Southern Maryland News Net

UPDATE: Police Arrest Third Suspect in Lexington Park Shooting

UPDATE: Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, have arrested Charles Henry Thompson, 30, of Lexington Park, Maryland, in connection with a shooting on October 30, 2024, in the 22000 block of Valley Estates, Lexington Park. Thompson was located and arrested without incident in South Carolina. He was extradited to St. Mary’s County on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, and is being held at the Detention and Rehabilitation Center on charges including...
Read More »

UPDATE: United States Flag and Maryland Flag to be Half-Staff for Master Firefighter Christopher Higgins

UPDATE 1/16/2025: Governor Wes Moore has ordered the Maryland Flag lowered to half-staff effective immediately. This action is for Master Firefighter Christopher Higgins of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service who died in the line of duty on Saturday, January 11, 2025. The United States Flag will be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, January 24, 2025 for Master Firefighter Higgins; the day his funeral service. The United States Flag and Maryland Flag will continue...
Read More »

Serious Motor Vehicle Collision Involving Dump Truck with Entrapment Sends One to Trauma Center

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, at approximately 10:31 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Crain Highway and Rock Point Road in Newburg, for the serious motor vehicle collision involving a commercial vehicle with entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to find a Toyota vehicle and a dump truck involved in a T-bone style collision with the operator of the Toyota trapped and unresponsive. Firefighters extricated the trapped patient in under 15 minutes. A...
Read More »

Horrific Conditions Lead Over 150 Animal Cruelty Charges for Charlotte Hall Father and Daughter

Kelvin Shepherd, 51, and Dominique Parrish, 35, both of Charlotte Hall, were arrested following a joint investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control. The investigation uncovered what authorities describe as “horrific” conditions for over 17 dogs housed on their property at 30205 Gershwin Road. The arrests came after months of escalating complaints, including reports of dog attacks on other animals and inadequate care for the dogs on the premises. Court documents paint a grim picture...
Read More »

Police in St. Mary’s County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 28-Year-Old Mechanicsville Woman

UPDATE: On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at approximately 6:33 p.m., patrol units from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision near Three Notch Road and Old Village Road, Mechanicsville, with one ejected. The preliminary investigation revealed a 2000 Infinity G20 operated by Melissa Marie Stallings, 28, of Mechanicsville, was traveling eastbound on Old Village Road, failed to yield the right of way, crossing over Three Notch Road, and was struck by a...
Read More »

VIDEO: Tip From Confidential Informant Uncovers Major Drug Operation in St. Mary’s County

On January 14, 2025, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Thomas A. Goldring, 44, of Great Mills, and Toney L. Daye, 58, of Lexington Park, who now face multiple drug-related charges. The arrests occurred following an investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotics Unit, which had received information linking Goldring, known as “Junk,” to narcotics distribution in the Lexington Park area. According to court documents, detectives were tipped off by a reliable confidential informant who reported that Goldring was actively...
Read More »

Police in Charles County Seize Drugs, Guns, and Stolen Vehicles – Newburg Man Arrested

Demetrius Antoine McKinney, 32, of Newburg, was arrested on January 9, 2025, in connection with an ongoing drug trafficking investigation by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Division. The arrest followed a search warrant executed at McKinney’s residence on Oak Ridge Court, where authorities reportedly recovered a substantial amount of illegal drugs, firearms, stolen property, and other evidence linked to criminal activity. According to the statement of probable cause, the search began early in the morning, with the...
Read More »

UPDATE: 94-Year-Old Woman Identified After Being Found Deceased In Her Hughesville Home

UPDATE 1/13/2025: The victim of last week’s fatal house fire in Hughesville has been positively identified as 94-year-old Dora Lee Douglas, the homeowner. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the cause of death was attributed to thermal burn injuries and smoke inhalation. The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office continue investigating the exact origin and cause of the fire. While the exact cause of the fire has not been determined,...
Read More »

Prince Frederick Man who Stabbed Dog to Death in Calvert County Convicted of Aggravated Animal Cruelty

On Friday, January 10, 2025, following a 2-day trial, Mark Roosevelt Fields was convicted by a Calvert County jury of aggravated animal cruelty and dangerous weapons charges. At trial, the evidence revealed that Fields, 39, of Prince Frederick, stabbed and killed his cousin’s dog following a family dispute. Fields will be sentenced on March 14, 2025. Until that time, he will be held without bond at the Calvert County Detention Center. He is facing up to 6 years in...
Read More »

