On December 19 at 12:14 p.m. Dfc. G. Gott initiated a
traffic stop on a maroon, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria for not displaying a front
registration plate. The vehicle was
stopped on the St. Mary’s side of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. When Dfc. Gott approached the vehicle he
observed a young child in a child safety seat on the rear passenger’s
seat. Dfc. Gott also detected the odor
of marijuana emitting from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Dfc. Gott asked the subject for his driver’s
license and registration then asked the subject to exit the vehicle. The subject attempted to roll the window up but
Dfc. Gott stopped the window from going up and reached into the vehicle to
unlock the door. The operator of the
vehicle hit his hand to stop him from unlocking the door. Dfc. Gott saw the operator reach for the
shift selector and pulled his hand out of the vehicle. The vehicle then accelerated and began to
flee south along Rt. 4. Dfc. Gott returned to his vehicle and began a vehicle
pursuit.
The vehicle made a right turn onto Patuxent Boulevard to
Clearbrook Lane where he left the roadway and drove across a field for
approximately 1000 yards. The hood flew
up on the suspect vehicle obstructing the suspect’s view through the
windshield. The vehicle came to a stop approximately 15 feet prior to the edge
of a cliff that dropped approximately 25 to 30 feet. The suspect then bailed out of the vehicle
and grabbed an unknown item from the trunk and ran. The suspect left the child in the vehicle
when he fled. It was initially thought
the suspect had entered a nearby residence but it was later determined he fled
into the marsh at the base of the cliff.
Member s from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the
area and assisted with attempting to locate the suspect. The 2 year old child was removed from the
vehicle by members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations
Team. The child was turned over to the
Department of Social Services who will make the appropriate disposition.
The suspect was taken into custody on the point at the end
of Deer Crossing Lane approximately 95 minutes after he bailed from the
vehicle. The suspect had skirted the
edge of the marsh prior to being located on the other side of the creek from
where he had bailed. When deputies began
looking at the suspect’s vehicle they realized the vehicle was still in drive
and that the reason the vehicle had stopped was because the emergency brake
cable had broken which stopped the vehicle from moving. Located in the vehicle were four cell phones,
a tablet, 8 bags of marijuana packaged for distribution and numerous other
empty bags. The vehicle was stored by
the Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect was identified as Frank Richard Taitano Jr., 22,
of Lusby. Taitano is being charged with
numerous traffic violations, possession with intent to distribute marijuana,
child abuse, unattended child, assault on law enforcement officer, fleeing and
eluding, hindering and failing to obey a lawful order. Taitano was transported to the Calvert
County Detention Center where he awaited his appearance before a District Court
Commissioner.
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| Frank Richard Taitano Jr., 22, of Lusby |
Citizens with information on this or any
criminal activity in Calvert County who wish to report it anonymously can now
access the Calvert County Crime Solvers link
through the Sheriff’s Office website.
Go to http://www.co.cal.md.us/residents/safety/law/sheriff/
and click on the Crime Solvers link to leave an anonymous tip on-line. Information leading to the arrest and
conviction of a suspect could result in a $1,000 reward.
