Dorchester police and fire

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Posted 11/30/22

Fisherman’s body found

Maryland Natural Resources Police recovered the body of a missing fisherman on Sunday morning.

Coast Guard crews, along with Natural Resources Police, Maryland …

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Dorchester police and fire

Posted

Fisherman’s body found

Maryland Natural Resources Police recovered the body of a missing fisherman on Sunday morning.

Coast Guard crews, along with Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police Trooper 7 helicopter and Talbot County Fire-Rescue, began searching Saturday evening for Frank Stewart, after Coast Guard watch standers were notified that he had not returned home from his fishing trip.

Mr. Stewart’s 14-foot aluminum boat was located by Coast Guard Station Oxford aground in the marsh in the Choptank River in the vicinity of Oyster Shell Point with the motor down and still running along with fishing gear still in the water.

The investigation is continuing.

Maryland legalizes marijuana

On Nov. 8, Marylanders voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The new law will not take effect immediately.

In the 2022 legislative session, HB 1, which passed, put the legalization question on the November ballot. At the same time, a companion bill passed that stated if the ballot question on legalization passed, then:

  • From Jan. 1 to June 30, 2023, possession of up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana will be a civil offense only.
  • Effective July 1, 2023, adults can possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana legally.
  • A Cannabis Assistance Fund will be established to assist small minority-owned and women-owned businesses to enter the marijuana industry.
  • Past convictions for offenses made legal under the new law will be expunged from people's records.
  • A Community Reinvestment Fund will be established that will allocate 30% of the state proceeds from the sale of marijuana to communities disproportionately harmed by previous marijuana laws.

Reckless driving

On Nov. 21 at approximately 1:28 p.m., Cambridge Police Department officers located a 49-year-old Cambridge man in the 300 block of Willis Street, who was served with a criminal summons and released on his signature.

Charges stem from an incident that occurred Nov. 18 at approximately 7:11 p.m. CPD officers responded to the 100 block of Maryland Avenue for a motor vehicle collision. Investigation revealed that the man had been followed from the Easton area and had been reported to other law enforcement agencies for driving recklessly.

Investigating officers located evidence of alcohol and CDS involvement. The suspect was transported to the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Dorchester for treatment after an accident. CPD officers completed an application of charges with the court commissioner where a criminal summons was issued.

Paul Newton was charged with the following:

  • Driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
  • Driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol per se
  • Driver consuming alcoholic beverage in passenger area of motor vehicle
  • Driving vehicle while so far impaired by drugs, drugs and alcohol cannot drive safely
  • Reckless driving
  • Negligent driving

Hundreds of theft, fraud charges

On Nov. 21, at approximately 9:40 pm, Cambridge Police Department detectives located a 22-year-old Cambridge woman in the 800 block of Noble Street, where she was arrested on an active arrest warrant and transported to CPD for processing.

Jayonna Best was charged with:

  • (81 counts) Use/disclose credit card
  • (29 counts) Credit card personation less than $100
  • (1 count) Credit card another charge less than $100
  • (26 counts) Theft less than $100
  • (5 counts) Theft scheme $1,500 to under $25,000
  • (5 counts) Fraud ID info theft $1,500 to under $25,000
  • (5 counts) Credit card another charge $1,500 to under $25,000
  • (49 counts) Credit card personation $100 to under $1,500
  • (49 counts) Theft $100 to under $1,500
  • (4 counts) Theft scheme $100 to under $1,500
  • (3 counts) Credit card personation $1,500 to under $25,000
  • (3 counts) Theft $1,500 to under $25,000
  • (4 counts) Fraud ID info theft $100 to under $1,500
  • (4 counts) Credit card another charge $100 to under 1,500
  • (1 count) Theft scheme $25,000 to under $100,000
  • (1 count) Fraud ID info theft $25,000 to under $100,000

Best had her initial appearance before a court commissioner and was released on an unsecured bond.

Charges stem from an investigation that the CPD Criminal Investigations Division began on Sept. 7. Through the investigation, CPD detectives identified Best as a suspect. Further investigation revealed that Best was previously employed by Your Doc’s In located in Cambridge where she was working in the capacity of a patient care representative and was responsible for checking in patients, which included taking payment for services.

Best was previously arrested on Sept. 28, when she was charged with 120 counts of theft and fraud that stemmed from two separate incidents. A press release was issued by CPD on Sept. 28 regarding the case, in which police also asked additional victims to contact the Cambridge Police Department Criminal Investigation Division.

Since that press release, 38 other victims have come forward with more than $80,000 of merchandise and services stolen from May 2021 through September 2022. 

Detectives are still looking for additional victims who have had their bank accounts compromised with unauthorized purchases after using their cards at either Your Doc’s In in Cambridge or Walgreens in Cambridge from 2021 through September of 2022.

This investigation is ongoing, and more charges are pending. Contact Detective R. Clark at 410-228-3333 ext. 1221.

Talbot burglaries

The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a St. Michaels man for allegedly committing several burglaries in the Royal Oak area.

On Nov. 21, deputies responded to the 6800 block of Hopkins Neck Road for a burglary in progress. The homeowner arrived home shortly after 4 p.m. and found a truck parked next to the house.

The homeowner observed an unknown individual exiting the residence with property. The unknown individual entered the truck and left the area. Deputies with the Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Division responded to the residence and began an investigation.

While at the Hopkins Neck Road address processing the scene, deputies were dispatched to the 25000 block of Edgeview Road in Royal Oak for a burglary in progress. The homeowner reported that he believed someone had entered his detached garage.

Deputies and troopers with the Maryland State Police surrounded the garage and gave commands to anyone inside to make himself known. An individual made his presence known and deputies safely took him into custody.

Kenneth W. Vollmerhausen, 38, was charged with charged with multiple counts of first- and second-degree burglary, felony theft, firearms violations and destruction of property for the incidents on Hopkins Neck Road and Edgeview Road. He was transported to Talbot County Central Booking where he was seen by a District Court commissioner and held without bond. Vollmerhausen had a bail review in Talbot County District Court on Nov. 23, and the judge continued his bond.

Anyone with information regarding these investigations is asked to contact the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office at 410-822-1020.     

Vehicle thefts

Recently, there has been an increase in vehicle thefts in Cambridge. As the weather becomes colder, citizens are turning their vehicles on to warm them up and leaving them running unoccupied or pulling up to locations and leaving their vehicle running while they run into a store or residence.

Cambridge police are reminding citizens not to leave their vehicles running unoccupied, as it does not take long for a subject to take a vehicle. Incidents such as these have occurred in the Leonards Lane and Greenwood Avenue areas.

Anyone who observes suspicious activity or subjects is asked to contact the Cambridge Police Department at 410-228-3333.

Hurlock vehicle theft

The Hurlock Police Department reported that on Nov. 23, at approximately 10:15 p.m., a patron stopped at Shop Stop and left their vehicle running while they went inside the store. Within seconds, a perpetrator arrived via a second vehicle, entered the running vehicle and fled the scene.

Citizens are asked not to leave vehicles running and unattended. They are also asked to lock vehicles at all times, as the town continues to have sporadic incidents in which unlocked vehicles are being ransacked.

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