LA PLATA, Md. (June 2, 2015)—The Charles County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.
FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH: On June 1 at 5:53 p.m. officers responded to the area of Rose Hill Road near Rose Hill Farm in Port Tobacco for the report of a single motor vehicle crash. A preliminary investigation showed the driver of a Saturn passenger car was traveling North on Rose Hill Road when he attempted to pass another vehicle. In doing so, the car struck a ditch and the driver lost control, striking a sign and an embankment. A male passenger, Wade Lawrence Freeman, 23, of no fixed address was ejected from the vehicle and died on the scene. The driver, a 23-year-old male from La Plata and two other passengers – a 23-year-old female from La Plata and a 23-year-old female from Waldorf – were transported to a hospital where they were treated for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening. Investigators are asking anyone with additional information to contact PFC P. McPherson of the CCSO Traffic Operations Unit at (301) 609-3251. The investigation is continuing.
ROBBERY/CRIME SOLVERS OFFERING CASH REWARD: On June 1 at 10:34 a.m., officers responded to Miss Whitney’s liquor store in the 2200 block of Old Washington Road in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery in progress. A preliminary investigation showed three masked males entered the store; at least one was armed with a handgun. They forced the customers to the ground and then stole cash from the registers. During the robbery, the armed suspect discharged the firearm toward the ground; no one was struck. The suspects fled in a light brown four-door passenger car. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Hemsley at (301) 609- 6470. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, texting CHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered in this case.
BURGLARY: On May 28 between 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., unknown suspect(s) broke into a house in the 100 block of Stoddert Avenue through an unlocked window. Once inside, the suspect(s) stole a game system, controllers, jewelry, electronics and money. PFC D. Arends is investigating.
BURGLARY: Between May 28 to May 29, unknown suspect(s) threw a rock through the window of a business in the 12400 block of Waldorf Business Square and stole a white, 2012 Honda CBR1000 motorcycle with MD registration plates 10014Y. The suspect(s) also took a black helmet, black jacket, and black gloves. Officer S. Hooper is investigating.
ATTEMPTED BURGLARY REPORTED: On May 28 at 12:40 p.m., officers responded to the 2000 block of Darnell Court in Waldorf for the report of a suspicious person. The homeowner called police and said she heard a noise near a bedroom window. When she looked outside, she observed a man trying to push the window open. According to the homeowner, once the suspect spotted her, he covered his face with his shirt and ran towards St. Charles Parkway. The homeowner did not report the case immediately. Officer S. Hooper is investigating.
OFFICER ASSAULTED DURING ARREST: On May 28 at 2:46 a.m., Officer J. Pogar initiated a traffic stop in the area of Smallwood Drive and Old Washington Road after noticing the vehicle had a headlight out. Upon approaching the car, Officer Pogar observed the driver stuffing bags into his undergarments. He also detected the odor of marijuana. The subject was asked to exit the car. Upon being searched, the driver resisted and pulled away. The man then struck the officer in the groin with his knee. As officers tried to subdue the suspect, the antenna on the officer’s car was damaged. Officers found marijuana and 18 capsules of heroin on the suspect. Jerone Edward Lyda, Jr., 34, of Forest Heights was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, possession with intent to distribute heroin and destruction of property.
TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO FUGITIVE’S ARREST: On May 26 at 2:45 a.m., PFC V. Warker responded to the area of Tanglewood Drive and Tawny Drive in Waldorf for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon approaching the car, PFC Warker noticed the driver appeared to be asleep; the car was in drive but the driver's foot was on the brake. PFC Warker was able to access the vehicle and put it in park. While attempting to wake the driver, PFC Warker noticed marijuana in plain view. Once the driver woke, he refused to comply with PFC Warker’s commands and he also refused to exit the car. A struggle ensued between the driver and PFC Warker and the driver attempted to grab the marijuana and flee. PFC Warker used his agency issued electronic control device and the driver was taken into custody. The suspect continued to struggle and resist PFC Warker until additional units arrived. A check revealed the driver, Adrian Farris, 26, of Waldorf had five outstanding felony warrants relating to drug charges both in Maryland and Virginia. Officers also found quantities of oxycodone, Xanax, MDMA "molly" and marijuana in the car. Farris was charged with assault, resisting arrest, and possession with the intent to distribute illegal drugs.
FUGITIVE ARRESTS: On May 21 at 7:30 a.m., members of the CCSO Warrant/Fugitive Unit along with the Capital Area Region Fugitive Task Force arrested two fugitives wanted in Charles County but who were living in King George, VA. Robert Akowskey, 24, was wanted for drug distribution charges and Kevin Sholes, 30, of Hollywood, was wanted for theft under $10,000, violation of probation, acting as a contractor without a license. He fled upon being detected by officers but was quickly apprehended without further incident. Sholes also had open warrants in Fairfax, Va., for fraud.
CCSO Announces 2015 Special Olympics Torch Run
Hundreds of Officers, CCSO Employees, Military, Students, Teachers, and Families Expected to Participate in Event with Special Athletes
Help fuel the Flame of Hope: Join the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland on June 4 at 9 a.m. in La Plata. This year’s event is being dedicated to Diana Dennin, a supporter of our Special Olympics Torch Run and the wife of a CCSO officer. Diana died earlier this year after battling cancer.
Hundreds of runners and walkers from the CCSO and the community are expected to join and run with dozens of special athletes and their families. U.S. Marines from the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head will lead the runners behind this year’s torch bearers, Charles County Public Schools teachers, Nancy Burch Hall and Keri Mona.
Charles County’s Torch Run is one of multiple Torch Runs in Maryland, all of which converge at Towson University in Towson, Md., on Fri., June 5 to light the cauldron at the Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games Opening ceremony.
Two routes – a 3.5 mile route for runners and a 3 mile route for walkers – will depart Texas Roadhouse in La Plata and return there for lunch and other refreshments being provided by the restaurant’s staff and other local businesses, including Chick-fil-A, Texas Roadhouse, St. Babes Tavern on the Green, T&J Barbeque, Mission Barbeque, and Kona Ice.
Registration is not required but participants must purchase a Torch Run T-shirt or hat and arrive at Texas Roadhouse by 8:45 a.m. to participate in a group photo. The various routes make the Torch Run suitable for all participation levels from experienced runners to leisurely walkers with children and strollers.
Torch Run shirts are $10 and available in sizes from small to XXXL. Dri-Fit shirts are also available for $15. Hats are $10. Contact Sgt. Proctor at 240-299-5207 or proctora@ccso.us to purchase your T-shirt or hat. If you would like to make a monetary donation instead, mail it to Charles County Sheriff’s Office/Attention Sgt. Proctor/PO Box 189/La Plata MD 20646 and be sure to indicate your donation is for Special Olympics Maryland. If you are a local business and would like to donate your services, contact Sgt. Proctor. For more information about Special Olympics Maryland, visit www.somd.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://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 .