Last week, some alleged car thieves in Maryland unknowingly helped patrol officers by driving crucial evidence right past the police station.
While on patrol in Charles County in Maryland around 1:07 pm on May 16, officers spotted two Hyundais parked in a parking lot. A quick computer check revealed to the police that both cars had been reported as stolen.
The officers attempted to initiate a stop but the suspects fled.
While the officers were pursuing, a 911 call revealed that thieves driving cars matching those described in the stolen vehicle description had just knocked down a business in St. Charles Towne Center.
The suspects allegedly fled a burglary with stolen property and drove to Smallwood Park and Ride where they abandoned the vehicles. The alleged car thieves, two adults, and four minors, were eventually tracked down and apprehended despite their concerted efforts to hide.
The chase may have come to an end, but it appears there were still yet other suspects keen to get caught.
The CCSO indicated that another stolen vehicle pulled up outside the station and dropped off the younger arrestees’ guardian along with two other females, before trundling away.
While the trio of women — Carlisa Monnae Blackeney, 18, and Mahkiyh McQuinn-Woodly, 18, along with a female juvenile — went to take custody of the minors, officers searched the area for the third stolen vehicle, finding it on a nearby street.
The steering column on the vehicle was damaged and the back window had been busted in. According to the sheriff’s office, 19-year-old Anthony Stewart and three additional juveniles were inside when they found the vehicle.
Officers reportedly ordered everyone inside the getaway vehicle to exit, but Stewart allegedly refused to comply and sped off, nearly running over and pinning one of the officers.
According to the sheriff’s department, Stewart drove only a short distance and then abandoned his car. He had not learned anything from Whitaker’s and Alston’s alleged earlier failure. Stewart’s three passengers also piled out, according to the CCSO.
All the car thieves were arrested after a short foot chase.
Stewart was accused of first-degree and second-degree assaults, theft, unauthorized use of a car, and giving a false identity. The CCSO discovered that there were outstanding warrants for Stewart’s arrest.
Three minors, including a 16-year-old male with an active arrest warrant, a 13-year-old girl reported missing in a nearby county, and a third juvenile, were charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Blackeney and McQuinn-Woodly were charged with theft and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, among other charges.
Deshaun Whitaker, 18, and Vincent Lee Alston, 21 of Washington, D.C., have been similarly charged with theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, as well as rogue or vagabond.
Whitaker has been released from the Charles County Detention Center on a $2,000 bond.
Charles County Sheriff’s Office stated that four juveniles who were believed to have been involved in the first police chase had been charged with theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle on a juvenile report.
Neighborhood Scout reported that in Maryland, the odds of being a victim of property crime is 1 in every 63.
