Funds for fire departments

U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) last week voted to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration along with funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response programs for the next several years. These grant programs provide funding directly to fire departments to purchase essential equipment, hire more trained frontline firefighters, develop training and education programs, and more. Together, these programs have delivered over $150 million to support the needs of local fire departments and agencies across Maryland since 2015.

AFG and SAFER grant awards for Maryland fire departments include the following on the Eastern Shore:

• $46,666.66 for the Eldorado Brookview Volunteer Fire Department in Dorchester County to install a new cascade air station
• $117,323.80 for Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department in Kent County to replace Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
• $49,936.19 for the Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of Chesapeake City in Cecil County to replace fire hoses
• $92,125.00 for the Berlin Fire Company in Worcester County for firefighter recruitment and retention activities
• $178,285.71 for the Community Fire Company of Millington in Kent County to replace SCBA

Assault

On April 14, at approximately 11:47 a.m., Cambridge Police Department officers located a 46-year-old Cambridge resident in the 900 block of Camelia Street. Kenayda Lane was charged with assault second degree.

Charges stem from an incident that occurred March 22 in the 900 block of Camelia Street, when the victim reported being slapped in the face by Lane.

Burglary

On April 14, at approximately 12:15 p.m., CPD officers located a 33-year-old Preston man in the 2700 block of Ocean Gateway. Brooks Michael Campbell was charged with:

• burglary fourth degree theft (two counts)
• theft less than $100 value (two counts)

Charges stem from a shoplifting incident that occurred April 10 at Walmart. The suspect was observed entering Walmart on two occasions that day, taking laundry detergent and allegedly leaving the store without paying for the items both times, worth $70.76. Walmart Asset Protection Officers applied for charges against Campbell.

Threat of arson

On April 14 at approximately 10:12 p.m., CPD officers met with a victim who reported that a 33-year-old Cambridge woman had gone to a residence in the 700 block of Lincoln Ter and was threatening to burn the house down with people inside. The suspect was located April 15 at approximately 12:08 a.m. in the 700 block of High Street, where she was arrested. Pamela Lickiese Reynolds was charged with threat of arson.

Assault

On April 14, at approximately 10:29 p.m., CPD officers met with a 34-year-old Cambridge woman. Shantere Tomesha Johnsonwas charged with assault second degree.

Charges stem from an incident that allegedly occurred April 14, when the victim reported being chased by the suspect multiple times throughout Cambridge. The victim also reported being assaulted by the suspect. The victim applied for charges at the Court Commissioner where a criminal summons was issued.

Assault

On April 14, at approximately 10:29 p.m., CPD officers met with a 34-year-old Cambridge woman. Shantere Tomesha Johnson was arrested and charged with:

• assault first degree
• assault second degree
• reckless endangerment

Charges stem from an incident that occurred April 14 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Race Street. The victim reported trying to break up a fight between Johnson and another person, when Johnson then attempted to hit the victim with her car and pulled out a razor blade making threats to cut the victim.

Assault

On April 16 at approximately 9:40 p.m., a CPD officer on patrol in the area 700 block of Weaver Street was waved down by a subject stating they had just been assaulted by being slammed to the ground. The victim pointed out the suspect. Both subjects said a physical altercation occurred over car keys.

Demonta Anthony Cephas, 29, of Cambridge, was arrested and charged with assault second degree.

DUI

On April 17, at approximately 1:23 a.m., CPD officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 400 block of Washington Street for crossing the center line. The driver, a 48-year-old Cambridge man, said he had consumed alcoholic beverages. He did not pass a field sobriety test. Robert Alexander Thomas was charged with the following:

• fail drive right of center
• driving vehicle on highway with an expired license
• driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
• driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol per se
• driving vehicle while impaired by alcohol

Thomas was also served the following warrants:

• Warrant #1: Dorchester County District Court Bench Warrant for failure to appear in court on May 3, 2021, on an original charge of disturbing the peace.
• Warrant #2: Dorchester County District Court Bench Warrant for failure to appear in court on May 3, 2021, for disorderly conduct.
• Warrant #3: Dorchester County District Court Bench Warrant for failure to appear in court on May 3, 2021, for fail to obey lawful order.

