In the early morning hours of Thursday, June 26, 2025, detectives with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division were conducting proactive enforcement in the Lexington Park area near Columbus Drive when they observed an individual believed to be in possession of a firearm.
At around 2:30 a.m., while attempting to apprehend the suspect, a brief foot pursuit ensued. During the chase, the suspect was seen discarding an item into a nearby dumpster.
The subject was apprehended in the 21000 block of Liberty Street and identified as Christopher Ian Bailey, 20, of Leonardtown, MD. He was taken into custody without further incident.
A subsequent search of the dumpster revealed a loaded, unserialized AR-15-style pistol with a full magazine and a round chambered. Detectives also recovered a discarded backpack nearby containing a loaded 50-round drum magazine for a 9mm handgun.
Bailey was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown and charged with the following:
• Possession of a regulated firearm by a person under 21 years of age
• Wearing or carrying a loaded handgun on or about his person
• Handgun on person
This case remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy Devin Absher at 301-475-4200, ext. 8054 or by email at Devin.Absher@stmaryscountymd.gov.
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