Man Flown to Trauma Center After Accidentally Shooting Himself With Shotgun in Leonardtown

On Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:05 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 42000 block of Fairgrounds Road in Leonardtown, for the reported gunshot victim. Police arrived on the scene to find the adult male patient was conscious alert and breathing. Fire and medical services proceeded into the scene to find a 45-year-old male with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen and requested a helicopter to land at the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in...
Read More »

St. Mary’s County EMS Chief Who Admitted to Stealing Fentanyl and Other Drugs Makes Plea Deal

UPDATE 1/9/2024: Thomas Patrick Raley has accepted a plea deal in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court after facing multiple charges. He entered an Alford plea to second-degree burglary, meaning he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. Raley also pled guilty to two counts of rogue and vagabond, as well as seven counts of drug possession involving controlled substances other than cannabis. The thefts primarily involved controlled substances essential for emergency medical...
Read More »

Hollywood Woman Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges After Dog is Euthanized Due to Severe Injuries

UPDATE 1/12/2025: Kenjewel McCullough, 45, of Hollywood, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2025, to six counts of animal cruelty in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court. McCullough was charged with the misdemeanor offenses, stemming from incidents that occurred on June 16, 2024. At a sentencing hearing presided over by Judge Amy Lorenzini, McCullough entered guilty pleas for six charges. With her guilty pleas, the case was resolved, and the jury trial initially scheduled for January 14-17, 2025, was canceled. Court...
Read More »

Large House in Chesapeake Beach Destroyed After Early Morning Fire, Cause Under Investigation

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, at approximately 3:44 a.m., police responded to 4515 Camp Roosevelt Drive in Chesapeake Beach, for multiple alarms going off. Around 3:54 a.m., officers began travelling down the driveway and at the same time, one of the home owners called stating the house was on fire. Under a minute later, Deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported seeing fire through the woods. When officers arrived, they reported the entire house was engulfed in flames...
Read More »

UPDATE: Two Flown Out After Armored Vehicle Overturns in Charles County, Firefighter Injured On Scene

UPDATE 1/12/2025: The La Plata Volunteer Fire Department provided mutual aid in response to a motor vehicle accident with entrapment in the Bennsville area Upon arrival, first-responding companies encountered an overturned armored vehicle with two individuals trapped inside. Rescue Engine 1 from the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department played a pivotal role in assisting with the extrication of one of the trapped occupants located in the rear compartment of the vehicle. During the extrication efforts, one of our members...
Read More »

Bubby’s Christmas Farewell Brings in Over $320,000, Knott Family Donates All to Our Schools, Organizations and Volunteer Fire Departments

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the Knott family hosted a check presentation for our local nonprofits, organizations and three of our communities completely volunteer Fire/EMS departments. “Thanks to your generosity and the Knott Family’s incredible donation, we’re proud to announce the distribution of funds to these amazing local nonprofits! Each organization plays a vital role in our community, and we are so proud to support them in Bubby’s honor.” Here’s a breakdown of how the funds were distributed: St....
Read More »

Calvert County Deputy Madura Honored as ‘Deputy of the Quarter’

Sheriff Ricky Cox and the men and women of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office are proud to announce Deputy Jakob Madura as our ‘Deputy of the Quarter’ for Q4 of 2024! His dedication, professionalism, and proactive approach to law enforcement have been outstanding. Deputy Madura conducted 283 traffic stops, leading to 396 violations and...
Read More »

Lavorgna Named Calvert County Correctional Deputy of the Quarter

Congratulations to Deputy Ella Lavorgna, our 2024 Correctional Deputy of the Fourth Quarter! Deputy Lavorgna is known for her dedication, outstanding work ethic, and readiness to take on any challenge. Her supervisors praise her for mastering critical posts, maintaining a perfect attendance record, and achieving top scores in uniform inspections and job knowledge. She...
Read More »

Two Injured After Single Vehicle Overturns in Hughesville

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at approximately 5:30 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Leonardtown Road and Gallant Green Road in Hughesville, for the serious motor vehicle collision with multiple subjects trapped. While units were responding, communications advised all occupants were now reported out of the vehicles. Crews...
Read More »

22-Year-Old Port Republic Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase from Calvert to St. Mary’s County

Dylan Michael Barbieri, 22, of Port Republic, was arrested on January 14, 2025, following a high-speed pursuit that spanned parts of Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. According to court documents, the incident began when officers in Calvert County observed Barbieri’s vehicle traveling at an estimated 85 mph in a 55 mph zone along Maryland...
Read More »

