On January 22 at 1:50 a.m., a patrol officer initiated a traffic stop in the area of St Charles Parkway and St Marks Drive on a vehicle displaying suspended registration plates. During the stop, officers smelled marijuana and found drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana. Further, they recovered a loaded handgun–which had a fully loaded magazine­–and a separate magazine, which was fully loaded. The driver of the car, Michael Deante Washington, 29, of Waldorf, was arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, handgun on person, and illegally transporting a loaded firearm. On January 22, a judge released Washington from the detention center on a $3,000 bond. Anyone with additional information is asked to call PFC Phillips at 301-932-2222. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. The investigation is ongoing.

Washington, Michael Deante

CONTACT: Diane Richardson
Media Relations Office
(301) 609-6557 or (240) 682-1658

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in 2001 and has since earned the highest rating of Excellence. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us.

Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of a person responsible for a crime in Charles County. All individuals who provide tips through Crime Solvers will remain anonymous. Anyone with information about an unsolved crime or the location of a fugitive may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app, which can be found in the Android Store and Apple store by searching P3tips. For more information about the P3 program, click on this link: www.p3intel.com. 

###