LEONARDTOWN, Md. (July 26, 2015)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.
Homicide in Mechanicsville
On Saturday, July 25 at 1:28 a.m., deputies responded to a home for a reported shooting. On arrival, several people were at the home attending a party. Deputies located a 21-year-old male who had been shot. Lifesaving efforts were not successful and the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
The shooting victim is identified as Cody Michael Lacey, age 21, of Mechanicsville.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. As the investigation into the murder progressed, detectives developed information regarding the suspect who fired the shots and two suspected accomplices.
On July 25, detectives executed a search and seizure warrant on a home in St. Mary's County. Both suspected accomplices—identified as Demetrius Jose Burks-Jeffrey, age 22, of Chaptico, and Wade Joshua Braithwaite, age 21, of Lexington Park—were located and placed under arrest. Items of evidence related to the investigation were recovered as well.
Burks-Jeffrey and Braithwaite were transported to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and charged with Accessory After the Fact - First Degree Murder.
On July 26, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Alan Michael Rangel, age 21, of no fixed address, in connection with the shooting death of Lacey. The warrant charges Rangel with First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony/Crime of Violence.
Rangel is African-American, 5'09" in height, and weighs 202 pounds. Anyone with information regarding Rangel's whereabouts is asked to call Detective Melissa Hulse at 301.475.4200 x1996 or email at melissa.hulse@stmarysmd.com, or Criminal Investigations Division Supervisor Lieutenant Russ Trow at 301.481.7694.
Arrests
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY VIOLATION: On July 17, tier 3 register sex offender Janus Scott Freeman, age 47, of Lexington Park, was arrested by Corporal Raddatz for violating sex offender registry laws. Upon Freeman's release from incarceration on July 8, he failed to report to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and provide his address as required. Freeman was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Failure to Register by Deadline, Failure to Register as Required by a Tier 3 Sexually Violent Predator, Failure to Provide Notice of Address Change, and Failure to Notify of Address Change Within 5 Days. CASE #41843-15
DOMESTIC ASSAULT: On July 21, Deputy J. Wilson responded to the 39000 block of Golden Beach Road in Mechanicsville for a domestic assault in progress. The victim alleged suspect Erica Carolyn Aicher, age 23, of Mechanicsville, struck the victim with her hands and kicked the victim in the groin during an argument. Deputy Wilson observed fresh injuries on the victim's neck and shoulder. Aicher was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. CASE #42819-15
BURGLARY: On July 21, Deputy Lawrence responded to the 21000 block of Great Mills Lane in Lexington Park after witnesses reported a foul odor coming from the vacant residence. Deputies located suspects Christina Rebecca Davis, age 35, of no fixed address, and Francis Xavier Hill, age 19, of no fixed address, asleep in the basement. Neither suspect had permission to be in the residence and were placed under arrest. They were transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with 4th Degree Burglary. CASE #42738-15
DOMESTIC ASSAULT: On July 13, Deputy McClure responded to a residence on Liberty Street for a reported domestic assault. The victim alleged, suspect Devon Julian Hudson, age 21, of Lexington Park, began to argue with the victim over marital issues, while traveling in the car. Hudson stopped the vehicle and got into the backseat. The argument continued and Hudson struck the victim in the face with his fist. Hudson then got out of the car and left the area on foot. Deputy McClure observed fresh injury on the victim’s face. Hudson returned to the Liberty Street home and was placed under arrest. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with 2nd Degree Assault. CASE #41112-15
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE, DRUG POSSESSION: On July 14, Corporal J. Yingling responded to the Chaptico Town and Country Market in Chaptico for the report of a stolen vehicle operating in the area. Corporal Yingling saw the stolen vehicle, a blue Ford Escape, in the parking lot. The driver’s door was open with a white male suspect half inside the vehicle. The suspect, identified as Johnny Duane Edwards, age 45, of Mechanicsville, appeared to be passed out. Edwards eventually woke up and was placed under arrest on the outstanding warrant for the theft of the vehicle. Corporal Yingling recovered a knotted belt, needles, and 2 glass smoking devices used to ingest controlled dangerous substances in plain view inside the vehicle. Edwards was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with Possession Controlled Dangerous Substances, and Possession Paraphernalia. CASE #41282-15
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: On July 15, Deputy Muschette responded to the ABC bar located in California for a reported trespassing. An employee had ordered suspect Michael Brandon Lambeck, age 24, of Hollywood, to leave the bar after he acted in a disorderly manner with other patrons. Lambeck left the bar only to return a short time later. Deputies arrived on the scene and attempted to arrange transportation for Lambeck. While doing so, he became increasingly uncooperative and refused to stop yelling profanity. Patrons from the bar began to gather outside to see what was happening. Lambeck was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication. CASE #41407-15
VIOLATION PROTECTIVE ORDER: On July 16, Deputy H. Smith responded to a residence on Erin Drive in Mechanicsville for a reported violation of a protective order. The victim alleged, suspect Donald Joseph Thorpe, age 47, of Mechanicsville, was at the residence in violation of an active order. On arrival, Deputy Smith saw Thorpe standing at the front door of the home with his copy of the protective order in his pocket. Thorpe was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with Violation of Protective Order. CASE #41703-15
ASSAULT: On July 17, Corporal Kirkner responded to Bugbee Lane in Hollywood for a reported assault with a wrench. The victim alleged, suspect Carla Renee Clarke, age 37, of Hollywood, attacked the victim with a wrench. Clarke struck the victim in the head and back repeatedly with the wrench and bit the victim in the arm. Corporal Kirkner observed injuries on the victim including a bite mark. Clarke was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention center. She was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. CASE #42016-15
ASSAULT: On July 19, Deputy Muschette responded to the 18000 block of Point Lookout Road in Park Hall for a domestic assault. The victim alleged, suspect Emmett Odyssey Harry Gantt, age 54, of Park Hall, hit the victim with an open hand and pushed the victim to the floor. Deputy Muschette observed injuries on the victim. Gantt was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. CASE #42244-15
ASSAULT: On July 19, Corporal J. Somerville responded to the 28000 block of Autumnwood Drive in Mechanicsville for a reported domestic assault. The victim alleged suspect John Francis Lancaster, Jr., age 29, of Mechanicsville, grabbed the victim around the neck during an argument. Corporal Somerville observed injuries on the victim’s neck. Lancaster was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. CASE #42387-15
1ST DEGREE ASSAULT: On July 20, Deputy Roszell responded to the 15000 block of Point Lookout Road in St. Inigoes for a reported assault. The victim reported he was involved in an argument with a relative over a lost Independence card when he was assaulted by suspect Patrick Shawn Dowell, age 25, of St. Inigoes. Dowell struck the victim in the face until the victim was able to pin Dowell to the ground. The victim let Dowell up and Dowell began to leave. Suddenly, Dowell produced a large kitchen knife and began chasing the victim around the yard. The victim fled on foot to a nearby home. Dowell was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with 1st and 2nd Degree Assault. CASE #42580-15
Incident Briefs
7/21/2015 BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle while it was parked at the Myrtle Point Park and stole property. CASE #42660-15
7/22/2015 BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a home on Drum Cliff Road in Hollywood and stole property. CASE #42857-15
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 .