Man allegedly swings at girlfriend with knife
On May 1, officers responded to an apartment on Hamilton Place in Waldorf for the report of a domestic assault involving a weapon.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with the caller who reported that her boyfriend, Malik Dayron Hunter, 31, had allegedly attempted to assault her with a “butcher knife” after they had been in multiple arguments in the past day, charging documents say.
The woman said that on April 30 Hunter had allegedly threatened to kill her. She reported wanting to get a protective order but cannot because Hunter allegedly holds onto her keys so she does not leave, charging documents say.
The woman alleged that Hunter allegedly came to a window with the knife in one hand and a wooden stick in the other. Once the window was open, Hunter began stabbing the knife in the girlfriend’s direction, prompting her to back away as fast as possible, according to court documents.
Hunter is charged with first- and second-degree assault.
Man charged with stalking by using tracking device
Derrick Graves, 38, of Waldorf had stalking charges filed against him on May 2 after multiple alleged incidents against a woman.
Graves allegedly attached a tracking device on the accuser’s car, allowing him to constantly follow the woman. One incident involved Graves pulling up to her car and trying to pull her out of it, charging documents say.
Another incident involved Graves appearing at a tire shop the woman was at, prompting her to call the police, which led to the discovery of the tracking device.
Charges were filed against Graves due to the discovery of a second tracking device by the woman’s daughter in the rear driver’s side seat of the same vehicle.
On the way to the courthouse, the woman alleged that Graves pulled up behind her at the intersection of Smallwood Drive and Crain Highway, charging documents say. Graves then allegedly got in front of her and slammed on the brakes, prompting the woman to change lanes. She was followed to the courthouse, the documents say.
Man charged with falsely operating as contractor
Charges were filed on May 3 against Douglas James Moody, 60, of Waldorf after an investigation by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission showed that Moody allegedly failed to uphold a home improvement contract and did not possess a license.
Around Nov. 19, 2022, a homeowner entered a written agreement with Moody for work totaling $115,000. Moody was paid $80,875 via checks, which was supposed to cover the replacement of a roof and the demolition and remodeling of a kitchen, living room and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.
Moody performed some of the work as promised, but the work is of poor quality and will require another contractor to remove the work and complete it again, charging documents say. Moody also allegedly stopped communicating with the homeowner and refused to complete the remaining work.
Approximately $35,000 worth of work was completed and Moody failed to comply with any request to issue a refund.
Moody was charged with failure to perform a contract, acting as a contractor without a license, and theft between $25,000 and $100,000. The maximum penalty is 12½ years in prison.
Woman arrested after allegedly using racial slurs
On May 1 around midnight, officers were dispatched to respond to a disorderly and intoxicated woman who refused to remove herself from the roadway on Route 925 at Smallwood Drive.
Upon arrival, officers found the woman, later identified as Shannon Nicole Smallwood, 35, and reported that she had a strong odor of alcohol, charging documents say.
An officer on scene reported that Smallwood had previously had an alcoholic beverage in her hand and was allegedly shouting racial and derogatory terms toward State Highway Administration workers, according to charging documents.
After refusing to leave the scene multiple times, Smallwood was placed under arrest and transported to the Charles County Detention Center. At the center, her blood alcohol level was determined to be 0.26.
Smallwood is charged with an intoxicated public disturbance, failure to comply with a lawful order, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace by hindering passage.
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reports a 57-year-old Great Mills man was arrested April 30 following a traffic stop. According to a sheriff’s office press release, Michael Joseph Brooks was charged with two counts each of drug and paraphernalia possession.
According to the sheriff’s office report, Deputy Travis Wimberly initiated a traffic stop on a 2003 Dodge Caravan for operating a vehicle registered as a “historic motor vehicle” in violation of Maryland traffic law.
After making contact with Brooks, Wimberly saw suspected cocaine on the driver’s side floorboard and initiated a probable cause search of the vehicle.
Suspected crack cocaine and drug-related paraphernalia were located in the vehicle. Brooks was arrested and transported to the local detention center.
On May 2, Brooks was released on his own recognizance. A district court hearing on the charges he is facing is scheduled for June 20.
Local charged with taking vehicle
On April 29, Trooper D. Black of the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack conducted a traffic stop on King Drive in Mechanicsville. Black stated in court documents that a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee was seen traveling at a high rate of speed, displayed suspicious tags and had a windshield with a tint that was too dark and not compliant with state law.
