #29300-15
5/22/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked shed on Bruce Road in Golden Beach, and stole property. CASE #29707-15
5/22/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked shed on Woodmere Drive in Leonardtown, and stole property. CASE #29705-15
5/23/2015 ASSAULT (STABBING): At 2:23 am, deputies responded to Hancock Road in Lexington Park, and located a male victim with stab wounds to his arm and torso. The victim was flown to Prince George's Shock Trauma with non life-threatening wounds. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division responded and assumed the investigation. CASE #29845-15
5/23/2015 ROBBERY: An unidentified black male suspect approached a female victim in the California Walmart parking lot. The suspect made threats of bodily harm while displaying a handgun and demanded the victim give him valuables. When other people in the parking lot began to walk toward them, the suspect fled on foot. Numerous deputies, K9 units, and detectives conducted an extensive search for the suspect with negative results. The Criminal Investigations Division assumed the investigation. CASE #29959-15
5/23/2015 VANDALISM: Unknown suspect(s) damaged a mailbox on Millstone Landing Road in California, when a firecracker was ignited inside. CASE #29885-15
5/23/2015 THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) entered a garage on Waterview Drive in Golden Beach, and stole property. CASE #29899-15
5/24/2015 THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) stole property from a backyard on Sydney Drive in Lexington Park. CASE #30141-15
5/24/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unsecured shed on Stockett Run Lane in Mechanicsville, and stole property. CASE #30168-15
5/24/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unsecured shed on Poplar Ridge Road in Lexington Park, and stole property. CASE #30135-15
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 .