Police briefs

Friday, Jan. 1, 2010

7th District burglary suspect jailed

A judge ordered this week that James E. Bowles, 50, of Avenue remain jailed without bond on an indictment charging him with first-degree burglary and related misdemeanor offenses of theft and property destruction.

Grand jurors filed the charging papers alleging that Bowles broke into Joyce G. Donaldson's home in Avenue last April, caused more than $500 damage and stole property valued at less than $500.

St. Mary's Assistant State's Attorney James Tanavage said at Bowles' bond hearing this week that the suspect already has another recent burglary charge. Court papers state that case is scheduled for trial later this month.

"Mr. Bowles is a suspect in numerous burglaries in the 7th District area," Tanavage said during the court proceeding.

Pair charged in false report of robbery

Sharon Marie Milburn, 47, and John J. Greenwell, 51, both of Great Mills, were released this week on personal recognizance after their arrest on charging papers alleging they made a false report to police.

Milburn told sheriff's deputies early Monday morning that she was standing by her vehicle at Chesapeake Cab Inc. in Lexington Park when someone grabbed her purse, court papers state, and she told the officers that Greenwell chased after the culprit. Milburn told police that her purse held $500 belonging to the cab company from her fares collected over four days.

Greenwell returned to the scene and gave police a description of the culprit and where he was running, court papers state. Four law officers continued their investigation of the incident for an hour before they were told that it never occurred.

"Milburn stated she spent her employer's money on Christmas presents and food and was afraid to tell her boss, and that is why she lied about being robbed," sheriff's deputy Keith Moritz wrote in a statement of probable cause.

Milburn also was charged with stealing the $500 from the cab company.

Man charged with threatening to burn hospital

Christopher Scott Lacey, 24, of Lexington Park remained jailed in lieu of 10 percent of $5,000 bond after a court hearing Monday on charging papers alleging he threatened last week to set fire to St. Mary's Hospital.

Lacey also was charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication, in court papers alleging he was screaming and kicking a bed at the hospital on Dec. 23 when police arrived.

Lacey had arrived in an ambulance at the hospital, where he complained of a toothache and a cough, according to court papers filed by Trooper J.G. Fleetwood of the Maryland State Police. Lacey was "obviously very intoxicated," charging papers state, and he was taken from the hospital to the county jail.

Reward offered in probe of mail theft

Law officers in St. Mary's are seeking the public's help through the county Crime Solvers program in their probe of the theft of a package of clothes on Dec. 23 from a mailbox on Maddox Road in Bushwood.

Citizens with information about this case and other crimes in St. Mary's County can collect a cash reward by calling Crime Solvers 24 hours a day at 301-475-3333. They can withhold their name and later collect their reward through a number-identification system. Contributions to the Crime Solvers reward fund can be mailed to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, Crime Solvers Division, P.O. Box 275, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. Contributions to the fund are tax deductible.

JOHN WHARTON