Update from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office on 12/22/2014 at 1:58 p.m.:
On December 19 at 12:14 p.m. Dfc. G. Gott initiated a traffic stop on a maroon, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria for not displaying a front registration plate. The vehicle was stopped on the St. Mary’s side of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. When Dfc. Gott approached the vehicle he observed a young child in a child safety seat on the rear passenger’s seat. Dfc. Gott also detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Dfc. Gott asked the subject for his driver’s license and registration then asked the subject to exit the vehicle. The subject attempted to roll the window up but Dfc. Gott stopped the window from going up and reached into the vehicle to unlock the door. The operator of the vehicle hit his hand to stop him from unlocking the door. Dfc. Gott saw the operator reach for the shift selector and pulled his hand out of the vehicle. The vehicle then accelerated and began to flee south along Rt. 4. Dfc. Gott returned to his vehicle and began a vehicle pursuit.
The vehicle made a right turn onto Patuxent Boulevard to Clearbrook Lane where he left the roadway and drove across a field for approximately 1000 yards. The hood flew up on the suspect vehicle obstructing the suspect’s view through the windshield. The vehicle came to a stop approximately 15 feet prior to the edge of a cliff that dropped approximately 25 to 30 feet. The suspect then bailed out of the vehicle and grabbed an unknown item from the trunk and ran. The suspect left the child in the vehicle when he fled. It was initially thought the suspect had entered a nearby residence but it was later determined he fled into the marsh at the base of the cliff. Members from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and assisted with attempting to locate the suspect. The 2 year old child was removed from the vehicle by members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Team. The child was turned over to the Department of Social Services who will make the appropriate disposition.
The suspect was taken into custody on the point at the end of Deer Crossing Lane approximately 95 minutes after he bailed from the vehicle. The suspect had skirted the edge of the marsh prior to being located on the other side of the creek from where he had bailed. When deputies began looking at the suspect’s vehicle they realized the vehicle was still in drive and that the reason the vehicle had stopped was because the emergency brake cable had broken which stopped the vehicle from moving. Located in the vehicle were four cell phones, a tablet, 8 bags of marijuana packaged for distribution and numerous other empty bags. The vehicle was stored by the Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect was identified as Frank Richard Taitano Jr., 22, of Lusby. Taitano is being charged with numerous traffic violations, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, child abuse, unattended child, assault on law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, hindering and failing to obey a lawful order. Taitano was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center where he awaited his appearance before a District Court Commissioner.
Citizens with information on this or any criminal activity in Calvert County who wish to report it anonymously can now access the Calvert County Crime Solvers link through the Sheriff’s Office website.
Go to http://www.co.cal.md.us/residents/safety/law/sheriff/ and click on the Crime Solvers link to leave an anonymous tip on-line. Information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect could result in a $1,000 reward.
Update from Calvert County Sheriff’s Office on 12/19/2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, Dfc. G. Gott initiated a traffic stop on a maroon, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria for not displaying a front registration plate. The vehicle was stopped on the St. Mary’s County side of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.
When Dfc. Gott approached the vehicle, he observed a young child in a child safety seat on the rear passenger’s seat. Gott also detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
The officer asked the subject for his driver’s license and registration, then asked the subject to exit the vehicle. The subject attempted to roll the window up, but Gott stopped the window from going up and reached into the vehicle to unlock the door.
The operator of the vehicle hit the deputy’s hand to stop him from unlocking the door. Gott saw the operator reach for the shift selector and pulled his hand out of the vehicle.
The vehicle accelerated and began to flee south along Route 4. Gott returned to his vehicle and began pursuit.
The vehicle made a right turn onto Patuxent Boulevard to Clearbrook Lane where he left the roadway and drove across a field for approximately 1,000 yards. The hood flew up on the vehicle being pursued, obstructing the suspect’s view through the windshield.
The vehicle came to a stop approximately 15 feet prior to the edge of a cliff that dropped approximately 25 to 30 feet. The suspect then bailed out of the vehicle and grabbed an unknown item from the trunk and ran.
The suspect left the child in the vehicle when he fled.
It was initially thought the suspect had entered a nearby residence but it was later determined he fled into the marsh at the base of the cliff. Members from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and assisted with attempting to locate the suspect.
The 2-year-old child was removed from the vehicle by members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Team. The child was turned over to the Department of Social Services who will make the appropriate disposition.
The suspect was taken into custody on the point at the end of Deer Crossing Lane approximately 95 minutes after he bailed from the vehicle. He had skirted the edge of the marsh prior to being located on the other side of the creek from where he left the car.
When deputies began looking at the suspect’s vehicle they realized the vehicle was still in drive and that the reason the vehicle had stopped was because the emergency brake cable had broken, which stopped the vehicle from moving.
Located in the vehicle were four cell phones, a tablet, eight bags of marijuana packaged for distribution and numerous other empty bags. The vehicle was stored by the sheriff’s office.
The suspect was identified as Frank Richard Taitano Jr. of Pecos Court in Lusby.
Taitano Jr. is being charged with numerous traffic violations, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, child abuse, unattended child, assault on law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, hindering and failing to obey a lawful order.
Taitano Jr. was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center where he will await his appearance before a District Court Commissioner.
Update from Ron Bailey on 12/19/2014 at 2:45 p.m.:
According to a Calvert County deputy on the scene, a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputy initiated a traffic stop in Calvert County.
The male subject then fled the scene in his vehicle to the Thomas Johnson Bridge into St. Mary’s County.
He then traveled down Patuxent Blvd onto Clearbrook Ln in California. It is believed that the suspect stopped their vehicle and then fled into a nearby residence which initiated a barricade situation.
The police on scene then initiated a search and after yielding no results then found the suspect hiding in a wooded area and he was apprehended.
Update form TheBayNet Staff on 12/19/2014 at 2:10 p.m.:
The suspect has been apprehended and police are still on scene.
Update from TheBayNet Staff on 12/19/2014 at 2:00 p.m.:
At approximately noon today several police units responded to a reported situation involving a black male and a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
There are reports that a dispute occurred while the deputy was conducting a traffic stop with the black male and the subject then fled from the scene.
Police are currently attempting to apprehend the subject at their reported residence in California.
Details to follow as they are received.
Advisory from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on 12/19/2014 at 12:50 p.m.:
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office advised at 12:51 p.m. that there is police activity at Clearbrook Lane and Route 4 near the Thomas Johnson Bridge.
Police are saying the situation is contained.
