Deputies Arrest Attempted 1st Degree Murder Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the arrest of Terrance Brawner of Temple Hills, MD on an arrest warrant for Attempted 1^st Degree Murder, which was obtained by County Police on June 24, 2014.

According to the warrant, on June 23, 2014 at a club in the 6000 block of Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD, Brawner allegedly brandished a handgun and fired several shots outside in the club’s parking lot resulting in  a male and female victim  sustaining gunshot wounds to the lower body. The warrant further states that the altercation stemmed from a verbal argument Brawner had with the male victim over a music competition the victim won.  

The Warrant/ Fugitive Division’s investigation located Brawner in Washington, DC. With the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Brawner’s location was narrowed down to a location at the intersection of First Street and O Street in Washington, DC. After a short foot pursuit, Brawner was taken into custody and transported to the First District Police Station in Washington, DC, where he is currently awaiting extradition back to Prince George's County, MD. He was charged with 2 counts of Attempted 1^st Degree Murder, 2 counts of Attempt 2^nd Degree Murder, 2 counts of Assault First Degree, 2 counts of Assault Second Degree, Firearm Use/ Felony Violent Crime, and Handgun on Person.

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

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Sheriff Deputies Arrest Assault Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Sheriff’s Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the arrest of Roy Lee Johnson Jr. of Clinton, MD on June 24, 2014, for a First Degree Assault arrest warrant, obtained by the County Police Department on June 19, 2014.

According to the warrant, on April 13, 2014, Johnson allegedly produced a handgun and fired several shots at a male victim in the vicinity of the 1300 block of Capitol View Terrace in Landover, MD.

Sheriff’s Warrant Deputies investigating Johnson’s whereabouts located him at a residence in the 12000 block of Winbrook Dr., in Clinton, MD. He was apprehended without incident and transported to County Police District III Detectives. He was also charged with Assault 1^st Degree, Assault 2^nd Degree, Firearm Use / Felony Violent Crime and Reckless Endangerment.

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

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Consumer Alert: IRS/Address Scam

Upper Marlboro, MD… We are issuing a consumer alert about a scam that involves a caller claiming to be calling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the call, the caller is asking for the address of the resident. The resident is also told that the call is being made for Melvin C. High.

The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff is not the law enforcement arm of the IRS, nor do we collect money on behalf of the IRS.  Sheriff Melvin C. High has no role in collecting money for the IRS. In addition, the IRS would not have to call you to get your address. If you receive a phone call from anyone asking for your address, for the IRS or any other entity, DO NOT give them your address or any personal information and please call the Prince George’s County Police Department at (301) 352-1200 during daytime business hours. 

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

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First Degree Assault Suspects Arrested

Upper Marlboro, MD…  

The Sheriff’s Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the arrests of Erick Austin and Johnnie Lee III last week on separate arrest warrants for First Degree Assault that were obtained by County Police on June 2^nd 2014 and by the Laurel Police Department on May 19^th 2014.

According to the warrant for Austin, he is alleged to have assaulted a female victim, who is his former romantic partner on Queenstown Drive, in Mount Rainer, MD. The warrant further states that each time the victim would try to leave her apartment Austin physically attacked her. He is also alleged to have physically assaulted her at home after kicking her door down and threatening to set her on fire after dousing her with oil.

Deputies’ investigation led them to believe Austin was at the Marvin Gaye Park in Washington D.C. With the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and after a short foot pursuit Austin was taken into custody and transported to an MPD station where he is awaiting extradition back to Prince George's County MD. He was also charged with Second Degree Assault.

The warrant for Lee states that on March 29^th 2014, he and two juvenile male accomplices allegedly assaulted a male victim during a botched sale for a dirt bike that was arranged on Craig’s List. The warrant further states that during the transaction Lee and his accomplices fled with the dirt bike during the test drive and that as the victim attempted to confront them a weapon was pointed at him.

After investigation, Deputies located Lee at a residence in the 14000 block of Ashford Ct. in Laurel, MD. He was taken into custody and transported to Hyattsville Regional Processing.

Lee is also charged with Armed Robbery, Firearm Use/ Felony Violent Crime, and Theft Less than $1,000.

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

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Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest 2 Brothers Closing 5 Warrants

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Sheriff’s Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the arrests of Delondre Mason and Tyrico Mason last week on separate arrest warrants for First Degree Assault that were obtained by County Police on May 2^nd and May 27^th 2014.