Repeat Offender Faces Multiple Charges, Including Escape, in St. Mary’s County After Failing to Report to Jail

Justin Michael Gibson, 33, of Lexington Park, is facing a series of charges in St. Mary’s County following multiple alleged incidents, including thefts and an escape from custody. Court records detail a sequence of events that culminated in the issuance of an arrest warrant for the defendant. According to court documents, Gibson has been...
Read More »

VIDEO: Hollywood Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving, Cocaine Possession in Lexington Park

Serinity Faith Byrd, 32, of Hollywood, was arrested on January 10, 2025, following a welfare check that revealed impaired driving and the discovery of suspected cocaine in her possession. According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to the Pegg Road Food Mart, located at 22141 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park,...
Read More »

Maryland State Police Investigating Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision Involving Pedestrian

The Maryland State Police Crash Team is investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian in Prince George’s County. The deceased is identified as Gwendolyn Mack, 60, of Upper Marlboro. Mack was transported from the scene to Capital Regional Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly before 11:45 a.m.,...
Read More »

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Releases Statement Following Governor Moore’s $3 Billion Deficit Announcement, Tax Increases, and Budget Cuts

In December 2024 the Department of Legislative Services reported a historic $2.95 billion General Fund projected shortfall for the State’s Fiscal Year 2026 (beginning July 1, 2025)—greater than any shortfall in at least 20 years including during the Great Recession. The $2.95 billion projected shortfall (before any budget actions) represents a projected 11 percent...
Read More »

February 2025 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

Celebrate February at the Calvert Marine Museum with exciting programs and events for all ages! From meeting Poppie the opossum to exploring local history and participating in citizen science, there’s something for everyone this month. Don’t miss the Maritime Performance Series with ASH & ERIC L’ESPERANCE on the 21st. For more information about museum...
Read More »

UPDATE: FDA to Revoke Authorization for the Use of Red #3 in Food and Ingested Drugs

UPDATE 1/15/2025: The FDA is revoking the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 as a matter of law, based on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FDA is amending its color additive regulations to no longer allow for the use of FD&C Red...
Read More »

Multiple Chickens Perish in Leonardtown Chicken Coop Fire

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10:13 p.m., firefighters from Second District, Leonardtown, Bay District, Hollywood, and Seventh District responded to the 20000 block of Chingville Road in Leonardtown, for the reported chicken coop on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find an approximate 7 x 10 chicken coop with smoke and fire...
Read More »

Marylander Hunters and Birders Should Be Vigilant Against Avian Influenza

In early January, laboratory testing provided preliminary confirmation of Highly Pathogenic H5 Avian Influenza (HPAI) in seven dead snow geese found in Worcester and Dorchester counties, and subsequently in a Caroline County poultry facility. Avian influenza, often called “bird flu,” is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds, and its presence should be considered...
Read More »

Charles County Detectives Charge Juvenile with Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

In September of 2023, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received a Cyber tip, which was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by a cloud storage provider. The tip outlined a user who was storing child pornographic files in their cloud storage account. Detectives initiated an investigation. Soon after, the...
Read More »

Attorney General Brown’s Statement on Supreme Court of the United States’ Decision Today to Decline Challenge in Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore

(January 13, 2025) – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear a challenge of Maryland’s law requiring most residents to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun. In Maryland, most applicants for handgun qualification licenses are required to submit fingerprints, undergo...
Read More »

Mechanicsville Man Faces Fourth DUI After Stealing Lottery Money from Korner Karry Out

Vance Harrison Deniston, 67, of Mechanicsville, was arrested on January 10, 2025, following an incident involving the theft of cash from a local business and a subsequent investigation that led to multiple driving under the influence (DUI) charges. The arrest, detailed in court documents and statements from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, also...
Read More »

La Plata Police Investigating Suspicious Incident Involving Man at Target

The La Plata Police Department is investigating several complaints about an individual described as a light skinned male in his early 20’s driving a blue Nissan with Maryland plates who attempted to solicit females in the parking lot of the Target located on Shining Willow Way. The agency has developed a person of interest...
Read More »

Lothian Man Sentenced for Shoplifting Ribeye Steaks from Weis Grocery Store in Lexington Park

On January 13, 2025, Brandon Lee Holdaway, 29, of Lothian, was sentenced in St. Mary’s County District Court after pleading guilty to theft of items valued under $100. The charge stemmed from an incident on October 9, 2024, at a Weis grocery store located at 21600 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. According to...
Read More »

Archives