Charles County
Woman charged with identity theft
On July 7 around 12:50 p.m., Officer A. Dunn with the Charles sheriff’s office responded to CarVault of Waldorf on Crain Highway for the report of someone attempting to purchase a vehicle with a deceased person’s information.
Louisa Michelene Coles, 48, of Washington, D.C., was allegedly walking near the dealership and began to walk away from the front door when officers arrived, charging documents said. The CarVault manager said she attempted to purchase the vehicle using identifying information from someone who had died.
The deceased’s estate attorney reportedly provided officers with a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the deceased’s Maryland driver’s license, documents said.
The decedent’s identity and credit information were allegedly being used to attempt to purchase a Mercedes-Benz SUV valued at over $50,000, a release from the sheriff’s office said.
Coles allegedly charged a credit card $3,622.50 to drive the car off the lot, documents said. The attorney was notified by Truist Bank in regard to the transaction to the deceased’s account and contacted the bank to report the charge as fraudulent.
Coles was charged with felony fraud, felony theft, identity theft and other related offenses.
Officers are working to determine how Coles obtained the decedent’s information and whether she may be involved in additional cases. Anyone with information about this incident or about Coles is asked to contact Officer A. Dunn at 301-609-3282, ext. 0809.
Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers at 1‑866‑411‑TIPS. Tips may also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or through the P3Intel mobile app.
Man charged in countywide theft scheme, narcotics seized
On June 24 at 10:30 a.m., officers with the Charles sheriff’s office arrested David Eugene Gregory, 58, of Waldorf in connection with numerous thefts from home improvement stores, optical shops and other businesses across the county.
Gregory allegedly stole items including lawn mowers, ceiling fans, air purifiers, portable jump starters, eyeglasses and frames, a release from the sheriff’s office said. Officers obtained a warrant for Gregory’s arrest and a search warrant was served at his residence in the 4700 block of Diamond Ridge Lane.
Detectives allegedly recovered a “large quantity of suspected stolen merchandise” including a large amount of clothing, boots, shoes, home goods, lawn equipment and other evidence, the release said.
Two firearms were also recovered. Gregory is prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior felony convictions.
Detectives also reportedly located evidence indicating the presence of drugs, prompting narcotics detectives to respond, the release said. Around $48,000 worth of suspected cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl, as well as cash, was reportedly found.
Gregory was arrested and charged with theft scheme with additional drug and weapons charges pending. On June 25, the court released Gregory from the Charles County Detention Center on a $20,000 bond.
Woman charged with felony assault
On July 17 around 7 p.m., Charles sheriff's officers were dispatched to the Wawa located at 5955 Crain Highway in La Plata for the report of an assault in progress.
The Wawa manager said Catherine Mary Littlejohn, 52, of La Plata entered the store and allegedly made a passing comment to a man’s children about “not moving out of the way,” charging documents said. Littlejohn and the man began arguing when Littlejohn reportedly bumped her chest into the man and spit on him.
Security footage allegedly showed Littlejohn enter the store and say something to the children, documents said. She then walked to the middle refrigerated snack shelves and talked to the man.
The man reportedly walked toward Littlejohn in a "non-aggressive" manner when Littlejohn bumped her chest into his, documents said. The man took a step back, which was also when Littlejohn reportedly spat on him.
While walking Littlejohn to a police vehicle, she reportedly began to yell again, documents said.
She was transported to the Charles County Detention Center. Littlejohn was charged with felony first-degree assault, second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Hyattsville fugitive nabbed
On July 16, officer Luke Smith with the Charles sheriff’s office arrested a 35-year-old man who is wanted on a fugitive warrant in Washington, D.C.
David Latrell Smith II was wanted for threatening to injure or kidnap someone, according to court documents.
Smith is being held without bond and waived extradition. A district court hearing on the fugitive charge is scheduled for Aug. 19.
ILANA WILLIAMS
St. Mary’s County
Pair charged with thefts
On July 15, Deputy Dillon McDaniel of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to a Dollar General store on Mervel Dean Road in Hollywood for the report of a theft of cleaning products.
The alleged thefts were carried out by a man and a woman who fled the scene in a vehicle. McDaniel said a store employee was able to get the vehicle’s tag number and take a picture of the vehicle as it left the scene.
A similar robbery occurred at a Dollar General in Mechanicsville and, again, video surveillance captured images of at least one perpetrator.
Another deputy was able to locate the vehicle at a nearby Wawa convenience store in Charlotte Hall.
The alleged perpetrators were identified a Heinar S. Capati, 46, of Fort Washington and Kimberlee Alexandria Huerta, 23, of Alexandria, Va.
McDaniel said in court documents that surveillance video showed Huerta enter the stores about the time the thefts occurred. The total value of the merchandise taken from the two stores combined was just under $220. All of the stolen merchandise was recovered.
During the investigation it was learned the vehicle the two had traveled in was bearing a license tag that was reportedly stolen in Montgomery County.
In addition to the merchandise, a search of the vehicle yielded a quantity of suspected cocaine, a smoking device and scales.
Deputy Nathaniel Morrison arrested Huerta on an unrelated fugitive charge. Court records show Huerta is wanted in Fairfax County, Va., for failure to appear in court on a felony possession of drugs charge.
Capati was charged with misdemeanor theft scheme, three counts of theft, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released the following day after posting $1,000 bond.
Huerta was charged with misdemeanor theft scheme, two counts of theft, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. She had posted $5,000 bond and was released but re-incarcerated after authorities learned of her fugitive charge.
Both Capati and Huerta have district court hearings Sept. 8 on the theft and drug possession charges.
Chaptico man facing charges from two incidents
A 24-year-old Chaptico man is facing charges related to incidents that allegedly occurred June 30 and July 14, according to documents filed by St. Mary’s sheriff’s office deputies.
Deputy Joseph Reppel filed charges against defendant Patrick W. Wood for the alleged taking of a 2003 Honda CRV owned by a Mechanicsville man on July 14. The vehicle was located outside Wood’s home. While speaking with Reppel, Wood admitted to taking the vehicle and not returning it.
A search of Wood yielded a quantity of suspected crack cocaine and a smoking device.
Wood was charged with unlawful motor vehicle taking, unauthorized removal of property, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. He posted $1,500 bond and was released.
Wood was developed as a suspect by Deputy Benjamin Raley, who was investigating a June 30 break-in at a Mechanicsville storehouse. The perpetrator of that incident allegedly stole a crossbow valued a $1,500 and destroyed a window to a door.
On July 17, when Wood was arrested and charged with the alleged break-in, a search resulted in the discovery of quantities of suspected suboxone, suspected crac