Southern Maryland police briefs

Firearms, large quantities of drugs recovered

On April 9, detectives assigned to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force served a search warrant relating to a drug investigation in the 2600 block of Academic Court in Waldorf and at a business in the 8000 block of Matthews Road in Bryans Road.

During the search, investigators allegedly recovered two handguns, an assault rifle in pistol form, an AK-style assault rifle in pistol form, high-capacity drum magazines, extended handgun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, body armor, cocaine fentanyl and approximately 497 grams of heroin, a release from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said.

The suspect, Nathan Robert Templeton, 58, of Waldorf, was arrested on the scene and charged with possession with intent to distribute drugs, illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon and other related charges, according to the release.

He is currently being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.

Several charged in armed robbery

On April 13 at approximately 10:06 p.m., Charles sheriff’s officers were dispatched to Meadow Lane in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery.

The caller reported the suspects fled in a white Camaro and a lookout for the suspect’s vehicle was issued.

The man who was robbed was asleep in his vehicle when a masked man allegedly opened his door, brandished a handgun and demanded “everything he has,” according to charging documents. An iPhone valued at around $800 was allegedly stolen and the suspect fled the scene.

Charles sheriff’s officer Karopchinsky located a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s car on Berry Road turning onto Crain Highway going northbound, charging documents say. He made contact with the vehicle and the driver told him he had a gun under his seat.

Four occupants in the Camaro were detained and identified as Isaiah Terrell Rice, 18, of White Plains, Julius Ford, 18, of Waldorf, and two 16-year-old males, charging documents say.

A search of the vehicle revealed a Zoraki 9 mm handgun with a blank round in the chamber, a .22-caliber revolver with four live rounds, a SAVA Magnum 9 mm, the stolen cellphone and the victim’s driver’s license, according to charging documents.

Rice, who was driving the vehicle, and Ford face armed robbery, assault and gun charges. A press release from the Charles sheriff’s office said the 16-year-olds were charged as adults with armed robbery, assault and other charges.

Five out-of-state alleged thieves identified after department store robbery at mall

On April 4, Charles sheriff’s officers responded to a call around 4:47 p.m. to a reported theft at the Macy’s store located at 11200 Mall Circle in Waldorf.

Officers learned that at approximately 3:16 p.m., suspects entered the department store through the women’s shoe section entrance. Four of the five suspects allegedly began to grab items off of clothing racks, charging documents say.

The four suspects that grabbed clothes walked past all points of sale to a gray Mercury Montego waiting for them outside, where the fifth suspect was awaiting them, the documents say.

Items that were allegedly taken include 105 Polo collared shirts, 35 Polo T-shirts and 10 Lacoste shirts. The total value of the items was $15,505, according to charging documents.

On April 5, Charles sheriff’s office detectives learned that Calvert County Sheriff’s Office arrested four men and a woman in a gray Mercury Montego after they received reports of a theft where numerous perfumes and colognes were allegedly stolen, charging documents say.

The suspects were identified as Adony Josue Carana, 27, of Manhattan, N.Y., Estefani Andrea Urbano-Zapata, 21, of Cape Girardea, Mo., Yeiner Jose Rodriguez-Barcelo, 27, of Bronx, N.Y., Yoncar Alberto Rainoso, 21, of N.Y., and Raimil Marquez Jimenez, 25, of Washington, D.C., the documents said.

The Macy’s asset protection manager was able to confirm that the group of five were the suspects at the scene of the robbery, charging documents say.

All five face felony theft charges.

Man charged in assault

On April 8, Charles sheriff’s officers responded to a house on Kirkwood Road in Waldorf for the report of an assault involving a knife.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with witnesses who told officers that Miguel Angel Madrid Alberto, 41, who lives in the basement of the residence with those who called to report the assault, was in a verbal argument with them, according to charging documents.

One of the witnesses is Alberto’s stepdaughter, who said that she had gone out to eat with her mother and a friend. When she arrived home, Alberto was allegedly intoxicated, got upset they went out and began calling her mother names, the documents say.

