Police briefs

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

This activity report is provided by the Charles County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal as a public service to the community and is not a complete listing of all events and crime reported.

Man charged in July bank robbery

A Washington, D.C., man was arrested Nov. 2 and charged with helping two accomplices rob a Waldorf bank earlier this year, according to police.

On July 10, Keishon Lamar Bethea, 25, allegedly entered the Chevy Chase Bank at 1130 Smallwood Drive with two other people and passed the teller a threatening note demanding money, police reported.

The teller handed over cash, and the three robbers ran away.

Based on a tip and evidence found at the bank, detectives identified Bethea as one of the robbers and arrested him, according to police. He was charged with robbery and was being held at the Charles County jail. The remaining suspects haven't been identified, according to police.

Anyone with additional information should call detective S. Fetterolf at 301-609-6497.

Cell phone stolen in Waldorf robbery

Several robbers took a cell phone and music player in a Nov. 15 incident in Waldorf, police reported.

At 7:25 p.m., sheriff's officers went to the 11900 block of Acton Lane after someone reported a strong-arm robbery. A preliminary investigation indicated the victim was walking in the area when several people approached, pushed him to the ground and robbed him.

Officer D. Major is investigating.

Officer's car vandalized

Someone threw a glass bottle through the rear window of a police car that was parked in a private driveway in Waldorf on Nov. 14.

The vandalism happened between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Cocaine found on Bryans Road man, police say

A complaint of gambling in Indian Head drew sheriff's officers to a playground near Jameson Court on Nov. 14, according to police.

When officers arrived at about 4:16 p.m., a man ran away, but was caught within a short distance, police reported.

In his pocket, officers allegedly found two bags of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of $700.

The man, Darrell Darnell Jackson, 24, of Bryans Road, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Officer D. Willis made the arrest.

North Point students charged with drug possession

Three North Point High School students were charged with drug possession after officers received a tip on Nov. 13 that one of them had offered to sell marijuana to other teens, according to police.

At 12:30 p.m., a sheriff's office school resource officer assigned to the school heard through the Crime Solvers program that a student had marijuana and offered to sell the drugs, according to police. With help from school administrators, the student was found to have four small baggies of marijuana, police reported. Further investigation showed he sold drugs to two other students the previous day, according to police.

As a result of the investigation, three students were charged with possession of drugs.

Officer C. Cusmano handled the investigation.

Armed man steals money in Indian Head robbery

Sheriff's officers are looking for a man who robbed an employee at an Indian Head business Nov. 13.

Officers went to Thrifty Wash at 4360 Indian Head Highway at 1:55 p.m. after someone reported a robbery.

A man entered the business, showed a handgun and walked up to an employee who was in a back office, according to police.

The robber picked up a cash register, threw it to the ground, stole money and fled. The victim, who wasn't injured, called police.

The man is described as black, between 30 and 40. He had a chipped front tooth and was wearing a black cap and dark clothing.

He drove away in a light brown or tan full-sized pickup truck with tinted windows.

Officer M. Beall is investigating.

Thieves enter home by making hole in ceiling

Burglars stole two televisions from a Waldorf apartment after kicking a hole in the ceiling of the residence Nov. 12, according to police.

At 8:10 p.m., officers responded to the 6000 block of New Forest Court in Waldorf after someone reported a burglary. The burglars entered the victim's apartment by going through the roof and making a hole in the ceiling, according to police. They stole the televisions and other electronics.

Camping trailer destroyed in accidental fire

A refrigerator malfunction ignited a fire that destroyed an unoccupied camping trailer in Port Tobacco on Nov. 16, according to authorities.

The fire started inside the kitchen of the trailer at the Port Tobacco Waterfront RV Resort and was discovered by a neighbor at 3:36 p.m.

Twenty firefighters with the La Plata, Marbury, Potomac Heights and Bryans Road volunteer fire departments put out the fire in about five minutes, stated the report by deputy state fire marshals. The camper on Shirley Boulevard was used by its owners as a resort residence. The blaze caused about $15,000 in damage.

Cigarette sparks fire

A second camping trailer fire started because of an improperly discarded cigarette on Nov. 17, stated a report.

The owner of the La Plata property where the trailer was being stored reported the blaze to authorities at 9:57 a.m., reported the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire caused about $500 in damage to the camper, where a migrant worker was living, according to the report. Members of the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department responded to the property on Rose Hill Road, and the fire was determined to be accidental.

Waldorf man arrested on warrant

At about 11:43 a.m. Nov. 11, trooper D. Ellington went to Arby's restaurant in Waldorf to serve an outstanding warrant on Jerry Allen Bradshaw Jr., 25, of Waldorf. Ellington contacted Bradshaw and arrested him, according to state police. Bradshaw was also charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

To report crimes

Citizens with information about crimes in Charles County can provide it anonymously by calling the Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS.

A reward is offered in some cases for any tip that leads to the arrest or indictment of a suspect.