Caroline County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office is receiving complaints from citizens regarding people calling and representing themselves as a sheriff’s deputy and stating that they have warrants on them. In addition, the scammers are asking for the person they are calling to pay a fine over the phone with a green dot card or other payment card platform to get rid of the warrants.
“The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office will not ask for you to pay a fine over the phone using a payment card,” a statement from the office said. “This is a scam.”
Oftentimes, the people who call you to scam are using phones over the internet and are not even in the country.
“Do not agree to this and contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-479-2515 to corroborate if you do or do not have a warrant,” the statement said. “A deputy will help you get the true information.”

Maryland State Police
To keep state employees and the customers they serve safe, a temporary suspension of in-person service operations at applicable state facilities began Dec. 21 and will continue through Jan. 3, 2021. For further details, visit mdsp.maryland.gov.

Fire at 406 Pine St.
On Dec. 16, at 4:17 p.m., the volunteers of Cambridge Rescue Fire Company Inc. were dispatched to 406 Pine St. in Cambridge, in response to a report of electrical odor. Before the first unit arrived, Dorchester Central upgraded the assignment to a structure fire and added additional units to the call.
The building, a two and a half story single family residential dwelling, had nothing evident from the front, but further investigation revealed smoke from the eaves on the right side of the house. Engine 1-3 advanced a 24-foot ladder and 1¾-inch attack line to the right side of the house.
Other units assisted with fire attack, overhaul, and clean up. At 5:30P p.m., with the situation under control, command was terminated and all units were placed in service without incident.
Twenty volunteers from Rescue Fire Company Inc. responded to this incident. Mutual aid was provided by Cambridge Police Department, Dorchester County Emergency Medical Services paramedic 101 (Cambridge), Station 46 (Church Creek) Rescue Engine 46-1, Station 61 (Linkwood-Salem), Station 21 (East New Market), Station 6 (Hurlock) and Delmarva Power.
This report is courtesy of RFC Firefighter Kevin Carr.

Heroin and cocaine
The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Team (CAT) conducted a drug investigation into individuals suspected of selling heroin and fentanyl from a hotel in the 2600 block of North Salisbury Boulevard. Police conducted a traffic stop on Dec. 2 on one of the targets as he was leaving the hotel.
A K-9 scan was conducted and the K-9 alerted to the odor of controlled dangerous substances emitting from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of an amount of cocaine indicative of distribution, an amount of heroin/fentanyl indicative of distribution, along with packaging material. The man was placed under arrest and transported to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.
As a result of the aforementioned investigation, a search and seizure warrant was subsequently authored and executed on the hotel room. Detectives conducted a thorough and systematic search of the room that resulted in the recovery of an amount of heroin/fentanyl that was indicative of distribution, packaging material, and digital scales.
A woman was arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Office for processing. She was charged with possession with the intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl and other related CDS charges.
Charges:
James Paul Marshall — Possession with the intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl, Possession with the intent to distribute heroin, Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, Possession of heroin, Possession of fentanyl, Possession of cocaine, Possession of Alprazolam and Possession of controlled paraphernalia
Jacqueline Christine Bratten — Possession with the intent to distribute heroin/ fentanyl, Possession with intent to distribute heroin, Possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, Maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of narcotic, Maintaining a common nuisance for administering a narcotic, Possession of controlled paraphernalia, Possession of heroin, Possession of cocaine and Possession of fentanyl

Talbot County Sheriff’s Office
The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shot fired into an occupied residence that occurred during the early morning hours of Dec. 13 in the area of Kingston Landing Road. The bullet penetrated into the residence and missed entering one of the children’s bedrooms by approximately one foot. If you have any information about this incident please contact Detective Faggert at (443)-786-0016 or sfaggert@talbotcountymd.gov.

Controlled Dangerous Substance
Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Deputy Betts responded to the Taco Bell located in the Kent Town Market, in Chester, on Dec. 10 at 6:06 p.m. for a report of found Controlled Dangerous Substance in the bathroom. The caller advised that they located a spoon, syringes, and a wallet, on the urinal.
Upon arrival, Deputy Betts noticed a subject that appeared to be sleeping in a vehicle and after further investigation it was revealed that the identification inside the wallet found on the urinal, matched that of the suspect inside the vehicle. Initially the suspect, a 26-year-old of Stevensville man, provided a fictitious name.
After a warrant check of the suspect, it was revealed that he had an extraditable warrant from Virginia. A search incident to arrest revealed that the man had in his possession suspected heroin in powder and gel capsule form and prescription pills that were not in the original container.
Christopher J. Lagasse was transported to the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff for processing, later taken to the District Court Commissioner where he was held pending a hearing, and thus taken to the county Detention Center. He was charged with: Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance Not Marijuana (opium/cocaine); Possession of Paraphernalia; Possession of Non-Prescribed Medication; Rogue and Vagabond; 4th Degree Burglary: Possession of burglary tools; Fraud – Personal Identity to Avoid Prosecution. Deputy Betts prepared an Application of Charges for the recovered Controlled Dangerous Substance.

