Alton

shappell@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That's the belief of Washington County Sheriff's Department Investigator Greg Alton, who said Wednesday that several con artists are working the county by telephone and in person. Alton said that in recent weeks and months deputies have received an increased amount of reports from county residents of attempted telemarketing scams. Alton said lottery-based scams are among the most popular.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department is seeking to return property recovered after two men were charged with numerous felonies. According to Sheriff's Department Detective Greg Alton, Christopher Lee Nicely, 23, of no fixed address, and James Richard Farris, 21, of Williamsport, admitted to one burglary after they were caught allegedly breaking into a residence in the 11000 block of Pinesburg Road about 10:25 a.m. Wednesday. According to information provided by Washington County District Court Commissioner Cheryl Titus, Farris and Nicely each were charged with two counts of first-degree burglary; one count of third-degree burglary; one count of fourth-degree burglary; one count of fourth-degree burglary, permitted use of burglar's tools; and one count of fourth-degree burglary, possession of burglar's tools.

Maryland State Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Department are seeking the public's help in finding the person or people responsible for a series of recent commercial building break-ins in the county. Police believe an attempted break-in at a Clear Spring restaurant, a break-in at a Clear Spring diner and a break-in at a Hagers- town salon over the past couple of days might be linked. State Police Sgt. Dave Bowers said a broken window was found at Windy Hill Restaurant, 13120 Clear Spring Road, at about 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Washington County Sheriff's Department Investigator Greg Alton is asking a man who called him anonymously in reference to a police log item that ran in The Herald-Mail Saturday about stolen building supplies to call him back. He said that the man called about the possible location of additional property possibly linked to a series of thefts from homes under construction that occurred within the county in late 2004 and throughout this year. The thefts are under investigation and no charges had been filed by Wednesday afternoon, Alton said.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Hagerstown man who detectives say was involved in a June home invasion during which a handgun was pointed at a 3-year-old's head saw his case forwarded Tuesday to Washington County Circuit Court. Mark Anthony Summerville, 23, of 1012 Pope Ave., and another man were charged with first-degree burglary, first- degree assault and other crimes in the home invasion, during which masked men stole prescription medicine and cash from a safe in a Funkstown home. Jeffrey Wayne Haynes, 23, of 115 Catawba Place, Apt. 3, in Hagerstown, was also charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and other crimes.

shappell@herald-mail.com A Washington County Grand Jury indictment was served Tuesday on a Maugansville man charging him with embezzling more than $100,000 in funds and inventory from Antietam Health Service, the Washington County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday. Timothy L. Higgins, 41, of 13941 Green Mountain Drive, was charged with one count of theft scheme more than $500 in an indictment handed up by the grand jury on Friday, deputies said. Sheriff's Department Investigator Gregory Alton said the department began investigating Higgins in July 2002 after an internal investigation performed by Antietam Health found discrepancies.

Man bitten by snake refuses treatment HANCOCK - A man who was bitten by a snake Tuesday evening refused medical treatment following the incident, a Washington County 911 Center dispatcher said. The bite victim, whose identity was not released, reported that the incident occurred in Vista Village around 9:45 p.m., the dispatcher said. The dispatcher said he refused treatment and an air transport was canceled. The dispatcher said the Hancock Rescue Squad responded to the call.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Police have issued a warrant charging a Martinsburg woman with robbing a Williamsport Waffle House Saturday. Tonya Marie Powell, 23, was charged in the warrant with armed robbery, robbery, misdemeanor theft, first-degree and second-degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony or violent crime and wearing or carrying a handgun on her person, said Washington County Sheriff's Investigator Greg Alton. Alton said he believed Powell was still in the Tri-State area, and should be considered armed and dangerous.

