Heathens at St. Mary's Landing Are Armed and Dangerous

 LEXINGTON PARK (July 29, 2008) --- St. Mary's Sheriff's spokesman Deputy Cindy Allen reports that on 07/26/08 at approximately 2:50 am Dfc. Keith Moritz was on routine patrol in Lexington Park, Maryland when he observed approximately 20 people standing on Liberty Street.  There had been several fight calls during the night. 

Dfc. Moritz was operating his marked St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office patrol cruiser and pulled onto Liberty Street to investigate.  Dfc. Moritz was talking to the individuals when he observed a black male with a tee shirt pulled over his head running towards the crowd yelling and pointing a handgun towards the crowd.  The crowd began to run for cover. 

Dfc. Moritz took up a tactical position of cover behind his cruiser and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon.  The suspected fled towards the woods.  As the suspect was running he dropped the handgun.  Dfc. Moritz broadcast a lookout for the suspect. 

As Dfc. Moritz went to retrieve the handgun a juvenile male 14 of Lexington Park picked up the handgun and attempted to conceal it in his shorts.  Dfc. Moritz ordered the juvenile to drop the gun and the juvenile complied at first but as Dfc. Moritz continued to walk towards the handgun and juvenile took two steps towards the handgun again.  Dfc. Moritz was able to separate the juvenile from the handgun.  As Dfc. Moritz was attempting to secure the juvenile and retrieve the handgun a large crowd surrounded Dfc. Moritz.  Dfc. Moritz ordered the crowd to disburse but they refused and began yelling at Dfc. Moritz to release the juvenile.  Dfc. Moritz had to disburse the crowd with pepper spray.  Several other deputies arrived on the scene to assist.  The handgun was retrieved and secured.   The juvenile was charged with possession of a handgun. 

 

Deputies were not able to locate the original suspect that evening.  The investigation is continuing.  No other suspect information is available at this time.