Sheriff High and Members of The Sheriff’s Office Participate in the 2012 Teen Dating/ Domestic Violence Summit

Sheriff Melvin C. High and other members of the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office participated in Judge Herman C. Dawson’s 2012 Teen Dating/ Domestic Violence Summit.  

The topics discussed at the summit included Anger Management/ Conflict Resolution, Parental Accountability, Teen Dating Violence, Social Media and Faces of Dating Violence.

Agency members participating in the event: From Community Partnerships Sergeant Yakiesha Hines, Corporal Alaina Gay, and Community Outreach Coordinator Phil Lee. Agency Inspector General Mark Spencer, Domestic Violence Advocates Bethany Bordeux and Barbara Harvard, and Former PGSO Explorer and Advisor Devan Martin.

Other state and local government officials in attendance included Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown, Prince George’s County and 7th Judicial Circuit Administrative Judge, Sheila Tillerson Adams, County Executive Rushern Baker, and County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.

Sheriff’s Warrant Squad Arrests First Degree Assault Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD…The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Warrant Squad has reported the arrest of Lamont Bennett last Thursday, who was wanted for First Degree Assault, Armed Robbery, and Theft: Less than $1,000 value, on a warrant obtained by County Police District III detectives on February 22, 2012.  

According to the statement of charges Bennett was linked to an Armed Robbery that occurred in the 5000 block of Silver Hill Court in Suitland, Maryland.  Bennett is alleged to have brandished a handgun while demanding and taking of a pair of red and black Nike Foamposite tennis shoes before fleeing.

Combined investigative efforts led Warrant deputies investigating the case to the 6400 block of Livingston Road in Oxon Hill, Maryland where Bennett was taken into custody. He was transported to the County Police Criminal Investigations Division (CID).

For more information in this case contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-8637

###

Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Rape Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Warrant/Fugitive Division has reported the arrest Tuesday of Adelmo Claros-Quintanilla for an arrest warrant dated February 7, 2012. According to the warrant filed by the Prince Georges County Police, Claros-Quintanilla, then 17, sexually assaulted an 11 year old female victim on December 20, 2011.

The warrant further states that the victim knew Claros-Quintanilla through a friend – a relative of the suspect. On February 21, 2012, deputies from the Warrant/Fugitive division, with the assistance of detectives from the Prince George’s County Police; located and apprehended Claros-Quintanilla without incident.

Claros-Quintanilla was transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections where he is being held on $250,000.00 bond, and is being charged with Second Degree Rape. Detectives from the County Police Sexual Assault Unit were notified of the arrest

For more information in this case contact  the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-2773

###

Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Man Wanted for Manufacturing / Planting Explosive Device

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Warrant/Fugitive Division is reporting the arrest of Christopher Bolton of Silver Spring, MD, this morning for an arrest warrant dated February 7, 2012 for manufacturing or possession of a destructive device.

According to the warrant, filed by the Office of the Fire Marshal, in September of 2011 Bolton became angered by a disagreement with the victim in the case. The warrant indicates that Bolton threatened to kill the victim and subsequently began building a device consisting of screws, batteries, .40 caliber ammunition rounds, and an undetermined liquid in a plastic bottle.

On February 7, 2012, the explosive device was discovered in a shed at a residence located on Maple Trail, in Aquasco MD. The device was safely removed by the Office of the Fire Marshall’s Bomb Squad and a warrant for Bolton’s arrest was issued. Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Warrant/Fugitive division began an investigation into Bolton’s whereabouts.  On February 22, 2012, deputies, with the assistance of members from the United States Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force, located and apprehended Bolton at a Montgomery County address.

Bolton was transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, where he is being held on a $750,000.00 bond. Bolton is charged with Manufacturing or Possession of a Destructive Device.

For more information in this case contact  the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-2773

###

Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Suspect for Sexual Assault

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the arrest today of Rolando Augusto Liriano on an arrest warrant dated February 6, 2012. According to the warrant, Liriano was involved in a physical confrontation with a former girlfriend whom he sexually abused and threatened to kill.

Liriano allegedly used a handgun to hold the victim against her will for approximately three hours, while he sexually assaulted her. Liriano also threatened to kill the woman if she did not drop an active protective order and pending domestic violence related charges against him.

Warrant deputies investigating the case were led to a Silver Spring address in Montgomery County, MD. where Liriano was located and taken into custody without incident.

Liriano was transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, where he is being held on $175,000.00 Bond. He is charged with Illegally Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun in a Vehicle, Third and Fourth Degree Sex Offense, False Imprisonment, and First and Second Degree Assault.

For more information in this case contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, Press Information Office at 301-780-2773

###

Sheriff’s Deputies Evacuate Family from Burning Residence

Upper Marlboro, MD…  Three deputy sheriffs from the Domestic Violence Intervention Division helped to save a Capitol Heights family whose single family home caught fire last Wednesday, February 8, 2012. The deputies were on the scene of a 911 call for domestic violence in the 3900 block of Alton Street, when they heard screaming across the road from their location.

As the deputies turned their attention to investigate the screams, they heard someone yell out, “Hey, there is a fire!” The deputies responded to 3917 Alton Street where they immediately noticed smoke coming from the rear of the home. The deputies entered the residence, noticed a fire in the kitchen, and quickly began the search for occupants.

While evacuating the home, deputies attempted to extinguish the flames using a household fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful. Three children and one adult were eventually removed from the residence, and the Prince George’s County Fire Department responded and completely extinguished the fire. There were no injuries reported on the scene of this incident.

For more information in this case contact Cpl. William Milam from the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, Press Information Office at 301-780-2773.