W.Va. man wanted in Sears theft arrested HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Officers from the Berkeley County and Washington County sheriff's departments combined their efforts Thursday in the arrest of a man wanted in a Friday theft involving what was believed to be a handgun, police said. Washington County Investigator Greg Alton said Trevor J. Shane, 26, of 567 Baxter Road in Hedgesville, was charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, carrying/wearing a handgun on person and misdemeanor theft.

Guy Alton Dellinger, 88, of Inwood, W.Va., died Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Winchester (Va.) Medical Center. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at South Berkeley Chapel in Inwood, W.Va. A service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Wayne Frum officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens.

Roy Alton Shaw, 66, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Monday, April 11, 2011, at City Hospital, Martinsburg. The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will be private.

MAY 9, 1923-MAY 23, 2009 Alton Henry Knight, 86, of 167 Chantilly Court, Hagerstown, Md., died Saturday, May 23, 2009, at Washington County Hospital. Born May 9, 1923, in Ranson, W.Va., he was the son of the late Henry C. and Lena R. Ambrose Knight. He was preceded in death by his wife, Goldie Lorraine Knight, in 2001. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater and Normandy. He was an electrician and a member of the IBEW Local Union 307 for 60 years.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Hagerstown man who detectives say was involved in a June home invasion during which a handgun was pointed at a 3-year-old's head saw his case forwarded Tuesday to Washington County Circuit Court. Mark Anthony Summerville, 23, of 1012 Pope Ave., and another man were charged with first-degree burglary, first- degree assault and other crimes in the home invasion, during which masked men stole prescription medicine and cash from a safe in a Funkstown home. Jeffrey Wayne Haynes, 23, of 115 Catawba Place, Apt. 3, in Hagerstown, was also charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and other crimes.

Pa. man charged after chase in county A 24-year-old Fayetteville, Pa., man was arrested after he allegedly led police on a chase Monday evening, according to Washington County Sheriff's Department Investigator Greg Alton. Clifton Eugene Stouffer, of 2424 Smoketown Road, faces numerous traffic violations, including driving with a suspended license, passing on the right, fleeing and eluding, and speeding, and a criminal charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, Alton said.

Maryland State Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Department are seeking the public's help in finding the person or people responsible for a series of recent commercial building break-ins in the county. Police believe an attempted break-in at a Clear Spring restaurant, a break-in at a Clear Spring diner and a break-in at a Hagers- town salon over the past couple of days might be linked. State Police Sgt. Dave Bowers said a broken window was found at Windy Hill Restaurant, 13120 Clear Spring Road, at about 7 a.m. Wednesday.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Police have issued a warrant charging a Martinsburg woman with robbing a Williamsport Waffle House Saturday. Tonya Marie Powell, 23, was charged in the warrant with armed robbery, robbery, misdemeanor theft, first-degree and second-degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony or violent crime and wearing or carrying a handgun on her person, said Washington County Sheriff's Investigator Greg Alton. Alton said he believed Powell was still in the Tri-State area, and should be considered armed and dangerous.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department is seeking to return property recovered after two men were charged with numerous felonies. According to Sheriff's Department Detective Greg Alton, Christopher Lee Nicely, 23, of no fixed address, and James Richard Farris, 21, of Williamsport, admitted to one burglary after they were caught allegedly breaking into a residence in the 11000 block of Pinesburg Road about 10:25 a.m. Wednesday. According to information provided by Washington County District Court Commissioner Cheryl Titus, Farris and Nicely each were charged with two counts of first-degree burglary; one count of third-degree burglary; one count of fourth-degree burglary; one count of fourth-degree burglary, permitted use of burglar's tools; and one count of fourth-degree burglary, possession of burglar's tools.

Washington County Sheriff's Department Investigator Greg Alton is asking a man who called him anonymously in reference to a police log item that ran in The Herald-Mail Saturday about stolen building supplies to call him back. He said that the man called about the possible location of additional property possibly linked to a series of thefts from homes under construction that occurred within the county in late 2004 and throughout this year. The thefts are under investigation and no charges had been filed by Wednesday afternoon, Alton said.