Assault/CDS/weapon violation

On April 17, Cambridge police responded to the 600 block of Douglas Street for a report of drug violations and of a victim being bitten. The victim said the suspect, a 39-year-old Cambridge man, had heroin and a handgun in his vehicle. A search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen from Delaware, along with a large quantity of heroin. The suspect was also found to be prohibited from possessing a handgun. Dwayne Lemont Elliott was arrested and charged with:

• assault second degree
• CDS possession with intent to distribute narcotic (two counts)
• CDS possession not cannabis (heroin)
• loaded handgun in vehicle
• handgun in vehicle
• firearm drug trafficking crime
• firearm use felony/violent crime
• illegal possession ammunition
• regulated firearm illegal possession
• regulated firearm

Reckless endangerment

On April 18, at approximately 7:20 a.m., CPD detectives served multiple warrants on a 22-year-old Cambridge man. Tayshaun Damar Allen was arrested and escorted to processing.

Warrant #1: Dorchester County Circuit Court Arrest Warrant for violation of probation dated Sept. 23, 2022, for an original charge of possession of firearm minor and assault second degree.

Warrant #2: Dorchester County Circuit Court Arrest Warrant for violation of probation dated Sept. 23, 2022, for an original charge of possession of firearm minor.

Warrant #3: Dorchester County District Court Arrest Warrant for the following:

• assault first degree
• assault second degree
• reckless endangerment

Charges stem from a physical altercation on Sept. 16, at approximately 7:40 a.m. in the 600 block of Greenwood Avenue, when Allen allegedly choked and threatened to kill the victim during an argument over household chores.

Assault

On April 18 at approximately 9:53 a.m., CPD officers located a 57-year-old Cambridge man in the 1000 block of Gloria Richardson Circle. Michael Batson was charged with assault second degree.

Charges stem from a physical altercation that occurred April 14, in which victims reported they had been assaulted by being pushed down.

Child porn

On April 18, at approximately 2 p.m., CPD detectives served an arrest warrant on a 30-year-old Easton man. Thomas William Nash was charged with possession of child porn (45 counts).

Charges stem from an incident reported to the Cambridge Police Department on Dec. 24, 2022, that on Dec. 22, 2022, the suspect had inappropriately touched a 5-year-old girl. Through investigation, it was determined that the inappropriate behavior commenced on or about September 2022 through December 2022.

CPD detectives applied for charges with the Court Commissioner on Jan. 27, when an arrest warrant was issued. On Jan. 28, Nash was arrested on the arrest warrant and held at the Dorchester County Department of Corrections no bond. Nash was charged with the following on that warrant:

• sex abuse minor: house/family
• sex abuse minor
• child abuse second degree custodian
• sex offense third degree
• assault second degree

On Feb. 4, CPD officers collected evidence from an electronic device belonging to Nash that contained child pornography. CPD detectives located 60 pornographic photos containing images of female juveniles ranging in age from approximately 2 years old to approximately 15 years old.

Conspiracy assault

On April 18, at approximately 8:30 p.m., CPD officers were in the 1000 block of Cosby Avenue when they observed an 18-year-old man who had an active District Court Arrest Warrant. As officers attempted to contact him to place him under arrest, he attempted to flee, but was quickly detained and arrested.

A large crowd converged on the area where additional law enforcement officers from CPD and allied agencies were requested to respond. Malik Alexander Wilcox was charged with:

• assault first degree
• assault second degree
• conspiracy assault first degree
• reckless endangerment
• false imprisonment

Charges stem from a physical altercation that occurred March 31 at approximately 3:23 p.m. in the 700 block of Greenwood Avenue. The 13-year-old juvenile victim reported being assaulted by three other juveniles, while the suspect held him down and told the others to kick him in the head.

CPD also completed juvenile referrals on the three other male juveniles, one being 13 years old and the others 12. The juveniles will be charged with the following:

• assault first degree
• assault second degree
• reckless endangerment
• false imprisonment

Robbery

On April 20 at approximately 12:03 a.m., CPD officers responded to the Exxon gas station in the 300 block of Sunburst Highway in reference to a robbery that had just occurred. The suspect is described as:

• Male subject wearing a white/cream colored zippered fleece pull over with black colored material on the front upper chest/shoulder portion
• Black shoes
• Black gloves
• Red bandana covering the face
• Gray colored pants with black markings above and below the knees on the front and the back of the knee
• White shirt under fleece that was sticking out below the fleece

There was never a gun physically displayed or observed. This is an ongoing investigation. The Cambridge Police Department is asking any witnesses to contact the CPD Criminal Investigation Division at 410-228-3333. Any callers can remain anonymous.