After a brief pursuit, Black caught up with the vehicle. It was learned through investigation that the Jeep had been reported stolen in Pennsylvania by the Falls Township Police Department.
The driver, identified as Trent Carlton Countiss, 24, of Charlotte Hall, told the trooper he bought the vehicle in Delaware. A search of the vehicle yielded over 212 grams of suspected cannabis, way over the legal limit.
Countiss was charged with motor vehicle/unlawful taking, unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle, felony theft and possession of drugs.
On April 30 Countiss was released on his own recognizance. A district court hearing on the charges he is facing is scheduled for June 10.
Sheriff warns about operation of unlicensed vehicles
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reminds motorists that operating unregistered vehicles, such as all-terrain and other off-road vehicles, on highways is illegal and unsafe. Under the Maryland Safety Code, individuals operating unregistered vehicles on highways can face citations and possibly fines.
Unregistered vehicles operating on highways pose significant risks to motorists, pedestrians and other road users. These vehicles often lack essential safety features and are not designed for highway use, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. Individuals can refer to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website for information on designated off-road vehicle trails in Maryland.
Prince Frederick man facing burglary charges
The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of a 58-year old Prince Frederick man for allegedly committing a rash of burglaries. Two of the incidents occurred at businesses on Central Square Drive in Prince Frederick. A nearby gas station was also allegedly burglarized.
According to a sheriff’s office press release, the suspect, Ronald Joseph Strain, was apprehended after he was seen by authorities in the Prince Frederick area. Strain matched the description of someone seen on a video surveillance footage trying to break into local businesses.
A search of Strain’s residence yielded items allegedly stolen from one of the burglarized businesses. The damage done to one of the burglarized businesses is estimated at $3,500.
Strain is charged with one count each of malicious destruction of property, misdemeanor theft and felony theft, four counts of second-degree burglary and three counts of fourth degree burglary.
He is being held without bond. A district court hearing on the charges Strain is facing is scheduled for May 31.
Chesapeake Beach man charged with fraud and theft
On April 25, charges were filed in district court against a 42-year-old Chesapeake Beach man who is alleged to have used the identity of a woman who resides in Connecticut in transactions totaling over $4,000. The accused was identified by Calvert sheriff’s office Deputy Adam Dymond in court papers as Vladimir Z. De Paz-Trejo. The bogus transactions occurred between May and July of 2023.
Dymond stated in court papers the female victim has never been to Calvert County where the transactions allegedly occurred.
A court summons was issued for De Paz-Trejo, who is charged with four counts of fraud identification information theft and one count each of felony fraud and felony theft scheme.
A district court hearing is scheduled for June 10.
Woman charged with drug distribution
On April 30, narcotics officers with the Calvert sheriff’s office arrested a 37-year-old Lusby woman charging her with drug distribution.
Deputies reported that defendant Chelsea Lee Hoofnagle was allegedly observed conducting a drug transaction with a man in the Drum Point area of Lusby. Hoofnagle was found to have one gram of suspected crack cocaine in her possession. Deputies also found cash on her.
Hoofnagle was charged with distribution of a narcotic, possession with intent to distribute a narcotic and drug distribution.
After initially being held without bond, Hoofnagle was released May 2 after posting $20,000 bond. A district court hearing on the charges she is facing is scheduled for May 31.
Multiple thefts from vehicles under investigation
The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple thefts from motor vehicles and vehicle tampering cases that occurred May 5 between 2:45 and 3:15 a.m. in the Chesapeake Village subdivision in Chesapeake Beach. The theft reports were received from residents of Cavalcade Drive, Cannoncade Court and Meridan Court.
Deputies are requesting that residents of Chesapeake Village check any/all security cameras during this period for surveillance footage that may have captured these individuals. If any person has suspect information or has video surveillance footage pertinent to this investigation, they should contact Det. Brenna Hudson at Brenna.Hudson@calvertcountymd.gov.
If any person wishes to provide information regarding this matter, but remain anonymous, they can do so through the “Submit a Tip” feature on the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office mobile app. To download, visit https://apps.myocv.com/share/a39520678. Tipsters may also email ccsotips@calvertcountymd.gov.
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