Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey said a call from a citizen – combined with excellent patrol work and a determined police K-9 team – helped lead to the arrest of two suspects who had just burglarized a house.
On November 19 at 12 noon, officers were dispatched to a residence in the area of Beechwood Drive in Waldorf after a witness called police to report a burglary in progress at a neighbor’s house.
Pfc. K. Lerch and Officer K. Makle – who were off duty but in the area – responded along with Cpl. J. Murphy, Officer R. Gass and Officer V. Warker who were dispatched to the call. Pfc. Lerch, who was the first officer to arrive on the scene, observed a dark blue Cadillac Escalade parked in the driveway. As Pfc. Lerch exited his car to investigate, the driver of the Cadillac drove off, running over the grass and down Beechwood Drive. The burglary was confirmed, a lookout was broadcast and officers set up perimeters.
The Cadillac continued to Pineview Court where a passenger jumped out of the car and fled on foot. The driver of the getaway car fled to Farmington Woods in Prince George’s County where he bailed out of the car. Officers canvassed both neighborhoods: the Beechwood area for the first suspect and Farmington Woods for the second suspect. Prince George’s County police officers and Maryland Park police officers responded and assisted with the search as well.
Two police K-9 teams responded to Farmington Woods to search for the suspect. Cpl. J. Freeman of the CCSO K-9 Unit assisted Pfc. C. Clevenger and his partner, Eno, in the initial track. Then Pfc. Clevenger and Eno picked up a track that took them to points down south, up steep hills, through numerous ravines, and back north.
After pursuing the scent for nearly a mile, Eno eventually tracked the suspect to the rear of a house on Beechdale Court in Accokeek. As officers approached, they observed the suspect attempting to conceal himself under a small deck. He was arrested without incident by Sgt. J. Elliott and Lt. C. Becker who were assisting in the search.
Pfc. J. Foster, who remained in the area where the burglary occurred, spotted the other suspect on Pineview Court and placed him under arrest without incident.
Evidence linking both suspects to the burglary was recovered from the suspects’ car. Steven Thomas Williams, 24, of Brandywine (the passenger) and Theodore Emmanuel Logan, 23, of District Heights (the driver) were charged with burglary and theft. Other charges are pending. The Criminal Investigations Division is continuing the investigation.
Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,0
