UPDATED INFORMATION
Avenue, MD – On March 29, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 21200 block of Oakley Road in Avenue for the reported vehicle into a building. Investigation determined Dylan Charles Waugaman, 23 of Abell (pictured) drove his vehicle into a closed store, and proceeded to flee the scene on foot with a firearm in his possession. Waugaman then proceeded to a residence located in the 21500 block of Abell Road, and attempted to gain access to the residence, by breaking several windows. Waugaman was unable to get into the residence, and fled into the woods.
Responding deputies observed Waugaman hiding behind a tree in the woods near the victim’s residence. Waugaman was arrested on scene and charged with Burglary First Degree and Malicious Destruction of Property. A firearm was recovered from the victim’s front yard by deputies on scene.
Additional charges are pending a review with the Office of the State’s Attorney for St. Mary’s County.
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Avenue, MD – A St. Mary’s County store sustained damage Friday evening, March 29 when a vehicle crashed into the side of the building, local fire department officials reported. According to the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department, the incident happened at Murphy’s Town and Country in Avenue. The vehicle crashed through the building around 9 p.m. There are no reports of injuries. The “collapse teams” from the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department and Naval District Washington Pax River assisted during the removal of the vehicle.
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident, subsequently arresting the driver of the vehicle. The suspect is identified as Dylan Charles Waugaman, 23 of Abell. According to court records, Waugaman was charged with first-degree burglary and two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,000. He was released on his own recognizance Saturday, March 30. Waugaman has a District Court hearing on the case tentatively scheduled for April 23.
The incident came at the end of an eventful week for the store. On Monday, March 25 Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, who was in the area attending Maryland Day ceremonies at St. Clement’s Island Museum, stopped by Murphy’s to present a proclamation marking the store’s 70th anniversary.
“We are doing our best to open as soon as possible,” a message on the store’s Facebook page reads. “We have the safety of our customers at the forefront.”