Another witness stated that Alberto allegedly pushed her, prompting her to go to her bedroom and lock the door. Alberto used his body to force his way into the room and allegedly went after one of the witnesses with a knife, charging documents say. One witness was able to grab Alberto from behind, bring him to the ground and wrestle the knife away from his hands.

Alberto is charged with two counts of first- and second-degree assault and weapon charges for the usage of the knife.

Man arrested after allegedly threatening church

On April 14 at 7:56 a.m., patrol officers received a call from a concerned citizen about a man making numerous posts on social media allegedly threatening to take a gun to a church on St. Peter’s Church Road.

The caller advised the back-to-back posts appeared to be threatening. As officers were responding to the church, the suspect went live on the social media site and continued to make statements and indicated he was not afraid to break the law, a release from Charles County Sheriff’s Office said.

From the live video, officers were able to determine the suspect was in the area of Old Washington Road in Waldorf.

Officers responded and located the suspect. A gun was not located; however, through further investigation, officers learned the suspect, Steven Michael Heizmann, 39, of no fixed address, had approached several people inquiring about purchasing a firearm, the release said.

Heizmann was charged with making threats of mass violence. He is currently being detained at the Charles County Detention Center.

Suspect sought in sledgehammer assault

On April 3 at approximately 12:34 a.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault at a residence in the 46000 block of Midway Drive in Lexington Park.

According to a sheriff’s office release, deputies determined someone used a weapon to strike two victims within the residence during a confrontation before fleeing the scene. Following the incident, detectives and crime lab personnel from the criminal investigations division arrived at the location to conduct further investigation.

One unidentified person was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The weapon was later identified by the sheriff’s office as a sledgehammer.

According to the agency’s release, detectives later identified Devone Articis Hall, 35, of no fixed address as their suspect in the incident. An arrest warrant has been issued for Hall. As of earlier this week Hall had not been located and detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in finding him.

The suspect is approximately 5-foot, 6-inches tall with a thin build. Individuals are urged not to approach him and to immediately contact 911 if they encounter him.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Detective Kortnie Marsch at 301-475-4200, ext. 8179, or via email at Kortnie.Marsch@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Woman charged with drug possession, given traffic citations

On April 13, authorities in St. Mary’s County received a report that a female motorist was observed “nodding off” in her vehicle, which was parked in a California convenience store’s lot.

According to court documents filed by Deputy Richard Stillwell, the woman subsequently left the lot in her vehicle and was stopped on Route 4. Stillwell said the woman had initially tried to elude the deputy making the stop.

The woman, identified as Judith Lynn Pennifill, 46, of Lusby, “displayed glassy eyes, slow movement” and smelled of alcohol.

Pennifill, Stillwell said in court papers, admitted to drinking and taking a prescription medication.

Pennifill declined to take a field sobriety test but submitted to a preliminary breath test. She blew a 0.162, according to charging papers.

Pennifill was charged with drug possession and cited for speeding, negligent driving, reckless driving, driving while impaired by alcohol, driving while impaired by drugs and attempting to elude police.

She was released that day after posting $500 bond. A district court hearing on the charges Pennifill is facing is scheduled for June 18.

California woman faces fraud charges

On April 13, the Maryland State Police filed a fraud charge against a 42-year-old California woman.

According to charging documents filed by Trooper E.P. Ruggles, the defendant, April Marie Brown, allegedly submitted an insurance claim containing false information.

Ruggles wrote in court documents that the claim was in relation to a December 2022 crash in St. Mary’s County.

Ruggles said the insurance company’s investigation “determined information provided for” orthopedics office in Prince George’s County “was fraudulent” as no office could be located at the address provided. Additionally, no surgeon or doctor by the name provided by the defendant could be found.

Investigator John Bettinger of the National Insurance Crime Bureau contacted the state police about his investigation of the matter.

A summons for Brown has been issued and a district court hearing on the charge is scheduled for May 31.

Bryantown man charged with burglary

On April 12, Deputy Richard Wilhemi of the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office responded to a home in Mechanicsville where a burglary with property destruction allegedly occurred. Someone allegedly used a baseball bat to damage a 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 and drove an all-terrain vehicle into the side of a garage. Additionally, the perpetrator allegedly damaged a picnic table and a golf cart.

