Carwash Robbers Nabbed; Turn in Dustin Get Reward

LEONARDTOWN – Members of a gang of burglars involved in a string of robberies across St. Mary’s County were arrested Monday and the sheriff’s department has announced a possible reward for the arrest of one of the lead members, Dustin Purnell, 23, of Lexington Park.

The suspects were utilizing power tools and torches to gain access to the money machines from several local car washes.

         Detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations said while investigating a string of car wash machine break-ins in St. Mary’s County it was discovered that similar burglaries had taken place in sister counties of Charles and Calvert.

         Detectives developed several suspects and search and seizure warrants were obtained. The search warrants were executed on both vehicles and residences in the southern end of St. Mary’s county. Tools, currency, car wash tokens and masks were some of the items recovered.

         Detectives arrested Trista Renee Keller, 19, of Callaway, and charged her with two counts of burglary second degree. Suspect Keller was the driver for two males committing the burglaries and making windfall from the thefts. Suspect Emily Mae Semones, 19, of Great Mills, was also arrested and charged with three counts of second degree burglary.

She too was found to have assisted in the suspects get away and profited from the burglaries. Additional charges on all suspects are expected after a State’s Attorney and Grand Jury review. A third female, a juvenile, was released as her role in the burglaries took place in Charles and Calvert Counties.

         A juvenile suspect,17, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged for his role in the crimes and was detained in Cheltenham Juvenile Detention Facility pending a hearing. The total loss related to these crimes is believed to be nearly $30,000.