Jenkins appointed advocate

Leaders at the Cambridge Police Department last week announced the appointment of Montre Jenkins as the first civilian/citizen advocate. A statement from the CPD said, “As we are a community-oriented police agency, we strive to bridge the gap for better community and police relations. We welcome Mr. Jenkins to our staff.”

Woman shot

On March 2, deputies from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office responded to 4719 Petersburg Road, Hurlock, for a reported shooting following a dispute over money. They located a black female suffering gunshot wounds to both legs. The victim was transported to Tidal Health Peninsula Regional Hospital for treatment.

The victim identified a 23-year-old Hurlock woman as the suspect. She was taken into custody in Salisbury on March 6.

Jamaya Nicole Conaway has been charged with:

• Armed robbery
• Robbery
• Reckless endangerment
• Carrying a loaded handgun
• Carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle
• Wearing a loaded handgun
• Transporting a loaded handgun
• Assault

The suspect was ordered held without bond. The Capital Area Fugitive Task Force assisted

in the capture of the suspect.

Shots fired

On March 2, at approximately 8:22 p.m., Cambridge Police Department officers responded to the 600 and 700 blocks of Bradley Avenue in reference to multiple “Shot Spotter” alerts.

Officers did not locate any victims in the area but did recover multiple spent shell casings. CPD officers never received any calls about victims who had been injured or had damage done to their property.

CPD is asking for any witnesses to the incident to contact the Cambridge Police Department at 410-228-3333. Witnesses may remain anonymous.

Resisting arrest

On March 4 at approximately 3:25 p.m., CPD officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Washington Street for a hit and run accident. While enroute to the area, one officer observed vehicle parts that matched the description of the suspect vehicle in the area of Washington Street and Greenwood Avenue.

At the same time, the Dorchester County Emergency Operations Center received another call for a hit and run at Washington Street and Greenwood Avenue. A vehicle description was given which matched that of the first incident.

Officers canvassing the area located the suspect vehicle in the 700 block of Alex Way. At approximately 3:50 p.m., officers were also dispatched to the 2300 block of Hudson Road for a report of a stolen vehicle.

They contacted the victim, who was the owner of the suspect vehicle in the hit and run collisions. The victim attempted to report that his vehicle had been stolen while he was warming it up. Due to inconsistency in the story provided by the vehicle’s owner, officers were preparing to have the vehicle towed for further investigation.

The owner then came to where the vehicle was located and was preventing the tow company from removing it. Officers gave the subject multiple commands to cease his actions and move from the area, which he refused.

Officers then attempted to arrest the subject who resisted and refused commands, a statement from the CPD said. The subject was subsequently arrested and transported to CPD for processing.

Willard Darryl Harris Jr., 31 years old of Cambridge, had his initial appearance before a court commissioner and was turned over to the Dorchester County Department of Corrections on $1,500 bond.

Harris was charged with the following:

• Obstructing and hindering
• Resist arrest
• Fail to obey lawful order

This investigation is continuing, and additional charges may be pending.

Teens resist arrest

On March 6 at approximately 3:01 p.m., CPD officers responded to the Foxtail Conifer Village in reference to a report of juveniles fighting in the area.

Juvenile #1 was identified as a 15-year-old male and juvenile #2 was identified as a 16-year-old male, both from Cambridge. Both were referred to the Department of Juvenile Services and released to a parent/guardian. Juvenile #1 was charged with the following:

• Tobacco violation
• Resist arrest
• Obstructing and hindering

Juvenile #2 was charged with the following:

• Tobacco violation
• Resist/interfere with arrest
• Obstructing and hindering
• Possession of cannabis in the personal amount

Contractor without license

On March 8 at approximately 6:55 p.m., CPD officers arrested a 44-year-old Cambridge man in the 700 block of Peachblossom Avenue.

Richard Allen Moore was charged with the following:

• Theft $25,000 to under $100,000
• Fail to perform contract
• Act as contractor without license (2 counts)

Charges stem from a complaint reported to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. It was reported to MHIC that on July 1, 2021, Moore agreed to conduct a home improvement to the victim in the amount of $27,000.

The victim paid Moore $25,000 for the home improvement. As of May 24, 2022, the home improvement was not completed, and Moore refused to complete it, Cambridge police said. MHIC completed an application of charges with the court commissioner, who issued an arrest warrant.

Vehicle thefts

Between March 5 and 9, the Cambridge Police Department took multiple reports of motor vehicle thefts. In all the reported incidents, the vehicle was left running and unlocked.

Vehicle thefts are a crime of opportunity, and it is very important that owners/operators do not leave them running, police said. Operators who leave vehicles running unsecured can be issued a traffic citation for leaving the vehicle running unattended in a public place.

Among the recent thefts was an incident reported on March 8, at approximately 7:04 p.m. from the 300 block of Sunburst Highway, when the victim entered a restaurant to pick up an order, leaving the car running. The vehicle was last reported leaving from the theft location traveling onto Cedar Street and making a right onto Dorchester Avenue.

CPD units spotted the vehicle in the area of Henry Street and Hayward Street. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of Church Street and High Street.

The occupants attempted to elude officers, who pursued the vehicle a short distance until it stopped in the 200 block of Glenburn Avenue.

The two occupants were detained and transported to CPD for processing. They were the driver, a 12-year-old male, and the passenger, a 13-year-old male, both from Cambridge.

Due to juvenile reform laws passed by the 2022 state legislature, the 12-year-old juvenile could not be charged with a crime and was released to a parent/guardian without any repercussions.

The 13-year-old juvenile was referred to the Department of Juvenile Services and released to a parent/guardian. He has been charged with the following:

• Motor vehicle unlawful taking
• Conspiracy motor vehicle unlawful taking
• Rogue and vagabond
• Conspiracy rogue and vagabond
• Theft $1,500 to under $25,000
• Conspiracy theft $1,500 to under $25,000
• Unauthorized removal of property
• Conspiracy unauthorized removal of property

Then on March 9 at approximately 2:51 a.m., Cambridge police received a report of an attempted vehicle theft in the 600 block of Carlton Court. The victim reported seeing four juveniles entering the vehicle, a black 2009 Ford Fusion.

“It should be noted that the victim had the same vehicle stolen on March 5, when the vehicle was recovered by CPD, but the keys were not recovered,” a statement from the CPD said.

Officers canvassed the area in attempt to locate the suspects but were unable to at that time. Through investigation by CPD officers and evidence from the previous time that the vehicle was stolen and recent encounters with juveniles in a recovered stolen vehicle on March 8, one of the suspects may be the 12-year-old that could not be charged due to newer enacted juvenile reform laws passed in 2022 legislature. This investigation is continuing.