Frosh and ‘ghost guns’
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced last week that he had joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general urging the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to compel the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to properly regulate untraceable, partially-assembled “ghost guns.” In an amicus brief filed in Syracuse v. ATF, the coalition asserts that the ATF must correct its unlawful 2015 interpretation of the Gun Control Act (GCA).
The Attorneys General argue that ATF’s improper reading of the GCA effectively gave the green light for unlicensed online retailers to sell nearly-complete firearms that can easily be converted into fully-functioning weapons. They further argue that these ghost guns endanger residents of amici states and impede law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute criminal activity.
“Federal law and Maryland law require that guns, including ghost guns, have serial numbers. They require purchasers to undergo background checks,” said Attorney General Frosh. “The ATF’s interpretation of the law allows criminals who cannot pass a background check to obtain untraceable firearms. It is a flat out danger to law-abiding Americans.”
From the 1980s through the early 2000s, ATF classified the core components of handguns and rifles – frames and receivers – as “firearms” subject to federal regulation if the components could be quickly and easily converted into functioning guns. In 2015, the ATF reversed course. Without offering any explanation for changing its position, ATF issued an interpretive rule stating that these rifle receivers and handgun frames were not considered firearms.

Car kicker
On Dec. 12, Easton Police Department officers received a report of a male subject in the area of Ocean Gateway and the north end of the bypass attempting to kick vehicles as they drove by. Officers responded to the area and were unable to locate the subject. A short time later, officers responded to 9017 Centreville Road for an alarm. When officers arrived on scene, they were flagged down by a motorist on Centreville Rd who advised that there was a male subject yelling at vehicles as they passed by, demanding they give him a ride. As officers checked the building where the alarm was going off a male subject approached them on foot. Investigation revealed that a 53-year-old man from Edgewater, was intoxicated. Further investigation revealed that the man was suspected of throwing a large log at the door of the building in an attempt to set the alarm off to gain attention, and get a ride.
The man told officers that he had been on Ocean Gateway prior to that, attempting to get vehicles to stop and give him a ride, a statement from the Easton PD said. Timothy O’Brien was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, intoxicated public disturbance, intentional false alarm, and hindering passage.

Malicious destruction
A 25-year-old Easton man has been charged in connection with an incident that occurred on Nov. 14 in the area of the 200 block of Brookwood Avenue in Easton. According to Easton police, the man allegedly destroyed several pairs of shoes, a purse, a Roku TV, a couch, a set of blinds, and one kitchen knife that belonged to a 25-year-old woman. He also took two floor lamps and a PlayStation 5 belonging to the woman’s child.
O’Shea Jamarr Moore was arrested on Dec. 13 for a warrant that charged him with one count of Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,000 Value, and Theft $100-1,500 Value.

Marijuana and handgun
On Dec. 7, Easton Police Department officers where in the area of Port Street and Meadow Drive when they observed a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle was stopped and, upon making contact with the occupants, a probable cause search was conducted.
The passenger, a 21-year-old Easton man, was searched and the result of that search resulted in the recovery of a loaded handgun and an amount of suspect marijuana that was determined to be packaged in such a way and in large enough quantity to be meant for sale at the street level.
No other contraband was found in the search and the driver was permitted to leave upon the issuance of a citation. Jahza Molik Barney was taken into custody and transported to Central Booking. Barney was charged with:
Possession with intent to Distribute Marijuana
Possession of Marijuana more than 10 grams
Handgun in vehicle
Loaded handgun on Person
Wear and carry concealed loaded Handgun on person
Use of a handgun in a felony
CDS distribution ect. With a handgun
Illegal possession of a regulated firearm

Drunk driving
On Dec. 6, Easton Police Department officers got a report of a vehicle that was struck by another which then left the scene in the area of the Easton Parkway and N. Washington St. While in route, officers received another call for an accident at Ocean Gateway and Black Dog Alley.
Investigation revealed that one vehicle was suspected of causing both accidents. It was found that a 2017 Honda CR-V, driven by a 75-year-old Easton man, had crossed the center line as it was traveling north on the Parkway.
His vehicle struck a 2019 Mercedes GLC, driven by Susan Denton, a 73-year-old from Easton. The Honda continued on the Parkway and then merged onto west bound Ocean Gateway.
The vehicle attempted to stop at the light at Black Dog Alley, but struck a 2005 GMC C2500, driven by Daniel Fabula, a 54-year-old from Frederick. No injuries were reported in either accident. The Honda was eventually towed by Candels Towing.
During the investigation, officers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the man’s breath. “It was obvious to officers that he was unable to perform standardized field sobriety tests and he refused a breath test,” a statement from the department said. The man was placed under arrest. He was later taken to the University Medical Center in Easton for an unrelated event.
Lou Satchell was charged with driving under the influence, driving while impaired by alcohol, reckless driving, negligent driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failing to drive on the right side of the roadway. He was released after his acceptance of his citations.

Public’s help sought
The Easton Police Department is seeking information related to a burglary that occurred during the overnight hours of Dec. 14 at Dream Land Entertainment Music Studio, located at 8276 Ocean Gateway, Easton. Information was received that a van was seen on Ocean Gateway in the area of Dream Land Entertainment Music Studio around 4:15-4:45 a.m. that day.
The same van was later observed parked behind the Verizon Store on Ocean Gateway around this same time frame. “If anyone has any information about this Burglary or saw anything suspicious that morning, we are asking you to contact the Easton Police Department Detectives at jreibly@eastonmd.gov or call 443-786-4913,” a statement from the department said. “You can can remain anonymous.”