Patrol officers responded on April 24 to a report of theft in progress at a beauty shop in Waldorf, according to an April 28 statement. When police arrived, the suspects had already left the scene. An initial investigation found that two individuals entered the store, with one attempting to take several packages of hair products without paying. Employees tried to intervene but were sprayed in the face with pepper spray by one suspect before both fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about retail crime and employee safety. As officers canvassed nearby areas, they learned that the same suspects were involved in another theft at a different beauty supply store. Police entered this second location and saw the suspects inside; one tried to escape but was caught while the other was arrested without further incident. Pepper spray was recovered from one of them.
Amonie Lashawn Anderson, age 23, of Washington, D.C., was charged with theft scheme. Diamond Markevia Shepard, age 31, also from Washington D.C., faced charges including robbery and aggravated assault as well as related offenses. Anderson was released on personal recognizance from Charles County Detention Center on April 25 by a district court commissioner. On April 27, Shepard’s release was ordered contingent upon meeting electronic monitoring criteria.
According to the official website, Nicholas Gwyther served as the inaugural sheriff of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) beginning in 1658. The CCSO has grown significantly since then; it now employs more than 600 sworn officers and civilian staff members across its headquarters in La Plata and district stations located in Waldorf and Indian Head according to its official website. The agency is recognized as Maryland’s largest full-service sheriff’s office.
The CCSO earned Flagship Status from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2011 according to its official website and remains committed to community safety through superior performance and innovative techniques according to its official website. It has adapted over time from a single-person operation into what it describes as a key public safety entity focused on community well-being according to its official website.
