Goodbye Hug Turns Into Criminal Charges For Prince Frederick Woman

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — A Prince Frederick woman is facing criminal charges after Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies alleged she interfered with the arrest of a man wanted on an outstanding St. Mary’s County warrant before fleeing from deputies and being tackled following a brief foot pursuit, according to court documents.

On June 30, 2026, Alyssa Renee Coontz, 28, of Prince Frederick, was charged in the District Court for Calvert County with obstructing and hindering and resisting or interfering with arrest.

According to a statement of probable cause filed by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence in the 300 block of Fairground Road in Prince Frederick at approximately 9:30 p.m. June 30 to serve an active bench warrant on Terrell Devonte Atkins, who was wanted in St. Mary’s County for allegedly failing to appear in court on a charge of driving without a license.

Court documents state deputies confirmed the warrant was valid and placed Atkins under arrest without incident before preparing to transport him to the Calvert County Detention Center.

Investigators allege Atkins requested permission to say goodbye to his girlfriend, Coontz, before being taken into custody. Deputies allowed the two to embrace, but according to charging documents, the goodbye continued for approximately 40 seconds, with the pair hugging and kissing.

The report states deputies repeatedly instructed Coontz to release Atkins so they could complete the arrest and transport him to the detention center. Authorities allege Coontz ignored multiple commands and continued holding onto Atkins despite being warned she could be arrested if she refused to let go.

According to the charging documents, deputies concluded Coontz was obstructing and hindering law enforcement by allegedly preventing them from taking Atkins into custody. Deputies then attempted to separate the pair by physically removing Coontz’s arms from around Atkins.

Investigators allege that after deputies informed Coontz she was under arrest, she pulled away and ran from the scene on foot in an attempt to avoid arrest. Court documents state deputies pursued Coontz for approximately 30 yards before tackling her to the ground.

Once on the ground, authorities allege Coontz stopped resisting and was taken into custody. Court records state Coontz and two deputies sustained minor scrapes after falling to the ground during the incident, though all three declined medical treatment.

Deputies transported Coontz to the Calvert County Detention Center, where she was charged with obstructing and hindering and resisting or interfering with arrest.

District Court records show Coontz was released on her own recognizance following a July 1, 2026, bail review. She is scheduled to appear for a trial-officer scheduling hearing on Aug. 20, 2026, at Calvert District Court before Judge Karen A. V. Smith.

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