According to the warrant for Delondre Mason, he is alleged to have assaulted a female victim at a residence in the 11000 block of Twin Lakes Drive in Beltsville, MD on several occasions between September and October 2013. The warrant further states that during one incident the victim held a small child as Delondre Mason retrieved and fired a long rifle styled pellet gun striking the victim in her back. Delondre Mason also allegedly struck the victim in the back of the head with a glass bottle and caused $2,081.00 in property damage to the victim’s belongings.

Deputies’ investigating Mason’s whereabouts located him at his residence in the 11000 block of Gordon Ave. in Beltsville, MD where he was found hiding in a crawl space. He was taken into custody without incident.

Mason’s arrest closes 3 additional warrants for Assault First Degree, Failure to Appear on a Theft $1,000 Less Than $10,000 charge and Failure to Appear on a Driving While Revoked charge.  

After taking Delondre Mason into custody Sheriff’s Deputies on another Warrant/ Fugitive team recognized the name as that of a First Degree Assault Warrant Suspect it had been pursuing who turned out to be Mason’s younger brother Tyrico Mason.

The warrant for Tyrico Mason states that in April 2014, he allegedly assaulted two male victims after they witnessed him knocking on residential doors and intentionally running away in the area of Dickinson Ave, and Norwich Rd, in College Park, MD.

After an investigation, Deputies located and arrested Tyrico Mason at an address in the 4000 block of Powder Mill Rd. in Beltsville, MD. He was also charged with 2 counts of Assault Second Degree.

Both suspects were transported to District I Police station for processing.

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

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Sheriff Melvin C. High 4th Annual Scholarship Awards

Upper Marlboro, MD ... Sheriff Melvin C. High awarded scholarships to three Prince George’s County 2014 High School graduates today during the fourth annual Sheriff Melvin C. High Scholarship Awards Reception, at the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters in Upper Marlboro, MD.

This year’s winners are Destiny Talley, a graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School who will be attending the University of North Carolina, majoring in Biology; Leslie Ikpeze of Largo High School who will be attending Towson University, majoring in Exercise Science; and Tobenna Mbonu of Bowie High School who will be attending the University of Maryland, majoring in Biology. All of the recipients begin college in the fall.

Of the scholarships which he personally funds, Sheriff High said, “This scholarship is something I do because my interest is in young people reaching their greatest potential and because someone helped me.” 

LTC. Regina Taylor, Field Operations Bureau Chief said that each of the recipients was highly acclaimed by several faculty members from their respective high schools who described them as selfless, diligent, and very gifted. While their academic and extracurricular achievements varied, each recipient is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) which requires its members to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 85% or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale throughout their high school career.

As they accepted their scholarships, each recipient expressed gratitude to the Office of the Sheriff and Sheriff High especially for his generosity as he fully funded each scholarship personally.

“These young ladies all distinguished themselves, because of their appreciation for and understanding of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance.” said Lt. Colonel Taylor.

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

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Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run Kicks-off Summer Games with First Leg in Hyattsville

Upper Marlboro, MD… Sheriff Melvin C. High joined County Executive Rushern Baker and Hyattsville City Chief of Police Douglas Holland, along with County Police Chief Magaw and other law enforcement officers from agencies throughout the region today at a ceremony to begin the first leg of the Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Chief Holland, who chairs the Law Enforcement Torch Run, saluted each of the regional agencies for their participation, including several police training academies.

“The Maryland Special Olympics Torch Run is the second most successful in terms of the amount of money we raise because of all of you and your support,” said Chief Holland.

Addressing police officers and recruits participating in the Torch Run for the first time, Chief Holland urged and challenged them to be involved in as many Special Olympics activities as possible throughout their careers.

Sheriff High recalled the many Special Olympics events he’s been involved in over the course of his career in law enforcement saying, “I always get a special feeling watching Special Olympics athletes compete and seeing the joy and sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that’s clearly visible on their faces.” The Sheriff went on to say that the growth of Special Olympics has always been a source of pride for him knowing the role that the law enforcement community has played in that growth.

More than 100 athletes and law enforcement officers participated in the first leg of the Run, following the Olympic Flame that was presented by a Prince George’s County Maryland Special Olympian Elijah Harrod and County Police Student Officer Dane Slavin, from the Hyattsville Courthouse ceremony to lunch at the American Legion Post in College Park. Student Officer Slavin carried on a family tradition in that his parents are former law enforcement officers who had also participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The Torch Run ends with the opening ceremony of the 2014 Special Olympics Summer Games. It began in 1981 as an idea of Witchita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon, who wanted to involve law enforcement in Special Olympics to raise money.

When the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) embraced the idea three year later, the project took off, and with IACP support law enforcement community involvement grew to include organizations at every level of government.

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

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