Today, we remember our Fallen Officers Sergeant James Arnaud and Deputy First Class Elizabeth Magruder who died in the line of duty on August 29, 2002

Alert! Beware Hurricane Harvey Phishing Scams! #PGSO

National Cyber Awareness System:

Potential Hurricane Harvey Phishing Scams

US-CERT warns users to remain vigilant for malicious cyber activity seeking to capitalize on interest in Hurricane Harvey. Users are advised to exercise caution in handling any email with subject line, attachments, or hyperlinks related to Hurricane Harvey, even if it appears to originate from a trusted source. Fraudulent emails will often contain links or attachments that direct users to phishing or malware-infected websites. Emails requesting donations from duplicitous charitable organizations commonly appear after major natural disasters.

US-CERT encourages users and administrators to use caution when encountering these types of email messages and take the following preventative measures to protect themselves from phishing scams and malware campaigns:

• Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.
• Use caution when opening email attachments. Refer to the US-CERT Tip Using Caution with Email Attachments for more information on safely handling email attachments.
• Keep antivirus and other computer software up-to-date.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.
• Review the Federal Trade Commission information on Charity Scams.
• Verify the legitimacy of any email solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. You can find trusted contact information for many charities on the BBB National Charity Report Index.

Warrant/Fugitive Division Felony Arrest Report #PGSO

Upper Marlboro, MD…The Sheriff’s Office Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the following felony arrests:

First Degree Assault Suspect Arrested

Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Christopher Collins of Bladensburg, MD, who was wanted on an arrest warrant for First Degree Assault that was obtained by County Police on August 3, 2017.

According to the warrant, August 3, 2017, police responded to a report of a domestic assault at a residence in the 5800 block of Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, Md. Collins was alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol when he struck a female victim with a phone, causing a laceration to the head. The warrant further states that Collins is alleged to have gotten an edged weapon, which he waived around while threatening to kill the victim, after which he left the scene.

On August 14, 2017, Deputies returned to the location of the incident where Collins was arrested and transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections (DOC) for processing.

Collins is also charged with Assault Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.

Warrant/Fugitive Division Felony Arrest Report #PGSO

Upper Marlboro, MD…The Sheriff’s Office Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the following felony arrests:

First Degree Assault Suspect Arrested

Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Christopher Williams of Mt. Rainer, MD, who was wanted on an arrest warrant for First Degree Assault that was obtained by County Police on August 6, 2017.

According to the warrant, August 5, 2017, at a parking lot in the 5100 block of Indian Head Highway in Oxon Hill, Md. Williams is alleged to have forced a female victim from her vehicle and punctured all four tires of the vehicle after which he fled the scene. The warrant further states that the victim and Williams were known to each other.

On August 16, 2017, Deputies made arrangements to meet with Williams at a parking lot in the 3300 block of Marlo Lane in District Heights where Williams was arrested and transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections for processing.

Williams is also charged with Violate Exparte/ Protective Order, Assault Second Degree, and Malicious destruction of property.

First Degree Assault Suspect Extradited

Sheriff’s deputies extradited Christopher Brown to Prince George’s County, MD on August 15, 2017 from the Prince William County Detention Center located in Manassas, Virginia. Brown, from Woodbridge, VA was wanted on an arrest warrant for First Degree Assault issued by the District Court of Prince George's County on March 7, 2017.

According to the warrant, on March 7th, Brown was engaged in an argument that turned physical in the 13400 block of Arden Way in Laurel, MD. During the altercation, Brown is alleged to have produced a handgun and pointed it at his girlfriend and threatened to kill her; Brown fled the scene.

Brown is also charged with Firearm Use/ Felony Violent Crime.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.

Summer Newsletter 2017 Vol 6 Issue 2 #PGSO

 

Click Here to View Newsletter

Warrant/Fugitive Division Felony Arrest Report #PGSO

Upper Marlboro, MD…The Sheriff’s Office Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the following felony arrests:

First Degree Assault Suspect Arrested

Sheriff’s deputies arrested John Elliot of District Heights, MD, on an arrest warrant for First Degree Assault obtained by the County Police Department on August 4, 2017.

