At 3:45 a.m. Oct. 21, Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action located at 8371 Leonardtown Road in Waldorf for a citizen’s report of a burglary in progress.
Officers discovered an open window at the business and established a perimeter.
The suspect exited the business through the open window and officers arrested him.
Investigation revealed James Ernest Farmer, 49, of no fixed address, broke into the vending machines inside the business and was in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Farmer was charged with second- and fourth-degree burglary, destruction of property valued at more than $500, destruction of property valued at less than $500, possession of burglary tools, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Patrol officers quickly realized other vending machines were broken into in recent months and notified the Criminal Investigations Division which is continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. A. Schwab at 301-609-6474.