St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies apprehended four juveniles Monday night after a chain of incidents in Lexington Park that began with the theft of a 2004 Honda Pilot, included a shoplifting at Aspen Liquors, and ended with an attempted vehicle theft and a brief police pursuit.
The sequence unfolded on February 9, 2026. At about 6:10 p.m., deputies responded to a residential area in Lexington Park for a report of the stolen Honda Pilot taken from the street in front of a home. Witnesses described three masked individuals in all-black clothing near the vehicle around the time of the theft. Surveillance footage later captured the SUV leaving the area with multiple occupants inside.
By 9:53 p.m., deputies arrived at Aspen Liquors in Lexington Park after the store owner reported two suspects entering, grabbing a four-pack of mixed alcoholic beverages, and exiting without payment. Video from the business showed the pair arriving in what appeared to be the stolen Honda Pilot and matching descriptions from the earlier vehicle report.
During proactive patrol on Great Mills Road around 10:45 p.m., a deputy spotted the Honda Pilot and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused, leading to a pursuit that lasted about half a mile into a residential neighborhood before the vehicle stopped. Four juvenile males exited and surrendered without resistance. No injuries occurred during the incident.
While deputies interviewed witnesses at the stop scene, a citizen reported an earlier attempted vehicle theft. The individual said he stopped to discard trash from his truck when suspects approached and tried to take it. Upon returning, he saw them flee in the Honda Pilot. He identified the apprehended juveniles as the same group.
The juveniles—three 14-year-olds and one 16-year-old—were referred to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and released to their guardians. Maryland law prohibits public release of juvenile identities in such cases to protect their privacy during the judicial process.
Sheriff Steve Hall commented on the resolution: “I’m thankful this ended safely.”
The events highlight quick investigative work combining witness accounts, surveillance footage, and patrol efforts to link multiple offenses within hours. Lexington Park, a key commercial and residential hub in St. Mary’s County near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, sees occasional vehicle-related incidents tied to youth activity, though this case resolved without escalation or harm.
Deputies credited surveillance tools and community tips for connecting the dots across the stolen vehicle, retail theft, and attempted auto theft. The brief pursuit stayed contained to residential streets, minimizing risk. No weapons were reported in the incidents, and the focus now shifts to juvenile services handling for rehabilitation and accountability.