According to the warrant, on June 17th 2017, at a store in the 7000 block of Marlboro Pike in District Heights, MD, Elliot approached an unknown man accusing him of jumping the line. While in line, Elliot is alleged to have struck the man repeatedly with an unknown object, after which Elliot fled the scene.

On August 9th, Sheriff’s Deputies determined that Elliot could be located in the 6500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in District Heights, MD. Deputies went to the location where Elliot answered the door and was informed of the warrant for his arrest. He was placed into custody and transported to Prince George's County Police District III Station Regional Investigation Division for questioning and later transported to the Department of Corrections.

Elliot is also charged with Reckless Endangerment and Second Degree Assault.

Sex Offense Suspect Arrested

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Chantal Sullivan of Lanham, MD on a warrant for Third Degree Sex Offense that was obtained by the County Police on July 21, 2017. 

According to the warrant, on July 17th,, 2017, at a residence in Lanham, MD, Sullivan engaged in sexual contact with a minor. According to the warrant, on August 10, 2017, Warrant/Fugitive Division Deputies located Sullivan at the address of the incident where they were allowed entry. Sullivan was arrested and transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.    

Sullivan is also charged with Fourth Degree Sex Offense.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.    

Prince George's Office of the Sheriff is Hiring and Sheriff High was recruiting at Seat Pleasant Day!!

 

Click Here for Deputy Sheriff Application

Come on out and have some fun #PGSOisEverywhere

Warrant/Fugitive Division Felony Arrest Report #PGSO

Upper Marlboro, MD…The Sheriff’s Office Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the following felony arrests:

 

Attempted Second Degree Murder Suspect Arrested

Nelis Martinez-Ponce of Washington D.C. was arrested on an arrest warrant for Attempted Second Degree Murder obtained by the County Police on April 25th.

According to the warrant, on March 27th, Martinez-Ponce was at a bar in the 2300 block of University Boulevard when he approached a man and demanded his property. When the man refused, Martinez-Ponce stabbed him causing a wound across his back. Another man intervened and was also stabbed. Both men were transported to the hospital with serious injuries; Martinez-Ponce fled the scene before police arrived.

Upon receipt of the warrant, Sheriff’s Deputies’ investigation determined that Martinez-Ponce could be located at an address in Buffalo, New York. Deputies coordinated with the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and Martinez-Ponce was apprehended by the local United States Marshal’s Task Force. He was transported by deputies back to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections and processed without incident.

Martinez-Ponce is also charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Armed Robbery, Robbery, Violent Crime, Assault Second Degree, Theft less than $1,000, and Reckless Endangerment.

Sex Abuse of a Minor Suspect Arrested

Juan Galla of Upper Marlboro, MD was arrested on July 27th. He was wanted on an arrest warrant for Sex Abuse of a Minor obtained by the County Police on July 27th.

The warrant states that on June 29th, police responded to Child Protective Services for the report of sexual child abuse that had occurred multiple times. A forensic interview was conducted with Galla being identified by the victim. A detective from the county police took out a warrant for his arrest.

An investigation by Sheriff Deputies determined that Galla could be located in the 14000 block of Candy Hill Road in Upper Marlboro, MD. Deputies went to the location; Galla answered the door, was informed of the warrant, placed into custody and transported to the Prince George’s County, MD Department of Corrections without incident.

Galla is also charged with Sex Offense Second Degree, Sex Offense Third Degree, Assault Second Degree, and Perverted Practice.

 For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.

What A Turnout! A recap from Last Night's -National Night Out in Prince George's County -Seabrook Acres Civic Ass., Riverdale Park, Lincoln Vista Civic Ass. etc

#PGSO Melvin C. High met w/ My Girlfriend's House, a teen mentoring and leadership non profit for girls 12-18, to discuss thier Girl Boss Leadership Summer Camp film project to stop teen violence

"Stay In Touch" support program for victims developed by PGSO Special Victim Assistant (SVA) Barbara Harvard

Abuse survivors in Prince George’s get help beyond filing a protective order

Sharon Harley is part of the Stay In Touch program designed to help those who’ve survived domestic violence. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

By Lynh Bui July 31 at 4:26 PM 

Sharon Harley is eager to share her experiences surviving domestic violence, saying she finds strength in the voice that reminds her each day that she deserves better. 

