Southern Maryland News Net

Woman Transported to Hospital After House Fire in Leonardtown, Fire Marshal Investigating

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at approximately 3:40 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 41000 block of Medleys Neck Road in Leonardtown, for the reported house fire with possible entrapment. Dispatchers advised the 911 caller was not making sense, but reported the house was full of smoke with someone possibly trapped in the attic, with dispatchers noting the house is known for hoarding conditions. Firefighters from Leonardtown, Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, Hollywood, Second District and...
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5-Year-Old Flown to Children’s Center After Falling from 2-Story Window in Hollywood

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 3:24 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 43000 block of St. John’s Road in Hollywood, for the reported fall. 911 callers reported a 5-year-old male fell from a 2-story window, and advised no one witnessed the child fall and doesn’t know when it occurred. Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 7 was placed on standby. Crews arrived on the scene to find the child was conscious and breathing, while EMS evaluated...
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UPDATE: 17-Year-Old Charged As Adult After Stabbing 19-Year-Old at Great Mills High School

UPDATE 3/10/2026: Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a stabbing that occurred Tuesday at Great Mills High School. At approximately 12:15 p.m., School Resource Officer Corporal Gerard Muschette requested an ambulance for a 19-year-old male suffering from a single stab wound to the torso. The victim was flown from the scene to an area hospital with injuries that appear to be non-life-threatening. An immediate investigation was initiated, and a 17-year-old male suspect was taken into...
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UPDATE: Avenue Man Indicted for Fatal 2025 Crash on Route 5 in Leonardtown

UPDATE 3/10/2026: Kendall Deshong Young age 34 of Avenue, has been formally indicted and charged via criminal summons with the following charges below. NEG MANSL-AUTO/BOAT, ETC. CR NEG MANSLGHTR VEH/VESS RECKLESS DRIVING Negligent driving veh. in careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life and person Driving motor veh. while lic. suspended under TR (17-106, 26-204, 26-206, 27-103) An initial appearance is set for 04/20/2026. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the crash investigation, with charges presented to...
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Former MPD Officer Arrested, Police Investigating Drugging and Sexual Assaults Across Maryland and Virginia Over Past Two Years

APD: Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire provided a briefing on the Alexandria Police Department’s (APD) investigation into a sexual assault suspect. A Grand Jury indictment against Timothy Valentin, a 30-year-old resident of Fort Washington, Maryland, alleges he has sexually assaulted four victims. Today’s indictment charges Valentin with multiple felony offenses related to three victims, including: Four counts of Rape by Force Four counts of Rape by Incapacitation Two counts of Adulteration Two counts of Sodomy Two counts of Abduction...
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Hollywood Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography Following Investigation

Following an investigation into an alleged child pornography complaint, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division served an arrest warrant on Terry Joe Hahn, 44, of Hollywood, Maryland, on Monday, March 9, 2026. On Feb. 22, deputies responded after receiving a tip about the possible existence of pornographic images of children on Hahn’s phone. Through a forensic investigation, detectives determined that multiple pornographic images of juveniles of varying ages were located on the device. Hahn...
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Donations Pour In for Humane Society of Charles County Following Urgent Plea for Help

Last week, the Humane Society of Charles County (HSCC), the county’s only no-kill animal shelter, issued an urgent plea for help as the organization faced the possibility of closing its doors after more than 50 years of serving the community. After issuing the public plea earlier this week, the shelter originally sought to raise $125,000 to stabilize operations. Thanks to hundreds of donors from across Southern Maryland and beyond who responded to the call for help, HSCC has now surpassed...
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Child, Two Adults Transported to Trauma Centers After Crash Leaves Multiple Trapped in Waldorf

On Monday, March 9, 2026, at approximately 11:52 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Crain Highway and Gillespie Circle in Waldorf, for the serious motor vehicle collision with one overturned. Crews arrived on the scene within 3 minutes of dispatch to find multiple vehicles involved, and confirmed three patients trapped in a vehicle on its side. Firefighters extricated two adults and one child from the vehicle in under 20 minutes. Emergency medical services...
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Chesapeake Life Center’s Pet Loss Workshop Returns to Perfect Pet Resort

In response to continued community interest and the deep need for support after the loss of a beloved pet, Chesapeake Life Center is pleased to bring back its popular Pet Loss Workshop, offering comfort, connection and healthy coping strategies for grieving adults. The free workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Perfect Pet Resort, 840 W. Bay Front Road, Lothian, Maryland. For many, pets are cherished family members. When they die, the...
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UPDATE: Four MS-13 Gang Members Indicted in Connection to Murder of Missing 14-Year-Old Who Was Found Dead in Prince George’s County