The property is occupied by three men who identified Mark R. Hutson, 42, of Bryantown as the alleged perpetrator. Hutson is a former resident of the Mechanicsville property.

According to Wilhelmi, Hutson was apprehended during a vehicle stop.

“The defendant stated he was there to get his dirt bike and was going to get it however he had to,” Wilhelmi wrote in charging papers.

Damages to the garage and contents are estimated at over $8,000.

Hutson was charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property and theft.

The day of his arrest Hutson posted $2,000 bond and was released. A district court hearing on the charges Hutson is facing is scheduled for May 28.

Eastern Shore man nabbed as a fugitive

An Eastern Shore man wanted in Pennsylvania on theft charges was apprehended April 12 in St. Mary’s County.

According to court documents filed by Trooper Piscopo-Bann of the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack, the defendant — Deon Caprice Brown, 55, of Crisfield — is wanted in Muncy, Pa., on charges he received advanced payment for services which he failed to perform, or theft by deception. Those charges were filed by the South Williamsport, Pa., Police Department on Dec. 20, 2023.

Brown is being held without bond in St. Mary’s and a district court hearing on the fugitive charge is scheduled for May 8.

Virginia woman faces felony theft charge

According documents filed by Deputy Anna Morrison of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, on March 10 a 31-year-old Arlington, Va., woman allegedly broke into sheds on a property in Owings and removed approximately $12,400 worth of items, including a bed, a mattress, a dresser and several electronics items.

A man living on the property identified the perpetrator as Megan L. Carpenter. He reported the incident to the sheriff’s office nine days after it happened.

Morrison wrote in court papers that a neighbor of Carpenter’s accuser witnessed the defendant driving off the property in “a large U-Haul” on March 10.

Carpenter’s accuser told investigators two shed doors were destroyed along with a Volkswagen Beetle.

On April 8, Carpenter was charged with felony theft and malicious destruction of property. A court summons was issued. A district court hearing on the charges Carpenter is facing is scheduled for June 3.

Pair busted in North Beach

On April 10, drug enforcement detectives from the Calvert sheriff’s office arrested two men in North Beach on drug distribution charges.

The defendants were identified in court papers as Barry C. Quigley, 58, who has residences in North Beach and Pasadena, and Robert Eugene Bailey, 59, of North Beach.

Court documents state Quigley attempted to flee when deputies arrived at the North Beach residence but he was subsequently apprehended.

The drug Quigley and Bailey were allegedly selling was suspected oxycodone. Both defendants had quantities of the suspected drug in their possession along with large amounts of cash.

Quigley and Bailey were both charged with distribution of narcotics and possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Quigley was also charged with failure to obey a lawful order.

Quigley is being held without bond. Bailey was freed April 11 after posting $5,000 bond.

A district court hearing on the charges the two men are facing is scheduled for May 10.

Florida fugitive caught in Calvert

On April 12, Deputy Casey Hill of the Calvert sheriff’s office arrested a 25-year-old Gambrills man who is wanted by authorities in Hillsborough, Fla.

According to court papers, Dominic J. Dziekan is wanted in Florida on a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon. Charging documents alleged that on Dec. 18, 2023, Dziekan robbed a man at knifepoint outside a Popeye’s in the Tampa area. The court papers state Dziekan was positively identified in a photo array.

According to Maryland court records, Dziekan has voluntarily waived extradition to Florida.

He is being held without bond in Calvert County. A district court hearing on Dziekan’s fugitive charge is scheduled for May 15.

Unsolved theft probed

On April 7, Deputy Thomas Deinert responded to a home on Route 2/4 in Prince Frederick for the report of a theft.

The complainant advised a Razor Dirt Rocket SX500 dirt bike was stolen from a shed on the property. The dirt bike is yellow and red in color with an aftermarket white reflector on the handlebars. The estimated value of stolen property is $600.

Anyone with information that could aid investigators in solving the theft can call the sheriff’s office at 410-535-2800.