But when she’s in the middle of talking about how long she stayed in a relationship fraught with physical abuse and emotional manipulation that shrunk her self-worth, those listening often stop her to ask, “Are you not ashamed?”

Harley said she used to be, but not anymore.

The 52-year-old mother ascribes her newfound confidence to her faith, and also to a community of women she has found through a Prince George’s County program called Stay In Touch.

The program, launched in the spring, is a support group designed to help those who have survived domestic violence rebuild independent lives and prevent them from falling back into toxic relationships.

Harley outside the Prince George’s County Family Justice Center. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

For Harley, it’s a place where she can talk about her experiences, challenges and struggles without fearing judgment.

[Nearly a third of U.S. women have experienced domestic violence]

“They’re not looking down their noses at me,” Harley said. “The last thing a person needs in this situation is somebody looking at them funny.”

Leaving an abusive relationship is difficult work, but what people often overlook are the challenges that remain long after someone escapes, said Denise McCain, director of the Family Justice Center in Prince George’s.

“So many women stay in abusive relationships because they’ve never been independent,” McCain said. “Now that you’re out, what can you do to stay safe?”

Women in the Stay In Touch program attend weekly sessions, with meetings exploring topics from why women stay in abusive relationships, to creating safety plans, to the importance of an occasional bit of pampering. The program also helps women gain economic freedom, with discussions on how to hone résumés or prepare for job interviews.

People tend to get into certain relationships because they thought they were feeling attention and love, only to discover that “affection” was overprotective behavior from a manipulative partner, McCain said. They then find themselves in situations where they think they can’t leave because of children, finances or fear.

Without the right support, people return to their abusers, McCain said. On average, it takes seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship before someone successfully leaves, McCain said.

[She thought passing a domestic violence bill would be easy. She was wrong.]

“We want them to regain some of that control and self-esteem so they have the hope to move forward,” McCain said. “After you get the protective order, you need much more.”

Bobbi Harvard, a counselor with the Prince George’s Sheriff’s Office who developed the Stay In Touch program, said group support is important for women engulfed by financial, emotional and physical abuse.

“Once a victim goes through domestic violence and they’ve left a relationship, they think they’re on the other side,” Harvard said. But “they still need that support.”

The Stay In Touch program is one of the new offerings at the Family Justice Center that opened last year in Prince George’s. In recent years, the county experienced high-profile domestic homicides and murder-suicides. It also led Maryland in protective orders filed in its courts, though the number has been decreasing this year.

The center is meant to be a one-stop shop of services to help those navigating domestic violence. They can obtain help in filling out a protective order, getting housing and, in the case of Stay In Touch, finding emotional support, all in one place.

The Stay In Touch program offers free child care during the sessions. There’s also a chance to get advice from others who know what it’s like to leave an abusive relationship and how to achieve and maintain independence. At this time, seven women participate in the program, which is confidential.

[The horrifying toll of domestic violence]

“We want to tell women, ‘You can do this, and you can do this together,’ ” McCain said.

Harley said she suffered social, emotional and physical abuse in one of her former relationships, with the man she was with at one point trying to ruin her reputation by falsely reporting to police that she had abused him.

Harley said it was difficult to leave because mental illness was involved and she loved the man, but she finally realized she couldn’t fix the relationship.

The advocates at the Family Justice Center helped her navigate the court system. And the support of the Stay In Touch program reminded her that she is not alone, doesn’t have to settle for just any partner, and “to put safety first,” Harley said.

Being abused “scars you in a way where someone has you looking in the mirror every morning wondering who you are because they’ve beaten you down so bad,” Harley said.

But recovery is possible, she said, with the help of Stay In Touch.

“I’m encouraged and treated not as if I’m a victim,” Harley said, “but as if I’m an overcomer.”

Lynh Bui is a Prince George's County public safety reporter and former Montgomery County education reporter.  Follow @ByLynhBui

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