In addition to frequent targeted anti-crime operations, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s deputies in Lexington Park are continuing to make arrests and issue warnings for seemingly small crimes such as loitering and trespassing.
The increased police presence in Lexington Park’s most crime-stricken neighborhoods is an example of Sheriff Tim Cameron’s leadership style that arrived when he took office seven months ago, confirms Lt. Daniel Alioto, commander of the Patrol Division for the sheriff.
“We’re starting to see the benefits of the new leadership and new training, and that’s good,” Alioto told The Bay Net during an interview Tuesday.
The sheriff has held community meetings to gather concerns from businesses and organizations in “downtown” Lexington Park, also know as the C-Safe district.
The major concerns are the nighttime trespassing, loitering, drug sales, defecating and host of other crimes that take place.
“These are places that are known for vagrant-type crimes, but they are places of business, and worship,” Alioto said. “People are using these areas as their own living room, their own smoking room … their own toilet, but we’re not going to put up with it anymore.”
“The old set of antics in Lexington Park is over, it’s done,” Alioto continued. “And they know it, they are getting the message loud and clear.”
Patrol officers have been gathering specific complaints from property owners and business owners about overnight trespassing and similar crimes, and officers are following through.
At least two suspects were arrested this weekend in Lexington Park for trespassing on property they’ve already been warned to stay off.
Deputy David Yingling was working a foot patrol assignment in Lexington Park when he came across suspect Eileen Day Jackson, 39 of Lexington Park, who was loitering on a business’s property.
Deputy Yingling’s further check revealed that she was notified in the past to stay off the premises and she failed to do so. She was arrested for trespassing.
Also this weekend, Deputy Robert Russell was conducting a premise check at a Lexington Park church when he observed suspect Kevin Jerome Chase, 37 of Lexington Park, on the property.
Chase had been served, in writing, to stay away from the specific location. He was arrested for trespassing.
The change in weather equals more calls for police, but officers “are still out there doing the proactive things, little things, which a lot of the times lead to bigger things,” Alioto said. “It’s another example of old-fashioned policing, and it works.”