VEHICLE PURSUIT WITH APPREHENSION SEPT. 11TH, 2015

On September 11, 2015 at approximately 1055hrs, Calvert County Sheriff's Office personnel became involved in a pursuit with a 2009 burgundy Hyundai Santa Fe in the Solomons area of Calvert County, Maryland. The vehicle had previously fled from St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office personnel. The operator of the fleeing vehicle was wanted in reference to a serious domestic assault that occurred in Anne Arundel County during the early morning hours. The subject was alleged to have had a gun in his possession.  A lookout had been broadcasted to surrounding counties for the suspect’s vehicle. 

Dfc. Galen Gott was the lead vehicle in the pursuit and observed the vehicle failing to stop for intersections controlled by traffic control devices, driving on the shoulder and in the median to pass other vehicles, travelling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and showing total disregard for the safety of our citizens.  Responding deputies coordinated the deployment of stop sticks, rolling road blocks and any other means to terminate the pursuit.  The operator of the suspect vehicle rammed four police vehicles during the pursuit while travelling at a high rate of speed.  Once the vehicles were rammed it was determined that a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) would be performed to bring the pursuit to an end. Southbound Route 4 traffic was stopped at Broomes Island Road to ensure the southbound lanes were not occupied by any vehicles during the PIT.  A PIT was executed northbound Rt. 4 between the intersections of Western Shores Boulevard and Governor’s Run Road in Port Republic.  The PIT that terminated the pursuit was performed by Dfc. Buckler.  The suspect vehicle skidded into the median and it appeared as if the operator attempted to regain control of the vehicle by counter steering which caused him to cross the southbound lanes and come to rest in a wooded area along the southbound lanes. 

The operator, Michael David Hussey, 58 of Odenton, was taken into custody by Sheriff’s Office personnel and was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital for injuries he sustained during the impact with the median and the tree he struck.  Hussey is facing numerous serious local charges in addition to the 1^st and 2^nd degree assault charges, reckless endangerment, disorderly and driving on a suspended license that Anne Arundel County charged him with during the early morning hours. 

PRESS RELEASES FOR SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2015

During the week of August 31 through September 7 deputies of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1,446 calls for service throughout the community. 

Citizens with information on the following crimes 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, or call 410-535-2880.  Information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect could result in a $1,000 reward.

Burglary Case #15-47963:

Deputy D. Naughton responded to a home on Breeden Road in Lusby for the report of a burglary.  The homeowner advised that sometime between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on September 1 someone attempted to enter her home by removing her window screens and using an unknown pry bar to gain entry.  No entry was made.  The investigation is continuing.

CDS Violation Case #15-48647:

On September 5 at 10:11 a.m. Dep. M. Trigg stopped a vehicle traveling west on MD 231 in Barstow and found the driver, identified as Steven James Cave, 18, of Mechanicsville, to be in possession of controlled paraphernalia.  He was arrested and charged with CDS Possession Administer Equipment (syringe) and CDS Possession Paraphernalia (spoon).

Steven James Cave, 18, of Mechanicsville

CDS Violation Case #15-48555:

On September 4 at 8:49 p.m. Dfc. J. Hardesty conducted a traffic stop north of Lord Baltimore on MD Rt. 4.  He found the driver, Brad William Somers, 27, of Chesapeake Beach, to be in possession of suspected drugs and paraphernalia.  Somers was issued a citation for driving without a seatbelt, and arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Brad William Somers, 27, of Chesapeake Beach

CDS Violation Case #15-48202:

On September 3 at 0122 a.m. Dep. S. Rediker responded to Calvert Towne Drive in Prince Frederick for a CDS violation.  Christopher Max Gonzalez, 34, of Prince Frederick, was found to be in possession of a drug and paraphernalia.  Gonzalez was subsequently arrested and charged with Possession CDS not Marijuana (Percocet), possession of paraphernalia and possession of CDS admin equipment hypodermic syringe.

