Junkie Beat Feet with Stolen Stuff; Collared by Top Cop


St. Mary's Sheriff Tim Cameron on crutches recently when he had surgery for a torn tendon.
Apparently he has made a full recovery. 

ST. MARY'S TODAY photo

CALIFORNIA (Jan. 12, 2009) --- Sheriff Tim Cameron is a lot older and a few pounds heavier than when he began patrolling Lexington Park as a rookie deputy but this week he showed he could still get the lead out when he has to when he chased down a suspect running from BJ’s with merchandise.

Dfc. Cindy Allen reports that on January 10, 2010 at approximately 4:30 pm Sheriff Timothy Cameron was off duty, driving through the parking lot of BJ Wholesale Club in California, Maryland when he observed a male running from BJ’s towards Staples carrying a box. 

Sheriff Cameron witnessed the male throw the box to the ground and then observed what appeared to be two BJ’s employees chasing the subject.  Sheriff Cameron, believing a theft had just occurred, gave chase and yelled to the suspect that he (the Sheriff) was a police officer and order the suspect to stop.  The suspect initially kept running. 

The Sheriff caught up with the suspect and again ordered him to stop.  The suspect complied and was detained by the Sheriff.  The store employees arrived on the scene with the Sheriff.  Sheriff Cameron had the store employees’ call 911. 

"I was driving a pickup truck in the area of the store when I saw the guy running across the parking lot," Sheriff Cameron told ST. MARY'S TODAY.  "I then saw the two people chasing  him and that was when it looked like a possible crime had taken place. When I caught the guy and had him pinned on the ground, one of the BJ's employees told me that they had called 911 and had them call back and hand me the phone so I could identify myself to the dispatcher."

"We make it clear to all of our deputies that every officer is first of all a police officer and when any one of us sees a crime, we need to take immediate action, that any crime is against the community and affects us all," said Cameron.

The suspect/accused is identified as Ryan James Watson, 19, of St. Leonard, Maryland.  Further investigation revealed Watson had placed numerous electronic games into a box and exited BJ’s without paying for the items.  Watson was arrested. 

Search incident to the arrest revealed Watson was in possession of a hypodermic needle containing suspect heroin residue.  Watson was charged with theft, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin) and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia.