Officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit, with assistance from the Prince George’s County Police Department, apprehended Fernando Echemendia, 24, of Fort Washington, on January 1. Echemendia was wanted for failure to appear in court on charges of violating a protective order and burglary.
The protective order, issued in December, followed a burglary at the home of the protected individual. At the time of the incident, Echemendia already had an active warrant for a prior violation of a protective order unrelated to the burglary case. The recent arrest highlights ongoing concerns about his compliance with court-ordered restrictions.
Authorities reported that Echemendia made threatening statements during his arrest, including claims that he would shoot and kill police officers during any future encounters. He was charged with failure to appear in court and transported to the Charles County Detention Center.
Despite these charges and the nature of his alleged statements, a judge released Echemendia from detention on January 4, placing him under electronic monitoring. Officials have not disclosed the conditions of the monitoring or any additional safeguards put in place to protect the individuals involved in the cases against him.
The investigation remains active as authorities review evidence and consider further actions.