Christopher Max Gonzalez, 34, of Prince Frederick

Destruction of Property Case #15-47789:

On August 30 between 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. an unknown individual had knocked a mailbox onto the ground on Hatfield Road in Huntingtown.  Dep. W. Rector is investigating

Destruction of Property Case #15-47841: 

On September 1 at approximately 6:51 a.m. Dep. A. Curtin responded to Chaney Road in Dunkirk for the report that the homeowner’s mailbox had been struck by a blunt object and damaged it. 

Destruction of Property Case #15-47843:

Dep. D. Naughton responded to Harrison Court in Chesapeake Beach for a report of damage to six (6) landscaping lights and electrical wires.  This occurred between August 31 at 9:00 p.m. and September 1 at 6:30 a.m.

Destruction of Property Case #15-48521:

Dep. R. Kreps responded to Calvert Towne Road in Prince Frederick for a report that between September 3 at 5:00 p.m. and September 4 at 12:00 an unknown person threw a rock through a picture window and caused $1500.00 in damage.  The case is still being investigated.

Destruction of Property Case #15-48802, #15-48892:

On September 6 during the early morning hours of 1:40 a.m. Dep. N. Gilmore observed a damaged mailbox in the middle of Cox Road in Huntingtown, which belonged on Quail Ridge Way.  Upon further canvass of the area, two (2) more mailboxes were found to be knocked off their posts, belonging to owners at Small Reward Road and Jett Court.  Door hangers were left with Dep. Gilmore’s contact information. 

Theft Case #15-48643:

Sometime between September 2 at 7:30 p.m. and September 3 at 22:00 p.m. a Nikon Coolpix L330 and money were stolen from an unlocked car on Bridgeport Place in Prince Frederick.  Deputy T. Mohler is handling the investigation.

Theft Case #15-48556

On September 4 Dep. D. Naughton responded to a theft complaint which occurred between 10:45 p.m. and 11:10 p.m. in the parking lot of Sakura Restaurant in Prince Frederick.  Someone had removed a playhouse from the back of a truck.

Theft Case #15-48348

On September 3 Dep. S. Rediker responded to a theft complaint which occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Taco Bell in Prince Frederick.  Credit cards, money and 2 bottles of cologne were stolen from an unlocked car.  The investigation is continuing.

Theft Case #15-48289

On September 3 at approximately 1300 hours, Dep. R. Weems located and pulled over a  vehicle which was involved in a theft at Pam’s Hallmark in Lusby.  Sean Luke Braziel, 24, of Brandywine, was found to be in possession of the stolen items and also possession of Alprazolam, a schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance.  He was charged with CDS Possession-Not Marijuana, Theft, Trespassing, Driving While Intoxicated and Driving while suspended. 

Sean Luke Braziel, 24, of Brandywine

Theft Case #15-48243

Dep. B. Schaefer responded to a theft complaint which occurred on September 1 at the Calvert Medical Imaging Center.  An unknown person removed money from a medical  office.  The investigation is continuing.

Theft Case #15-48139

Dep. D. Clark responded to a complaint of a missing license plate which would have occurred sometime between August 31 at 5:00 p.m. and September 2 at 5:00 p.m. on Lower Marlboro Road in Huntingtown.  It is unclear if the plate was stolen or possibly fell off the vehicle.

Theft Case #15-48077

Dep. B. Schaefer responded to a report of a stolen ring from an unlocked car on September 1 in the 7-11 parking lot located on Chesapeake Beach Road, Dunkirk.  It is unclear if the ring was actually stolen or lost.

FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH - RT. 231 NEAR HEATHER RD, PRINCE FREDERICK

On September 5, 2015 at approximately 1539hrs., Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol units were dispatched to a serious personal injury crash on Maryland Route 231 near Heather Road in Prince Frederick.  Upon arrival units observed a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2003 GMC Envoy with heavy front end damage.  It was evident the vehicles had been involved in a head on offset collision.   The passenger compartment of the GMC Envoy was severely compromised during the collision. 

There were two patients in the Envoy and one in the Silverado.  

Due to the extent of the driver of the Envoy’s injuries, Patrol Units called for the Crash Reconstruction Team to respond to assist with the investigation.  Members from the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Calvert Advanced Life Support responded to the scene and extricated the patients from both vehicles. 

The driver of the Envoy was severely injured during the collision and was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by the emergency room doctor.  The deceased was identified as Peter Schroeder, 59, of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.   The front seat passenger of the Envoy was the wife of the deceased, Mary Schroeder, 54, also of Chesapeake Beach.  Mary Schroeder was transported to the Medstar trauma center in Washington DC via MSP helicopter where she is listed in serious but stable condition.

The driver of the Silverado was identified as Robert Rambo, 57, of Prince Frederick, Maryland.  Rambo was transported via MSP helicopter to Medstar trauma center in Washington DC where he is listed in stable condition.

Preliminary investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Team revealed the Chevrolet Silverado operated by Rambo was travelling westbound along Maryland Route 231 when it crossed the double yellow center line and drove onto the shoulder.  The GMC Envoy was travelling eastbound on Rt. 231.  The operator of the Envoy drove onto the eastbound shoulder in an effort to avoid being struck by the Chevrolet Silverado.  The Chevrolet Silverado struck the Envoy on the eastbound shoulder, pushing the Envoy backwards, and destroyed the Envoy’s passenger compartment.  The Crash Reconstruction Team members gathered all pertinent evidence from the scene and documented their findings.

The Patrol Units on scene detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the passenger compartment of Rambo’s vehicle.  Deputies responded to Medstar in Washington DC where a blood draw was administered to determine blood alcohol content.  It is believed alcohol and driver error are the major contributing factors in this crash.

If you witnessed this crash or the series of events that led up to it please contact Deputy First Class Jeff Hardesty of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team.  Dfc. Hardesty can be reached at 410-535-2800 or email him at hardesje@co.cal.md.us.

FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH - RT. 4 & ROUSBY HALL RD, LUSBY

On September 3, 2015 at approximately 1940 hours members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau and Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the intersection of MD Route 4 and Rousby Hall Road for the report of a serious motor vehicle crash.  Upon arrival units located three vehicles that were involved in a collision.  One of the vehicles involved was a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by Conrado Rago Fabricante Jr, a 55 year old male of Broomes Island, was traveling northbound on MD Route 4 in the area of Rousby Hall Road.  The motorcycle was also occupied by a rear passenger, Lauren Shelby Pitt, a 27 year old female of Hollywood MD.  As the motorcycle entered the intersection, a 2009 Jeep Wrangler operated by Joseph James Illar, a 57 year old male of Lusby, entered the intersection in an attempt to make a left turn to travel west on Rousby Hall Road and collided with the motorcycle.  As a result of the collision both the operator and the rear passenger were ejected from the motorcycle.  After the collision the motorcycle continued travelling west and struck a 2014 Mercedes Benz SUV, which was stopped on Rousby Hall Road waiting to turn right onto northbound MD Route 4.  The Mercedes was operated by Julianne Robin Posey, a 53 year old female of Broomes Island.  Subsequent to the collision with the Mercedes, the motorcycle and the Mercedes caught fire.

Fabricante and Pitt were both killed and were pronounced dead on the scene by emergency medical personnel.  Illar was treated on the scene for minor injuries and was released.  Posey also sustained minor injuries and was released after assessment on the scene.

At this time the causation of the collision and fault remains under investigation.

The bodies of Fabricante and Pitt were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, MD where an autopsy will be performed. 

Deputy W. Rector and other members of the Crash Reconstruction Team are conducting an investigation into the events that led up to the collision.  Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Dep. Rector at 410-535-2800 or via e-mail at rectorwa@co.cal.md.us.

***SHERIFF'S OFFICE CASE OF THE WEEK***

Burglary Case #15-47139:

A home in the 3300 block of St. Leonard Road in Port Republic was burglarized between August 27 and 28 and a McCullock black and yellow chainsaw and a blue electric guitar were stolen.  Approximately $1,000 in damage was done to the home.  Dep. J. Buck is investigating.

REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF CALVERT COUNTY MAKE DONATION TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

On September 2, 2015 Kathy Baker, Carol Benke, Susan Ude and Jo Ann Martin of the Republican Women of Calvert County donated an assorted variety of sports equipment to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.  In the spring of 2015, Sheriff Mike Evans had a conversation with Betty Figgins-Hill of the Republican Women of Calvert County where he explained to her that when he was a Maryland State Trooper back in the 80’s how he would carry around a football in his police car so that when the opportunity presented itself, he would play catch with the kids in the neighborhoods where he patrolled.  The Republican Women of Calvert County thought it would be a great idea to give current Sheriff’s Deputies the same opportunities to connect with the youth of Calvert County that Sheriff Evans had when he patrolled the same neighborhoods.  The sports equipment will be distributed to deputies, so they will be able to keep the equipment in their vehicles and when the opportunity presents itself, they too will be able to play catch, Frisbee or soccer with any youth that they may come into contact with.  In this day and age, it is important for our local law enforcement to not only engage with youth in the community, but also to foster positive relationships and memories with the youth of Calvert County.

Pictured above:  Sheriff Mike Evans, Major Dave McDowell, DFC Andre Mitchell, Kathy Baker, Carol Benke, Susan Ude and Jo Ann Martin.

PRESS RELEASES FOR AUGUST 31ST, 2015

During the week of August 24 through August 30 deputies of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1,420 calls for service throughout the community. 

Citizens with information on the following crimes 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, or call 410-535-2880.  Information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect could result in a $1,000 reward.

Theft Case #15-46617:

A blue and white paddle boat worth $600 was stolen from a pier behind a home on Kings Road in St. Leonard between August 17 and 25.  Dep. G. Gott is investigating.

Burglary Case #15-46739:

A homeowner in the 6500 block of 11^th Street in Chesapeake Beach advised Dep. T. Mohler that she found one of her doors open when she returned home on August 24.  It is unclear if entry into the home was made and no items were missing.  The investigation continues.

Burglary Case #15-46719:

Dep. A. Curtin is investigating the burglary of several places of business in the Howlin Building in Dunkirk.  Unknown suspect(s) gained entry by causing $2,310 in damage to the doors of the businesses between August 25 and 26.  Nothing appears to have been stolen.  The investigation is continuing.

Theft Case #15-46795:

Someone stole a blue and white, eighteen foot Nitro Marine Tracker and the silver trailer it was on from the driveway of a home in the 4000 block of Summer City Boulevard in Chesapeake Beach.  The theft occurred between 8:00 p.m. on August 25 and 3:00 p.m. on August 26.  The two items are valued at $20,000.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Dep. B. Pounsberry at 410-535-2800.

Theft from Vehicle Case #15-46981:

A woman advised Dep. T. Mohler that she left her purse in her unlocked vehicle parked outside the 7-11 Convenience Store on Hallowing Point Road in Prince Frederick on August 27 at around 2:00 p.m.  When she returned to her vehicle, her purse was gone.  The purse is described as a purple Gucci bag. 

Theft from Vehicle Case #15-47100:

Unknown suspect(s) rummaged through an unlocked vehicle parked outside a home on Deep Ford Drive in Lusby and stole compact discs and medication.  The theft occurred sometime between August 27 and August 28.  Dep. T. Holt is investigating.

Burglary Case #15-47139:

A home in the 3300 block of St. Leonard Road in Port Republic was burglarized between August 27 and 28 and a McCullock black and yellow chainsaw and a blue electric guitar were stolen.  Approximately $1,000 in damage was done to the home.  Dep. J. Buck is investigating.

Burglary Case #15-47320:

Someone burglarized a shed behind a home in the 2000 block of Brickhouse Road in Dunkirk between August 28 and 29 and stole a gas powered air compressor with a Honda motor and two Homelite weed eaters.  DFC R. Wilson is investigating.

Theft Case #15-47390:

Two black 6x10 Impala Mobile Homes and Travel equipment trailers were stolen from the parking lot of the Grand Rental Station on Creston Lane in Solomons overnight between August 28 and 29.  Dep. R. Weems is handling the investigation.