###

Arrest of Attempted First Degree Murder Suspect Closes Three Warrants

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Warrant Squad reported the arrest last Thursday of James Nolen Hutcherson for an Attempted First Degree Murder warrant issued by County Police District III detectives on January 27, 2012.

According to charging documents, on December 21, 2011 in the 1200 block of Benning Road in Capitol Heights, MD, Hutcherson and another male engaged in a verbal argument which turned physical. Hutcherson is alleged to have pulled out a handgun, first striking the victim in the head and face, then firing the handgun, shooting the victim in the upper thigh.   

In a joint investigative operation with County Police, Hutcherson was apprehended by Sheriff’s deputies after a brief foot chase in the area of Benning Road and Marlboro Pike.  The suspect was transported to the County Police Criminal Investigations Division (CID).

In addition to Attempted First Degree Murder, Hutcherson is also charged with Assault First Degree, Assault Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment, Use of a Firearm in a Felony/Violent Crime and Possession of a Handgun.  Hutcherson was also wanted on two additional outstanding warrants, one for Second Degree Assault and one for Violation of Probation.

For more information contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff Press Information Office at 301-780-7354.

###

Domestic Violence Squad Arrests Attempted 1st Degree Murder Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… Sheriff’s Deputies in the Domestic Violence Intervention Division (DVID) reported the arrest of Timothy Harris this morning, who was wanted for Attempted 1^st Degree Murder on a warrant, obtained by County Police District I detectives on December 21, 2011. Harris was arrested by the DVID deputies who were responding to a 9-1-1 domestic violence call in the 5500 block of Lee Jay Drive in Temple Hills.   

According to the warrant Harris was linked to a verbal dispute that began inside of a Hyattsville night club that led to a physical struggle outside of the club. Harris is alleged to have pulled out a handgun where upon he fired, striking another man in the abdomen.

Harris was arrested and transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections where he is currently being held. District I detectives were notified of the arrest.

For more information in this case contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-8637

###

Sheriff High Says Agency Laid Solid Foundation in 2011

Upper Marlboro, MD… Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High said the agency laid a solid foundation last year which will help it continue to make progress going forward. High said the agency’s key accomplishments address commitments he made early in his administration, effective deployment of personnel and a focus by the members of our agency on process, procedure and performance.


“I’m very pleased with our results,” said High. “We’ve laid a critical foundation for continuously examining our work and for working closely with other public safety partners at the local, state and federal levels to improve public safety and other outcomes that impact the community.”


High says he counts among his agency’s key accomplishments, warrants reduction, formation of effective partnerships, greater enforcement of child support warrants, installation of a security system upgrade at the Courthouse and forming a mentoring partnership with the County School System.


After benchmarking the backlog of warrants early on, High said,” We developed a two-pronged approach that served us well throughout the year after we added staff to our warrants squad and put a great deal of emphasis on felony warrants and the most violent offenders.” In real numbers the agency handled over 40,000 warrants; High said the agency receives an average of 2,600 warrants a month for a total of 31,200 over twelve months and reduced the backlog by over 9,000 warrants.


Success in reversing the trend in warrants brings up another area of accomplishment in 2011 – effective partnerships with federal, state and municipal partners. “Good partnerships fuel all our successes and while we are the law enforcement arm of the courts, within that role is a clear public safety responsibility,” said High. “We committed to working closely with all of our law enforcement partners, County and Municipal Police, the State’s Attorney and the Courts. And, we were aided by resources from the Governor’s Office on Crime Control (GOCCP) and the County Executive.”


The Sheriff also has a key role in the support and protection of individuals, families and children through the Child Support Enforcement Division and the Domestic Violence Unit. High said he is enormously proud of the partnership that his office has with State Child Support Enforcement, which is responsible for enforcing the courts orders to establish paternity and collect child support. “I recognize that, on its face, child support enforcement may appear to not impact the community in general, but the State collects hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of custodial parents and children – costs which might otherwise fall to the county or the state.”


High said the partnership between the Office of the Sheriff and the experienced State Child Support Enforcement staff in Prince George’s County is a key component in the team’s success. “I was pleased to hear from State Director Johnson that the county is ranked first in child support collections,” said High. “Our deputies served nearly 3,000 court summonses for Child Support Enforcement last year and assisted in the facilitation of the collection of over $100 million dollars in support. That is significant support to families and children.”


With the Domestic Violence Unit, High says the agency is providing a valuable and comprehensive service because its process is pre-intervention with the service of peace and protection orders, on-site intervention in its response to 9-1-1 Domestic Violence calls for service in Police District III and post-intervention via its Domestic Violence Advocates. The victim contact through our Domestic Violence Advocates facilitates change because they reach out to victims of domestic violence to advise and assist them through court-related processes and connects them to resources such as counseling, housing and legal services.


According to Sheriff High, nearly 4,000 domestic violence victims were assisted by Domestic Violence Advocates. “Domestic Violence is a crime that every community grapples with but, with the support of expert partners, we have developed a “best practice” model that attacks this crime at every stage, including addressing the immediate and long-term needs of victims,” said High.


With the installation of the security upgrade at the courthouse, High said the new system helps to maximize safety for the courts, judges, employees and the thousands of visitors to the Courthouse each day. “We are responsible for the second busiest courthouse in the state; the new system is a great security enhancement,” said High.


Finally, Sheriff High said the Community Partnership Team has formed a mentoring partnership with the Prince George’s County School System at eight county middle schools. “Middle school is a pivotal time in the academic career of young people. Our future depends on the quality of the education we provide for them, academically and experientially,” said Sheriff High.

For more information in this case contact Cpl. William Milam from the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-2773

###