As reported by USA Today and published by Cincinnati.com on June 11, ignoring eyewitness rules results in wrongful convictions. A total of 75 percent of wrongful convictions which are later overturned through DNA testing are the fault of flaws in the eyewitness identification process. More than 300 convictions have been overturned through DNA testing since 1989.

The Supreme Court’s ruling was on Maryland’s DNA case — Maryland v. King. Governor O’Malley said that the ruling by the Supreme Court is significant due to the fact that it legitimizes one important weapon against violent crimes in the state.

After receiving a report of an assault at a residence in Mechanicsville on Erin Drive, St. Mary’s County deputies responded and found that a 40-year-old Mechanicsville man had been in a verbal argument and had allegedly threatened to kill another male by aiming a loaded compound bow at the victim. The suspect fled but was soon contacted and arrested by the deputies. The suspect has been charged with assault first degree and assault second degree.

As reported by Star983.com, a Calvert County deputy observed a subject stopped at a red light allegedly inhaling a substance from a glass smoking device. The observation occurred at 5:28 p.m. The Calvert County deputy was in the process of conducting seat belt enforcement at southbound Maryland Route 4 and West Dares Beach Road. After a traffic stop was made, both the driver, age 20, from Huntingtown and a passenger, age 19, from Chesapeake Beach were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana (amount less than 10 grams) and use of drug paraphernalia.

In a separate incident, a deputy witnessed a man in Solomon’s Roy Rogers restaurant who was allegedly having trouble maintaining balance and stumbling in an attempt to get up from his seat. The deputy made contact with the subject, age 28, suspecting he was under the influence. The man was reportedly discovered by the arresting officer to be in possession of illegal drugs. The man was placed under arrest and charged with possession of heroin and the use of drug paraphernalia; a folded piece of paper used to store the heroin.

Detectives reportedly observed a male suspect, age 30, from Mechanicsville distribute tablets to another male, age 17, in a local business’ parking lot. The Oxycodone tablets that were allegedly exchanged along with the money were recovered, as was a prescription that had been altered. The subject who distributed the tablets was arrested and charged. Charges are pending against the male juvenile who received the tablets during the transaction.

A Piney Point area traffic stop was conducted by Captain Daniel Alioto, who was off duty at the time, and contact was made with the driver. Captain Alioto detected the odor of burnt marijuana. A vehicle search uncovered a smoking device, an amount of marijuana, and several oxycodone tablets. The suspect was charged with drug possession upon the arrival of the Vice Narcotics Support Team Deputy.

The incident occurred at the 5500 block of Hole Shot Place in Pomfret. The homeowner was able to provide officers who responded to the scene of the attempted theft a detailed description of the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle. An officer was able to locate the vehicle, make a positive identification, and conduct a traffic stop. A 25-year-old Waldorf resident was driving the car, and both the man who had broken into the victim’s truck and the man’s car were positively identified.

The County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of a man by the Warrant/Fugitive Division on four indictments of robbery with a deadly weapon and other related charges.

The robbery charges stemmed from four indictments that occurred in 2002 and for a failure-to- appear charge issued two years later. The cold case investigation led officers to Belmont Street in Washington D.C. They were assisted in making their arrest by Metro Washington Police officers.

Prince George’s County Sheriff’s deputies arrested another burglary suspect, closing five warrants. The arrest was for first degree burglary. The man placed under arrest allegedly broke into a home in the 6800 block of Middlefield Terrace in Fort Washington in 2013 on January 28, stealing various items.

The vehicle was spotted in Waldorf near McKendree Road on U.S. 301. When the officer attempted to pull the car over, the female driver would not stop, so officers continued pursuit of the Honda to Prince George’s County to the Brandywine Crossing Shopping Center where they were able to force the vehicle to stop. A man tried to get away on foot but was apprehended by officers. The woman driver stayed in the car and was arrested at the scene.

Diane Richardson, Charles County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said the incident began at 11:10 a.m. when officers arrived at the scene of the robbery. She added that in the pursuit of the robbery suspects no one was injured. The man, age 27, and the woman, age 19, were charged with armed robbery. The driver was also cited with various traffic violations.

According to charging documents, the relationship began in 2010 when the teacher asked the victim if he would send her naked pictures of himself. If he would do so, she would send pictures of herself to the student. Police acted on an anonymous tip. Once the allegation was made, the spokesman for Anne Arundel County Public Schools said the teacher was removed from the classroom.

• First-degree assault
• Reckless endangerment
• Attempted first-degree murder

A Mechanicsville area resident, age 22, was behind the wheel of a 1996 Dodge Intrepid on April 28 when the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into two utility poles. The crash occurred at 2:26 a.m. The driver’s 23-year-old passenger, riding in the front seat, also from Mechanicsville, died from the injuries she received. The driver and an additional passenger were thrown from the vehicle, found conscious nearby and were transported to a local hospital.

The criminal charge of negligent manslaughter was not, according to Laura Caspar, St. Mary’s Assistant State’s Attorney, due to the presence of alcohol in her blood. The speed the car was traveling was instead the basis of the criminal charge. Criminally negligent manslaughter is a misdemeanor version of Maryland’s felony vehicular manslaughter law.

• Robbery
• Armed robbery
• Intent to injure with a dangerous weapon
• First degree assault
• Second degree assault
• Theft of less than $1,000

The initial investigation revealed that the victim had been jumped from the rear and hit with a metal object that may have been a pipe. The suspects stole $700 cash from the beating victim, took some other items and then fled the scene, Kappatos Way at Hardesty Road in Sunderland.

The new bill restricts firearms access for the mentally ill, bans 45 types of assault rifles, and limits gun magazine capacity to ten. Those who purchase handguns will be required to submit fingerprints to the state police, making Maryland the first state in almost 20 years to pass such a requirement. Fingerprints are required in only five other states: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Hawaii.

Governor O’Malley said the bill’s success demonstrated that the majority of Maryland’s citizens support reducing gun violence through advancing legislation that will save lives.

All of the most significant provisions of the version passed by the Senate were kept intact. Those include the following:

• Limit the mentally ill’s access to firearms
• Ban assault rifles
• Lower magazines’ ammunition capacity from 20 to ten
• Require fingerprinting of individuals who purchase handguns
• Require at least eight hours of safety training for those who purchase handguns

Sheriff Evans told reporters that the man who feared for his life was a retired, Washington D.C. police officer himself. According to the preliminary investigation by the Calvert Investigative Team (CIT) the home owner was inside his home at the time and heard a loud knock or banging on his front door. Before opening the door, the resident found his handgun. When he opened the door, he saw two people. Both acted aggressively and made threatening statements. One had a weapon, which he proceeded to brandish. The resident was afraid of losing his life, so he shot at the suspects. One was hit and fell dead near the home’s driveway. The other suspect left the scene of the incident in a vehicle.