Baby Aden Gardiner was deliver roadside in Prince Frederick with the help of local deputies and a hospital nurse. (Photo courtesy Calvert Co. Sheriff's Office)
On Saturday April 25 at approximately 2:45 a.m., the Calvert County Control Center received a 911 call from Jeffrey Gardiner who stated he was on his way to Calvert Memorial Hospital with his wife Amber, who was 40 weeks pregnant and currently in active labor. Dispatcher Crystal Klinedinst was on the phone with Mr. Gardiner and she continued to instruct him to pull over so police and EMS providers could respond to their location and assist them.
Mr. Gardiner finally stopped on Thoroughbred Drive off of Hallowing Point Road in Prince Frederick. Cpl. Basham and Dfc. Tomlinson arrived on the scene and were able to assist with the child birth while dispatcher Klinedinst provided emergency child birth instructions over the telephone.
A short time later, Dena Marseglia arrived on the scene. She advised that she was a labor and delivery nurse at Civista Hospital, as well as an EMS provider with the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire and EMS Department, Company 6. She happened to be in the area when she heard the call over her scanner. She had the proper medical equipment necessary for clamping the umbilical cord. At the suggestion of one of the deputies, the cord was cut by Mr. Gardiner.
An ambulance from Prince Frederick Rescue Squad, Company 4, later arrived and transported Mrs. Gardiner and baby Aden safely to Calvert Memorial Hospital.
Talking on cellphone while driving stop leads to pursuit, crash, apprehension of wanted man
On Monday, April 27 at approximately 9:04 a.m., Deputy Dean Naughton was patrolling in the area of Route 4 at Rousby Hall Rd. in Lusby. He observed a gray Jaguar passenger car bearing Virginia Registration WRK7201. A black male driver was observed inside the vehicle talking on a black cellphone.
A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle in the area of Route 4 at Sweetwater Rd. Contact was made with the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle and he was advised why he was being stopped. The driver denied talking on his cellphone while driving, however Dep. Naughton observed a black cellphone sitting in the drivers lap and he could hear the voice of another person on the phone. The driver then picked up the phone while Dep. Naughton was speaking with him and told the person on the other end of the phone to "hold on."
Dep. Naughton asked the driver for his driver's license and vehicle registration. The driver advised he left his license at home. The driver gave Dep. Naughton a false name. Dep. Naughton returned to his vehicle and asked the Calvert Control Center for a Maryland license and wanted check on the false name. Dep. Naughton also asked the control center for an MVA Photo of the subject. Dep. Naughton exited his vehicle to compare the MVA Photo to the driver of the vehicle and to issue the appropriate traffic violation warnings. As Dep. Naughton began to approach the vehicle, the vehicle fled south on Route 4.
Dep. Naughton advised dispatch the vehicle was fleeing and pursued the vehicle. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed. When the vehicle approached the area of Route 4 at Coster Rd., it left the travel portion of the roadway and began passing multiple vehicles on the right shoulder of Route 4. Dep. Naughton briefly lost site of the vehicle due to moderate traffic. When he regained site of the vehicle, he observed the vehicle had spun out across all lanes of Route 4 and crashed into the guardrail in the center median of Route 4 just north of Southern Connector Blvd.
Dep. Naughton exited his vehicle to check for injuries and observed the black male driver had run across the north bound lanes of Route 4. He was running east up an embankment towards HG Trueman Rd. After it was determined there were no injuries due to the accident, Dep. Naughton continued to pursue the black male on foot. After a short foot pursuit, the black male was seen on the porch of 380 Home Place in Lusby.
Dep. Naughton began giving the subject loud verbal commands while holding the subject at gun point. Dep. Naughton repeatedly advised the suspect to show his hands and to face away from him. The suspect threw his hand in the air and began saying "JUST SHOOT ME." Dep. Naughton continued to give verbal commands and the suspect eventually complied and was taken into custody. Trooper Gill assisted with the apprehension.
After handcuffing the suspect, the man stated that his real name was Chris William Savage (DOB 04/04/1977). Dep. Naughton ran a license and wanted check. The Control Center advised that Chris William Savage had a suspended Maryland driver's license and was also wanted for assault 2nd degree through the Calvert County Sheriff's Office and he had another open warrant through MSP for failure to appear.
Shortly after this incident, Eugene Louis Johnson, business owner of D & E Repairs located at 12465 Rousby Hall Road called and reported the above described vehicle as stolen. Cpl. B Gray responded to that location and verified the vehicle was at the business for repairs and was stolen just prior to the traffic stop. Johnson further stated Savage is related to him and was just on the property this weekend. Johnson was not certain how he knew the keys were in the vehicle and Savage did not have permission to take any vehicle on the lot.
Savage was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center. Savage is being charged with Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Providing a False Name to a Uniformed Police Officer, Attempting to Elude a Uniformed Police Officer by Fleeing On Foot and By Vehicle, Presume Identity To Avoid Prosecution and numerous other related traffic offenses.
103-Year-old man crashes on Solomons bridge in early morning hours
A Centreville, Virginia couple with 197 years among them lost control of this vehicle Friday morning. (Photo courtesy Calvert Co. Sheriff's Office)
On Friday, May 01 at approximately 1:18 a.m., members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau and Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the Thomas Johnson Bridge in Solomons for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash involving a single vehicle.
Preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 Buick Lucerne was traveling southbound on the Thomas Johnson Bridge in the northbound lane. As oncoming traffic approached, the operator steered the vehicle to the left causing the vehicle to sideswipe the northbound barrier wall. After a correction to the right the vehicle crossed the center lines into the southbound lane. The operator overcorrected and the vehicle crossed the center line once more striking the northbound barrier wall with the front end. The vehicle came to final rest perpendicular to the lanes of travel with the front end against the barrier wall facing in the southerly direction.
The Buick was operated by Robert Lao Farwig, a 103-year-old male, of Centreville, Virginia. Robert Farwig was transported by Maryland State Police Trooper 7 to Baltimore Shock Trauma for potentially life threatening injuries. At the time of this press release Robert Farwig is listed in critical, but stable condition.
The passenger, Wanda Lou Farwig, a 94-year-old female, of Centreville, Virginia, was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital for nonlife threatening injuries. Wanda Farwig is listed in stable condition.
At this time it is undetermined why the couple drove to Solomons, Maryland from Centerville, Virginia. Based on the evidence obtained from the scene it appears that vehicle speed and driver error are factors that contributed to the collision.
Anyone with additional information regarding the collision is asked to contact DFC W. Beisel of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team at 410-535-2800 or via e-mailbeiselww@co.cal.md.us
Body in water
On Tuesday, April 26 at approximately 3:43 p.m., a citizen contacted Deputy First Class Beisel in the parking lot of Kellam's Field and advised him there was a body floating in one of the boat slips in Fishing Creek Marina. Dfc. Beisel responded to the area with the citizen and located the body a black female floating in slip A-31. Dfc. Beisel requested the Department of Natural Resources Police and the Criminal Investigative Bureau respond to the scene to assist. Detective Wells arrived on scene and assumed the investigation. Members of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad responded to the scene and helped to remove the deceased person.
The deceased person was identified as Patricia Ann Harrod, a 64-year-old Calvert County resident who was currently residing at a residence on Gordon Stinnett Avenue in Chesapeake Beach. Harrod was located approximately 375 feet from her residence. The investigation determined there were no signs of foul play and appears to be a drowning case. Detective Wells is continuing with the investigation and has requested that anyone with information contact him at 410-535-2800 ext. 2595.