Police briefs

Friday, July 3, 2009

Preteens charged with setting playground fire

A 10-year-old and a 12-year-old were charged June 29 with setting fire to some rubber matting on the playground at Mary B. Neal Elementary School in Waldorf, according to a report.

The 8:30 p.m. fire caused about $1,000 in damage to the mats.

A sheriff's officer discovered the fire and called deputy state fire marshals, who determined that the young people had ignited sections of the matting using a lighter, according to a report from the state fire marshal's office.

After setting the fire, the young people put out the flames, and no firefighters were sent to the school. The children were charged with malicious burning and malicious destruction of property and were released to the custody of their parents pending further action by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

Break-in nets thieves two packs of cigarettes

Two packs of cigarettes were stolen June 30 in a break-in at a Newburg gas station, according to police.

At 1:45 a.m., officers answered an intrusion alarm at the CITGO station at 11040 Crain Highway. When they arrived, police saw that a window had been broken out of a booth and cigarette packs were scattered in the parking lot.

The owner of the business arrived and determined that two packs of cigarettes had been stolen, according to police.

Officer S. Fulton is investigating.

Bryans Road thefts, robbery investigated

Police are investigating a series of thefts and one robbery near Bryans Road stores on June 29.

At about 5:30 p.m., sheriff's officers went to the Bryans Road Shopping Center at 3100 Marshall Hall Road after hearing there had been multiple thefts from cars, according to police. Investigators found that someone broke into three cars, stole GPS units and drove away in a burgundy Dodge Charger, according to police.

As officers were investigating, they received a call about a robbery outside the Bryans Road Food Lion. In that case, someone grabbed a woman's purse and also drove away in a burgundy vehicle.

The cases appear to be related, police reported.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Charles County Sheriff's Office at 301-932-2222. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 866-41-TIPS. The Charles County Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspects.

Officer J. Johnson is investigating.

Teen charged with breaking into middle school

A 15-year-old boy was arrested June 26 for allegedly breaking into a Waldorf middle school and stealing gift cards and keys, according to police.

At 12:12 a.m., Charles County Sheriff's officers went to Benjamin Stoddert Middle School when a burglar alarm sounded. At the school, officers saw a rear window was broken.

Sheriff's officers used a police dog to search the inside of the school, and as they investigated, they saw someone run through the back door, the report stated. The boy was arrested without incident. The teen from Waldorf was charged with burglary and theft.

Officer S. Weedon is investigating.