On July 21 at 8:36 a.m., Charles County Sheriff's officers responded to Trinity Baptist Church at 2671 Mattawoman Beantown Road in Waldorf for a burglary report. An employee was walking down a hallway when she observed an unknown man sleeping in a chair inside one of the classrooms. The employee called the Sheriff's Office and when an officer entered the room, the man fled out a window. Two other officers ran outside to apprehend the man. As the suspect turned the corner, the officers confronted him. He proceeded to come toward the officers armed with a knife. The officers deployed a Taser to subdue the man and he was taken into custody.
The man has been identified as Thomas James Hughes, Jr., 20, of no fixed address. Investigation revealed Hughes entered the church and stole food and the knife from the kitchen. He was wanted by the Charles County Sheriff's Office for failure to appear in court on a theft charge. Hughes was charged with carrying a weapon with intent to injure, theft, second degree burglary and two counts of second degree assault for assaulting the two officers. He is being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending and appearance before the District Court Commissioner. Officers K. Clark and W. Halt are investigating.