UPDATE 3/8/2026: Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson has announced that Jose Merlos-Majano, Alan Josai Garcia-Padilla, William Cuellar Gutierrez, and a 17-year-old have been indicted on charges including first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and participation in a criminal organization in connection with the death of 14-year-old Jefferson Amaya-Ayala from Washington D.C. In August 2025, Amaya-Ayala was reported missing after he was last seen in the 1400 block of Sheridan Street in...
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2-Year-Old Female Flown to Children’s Center After Being Run Over by Church Van in Great Mills

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church located on Chancellors Run Road in Great Mills, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. 911 callers reported a 4-year-old female was run over by a church van with the child in and out of consciousness. Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 7 pre-launched to land nearby. Police, firefighters and emergency medical services...
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White Plains Man Arrested, 9-Year-Old Transported to Hospital After High Speed Pursuit Ends in 100 MPH Crash

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at approximately 9:45 p.m., police attempted to pull over a white Mercedes-Benz C43 sedan for a traffic violation on Middletown Road at Ethridge Drive in Waldorf. When the deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, the suspect vehicle immediately fled at a high rate of speed, with the deputy reporting speeds of 106 mph. Within 50 seconds of announcing the vehicle not stopping, the suspect crashed on Middletown Road between Smallwood Drive and Billingsley...
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St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce Announces 2026 Bubby Knott Philanthropist of the Year Award and the 2026 Bubby Knott Non-Profit of the Year Award

The St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2026 Bubby Knott Philanthropist of the Year Award and the 2026 Bubby Knott Non-Profit of the Year Award, recognizing individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact in the community. Both awards will be presented during the Chamber’s annual gala scheduled for May 14, 2026. Established in 2024, the awards honor the legacy of the Bubby Knott Foundation and recognize those who demonstrate a lasting commitment to improving the lives...
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UPDATE: Bodycam in Fatal Charles County Officer Involved Shooting is Released

Warning: This video contains violent and graphic material that may be disturbing and is not suitable for all viewers. Please proceed with caution. UPDATE 3/8/2026: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has released the body-worn camera footage from the fatal police-involved shooting involving the Charles County Sheriff’s Office that occurred on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in White Plains, Charles County, Maryland. The decedent was previously identified as 36-year-old Demarcus Irish of Clinton,...
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No Injuries and Minimal Damage After Early Morning Kitchen Fire at Rucci’s in Leonardtown

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at approximately 1:43 a.m., police responded to the Rucci’s located at 22685 Washington Street in Leonardtown, for the automated motion detection alarm. Deputies arrived on the scene at 2:09 a.m., to find nothing evident and waited for a keyholder to arrive on the scene to access the interior of the building. Upon the keyholder arriving on scene at approximately 2:25 a.m., the keyholder and Deputies made entry to find smoke and fire showing from...
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St. Mary’s County March 10, 2026 – Commissioner Meeting Rollup

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) began their business meeting with an invocation and the pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. As part of the consent agenda, the Commissioners authorized a letter of support for the St. Mary’s County Historical Society’s application to the Maryland Historical Trust’s Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program. The...
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Sports Wagering Contributes $7.3 Million to the State During February 2026

Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $7,318,939 in contributions to the state during February 2026. Through the first eight months of Fiscal Year 2026 (July 2025 through February 2026), sports wagering has returned a total of $96,852,199 to the state. Sports bettors in Maryland wagered $515,655,127 during February and won back $464,594,429 in prizes. Sportsbook...
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Multiple Car Rallies Disrupted Across Prince George’s And Montgomery Counties; Two Arrests Made

Multiple large-scale illegal car rallies were prevented or dismantled and two arrests were made by members of the Maryland Car Rally Task Force and partner law enforcement agencies this past weekend across Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. The joint operation started at 10 p.m. Saturday night and continued through 4:00 am Sunday morning. High...
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UM Charles Regional Named One of Top 5 Safest Hospitals in Maryland

The University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, a member of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), has earned a Healthgrades’ 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award, one of only five hospitals recognized in Maryland, for the second year in a row. This achievement reflects UM Charles Regional’s resolute commitment to safe, patient-centered care...
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SMADC Opens Search for Host Venue of the 2026 Buy Local Challenge Celebration

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), a division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, is officially seeking a premier location to host the 2026 Buy Local Challenge (BLC) Celebration. Farms, wineries, and established agritourism venues throughout Southern Maryland are invited to submit applications to showcase their property as the backdrop for this...
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April 2026 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

A special fossil egg hunt, spring break adventures, the Otter Trot 5K, and a special Maritime Performance Series concert, Music of the American Revolution, headline a packed April schedule at the Calvert Marine Museum. For the full calendar of April events, visit calvertmarinemuseum.com. Wednesday, April 1 – Spring Break Program: Birds of the Marsh | 10...
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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Generates $8.5 Billion in Economic Impact, Supports Nearly 31,000 Jobs in Fiscal Year 2025

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development released its Fiscal Year 2025 Agency Impact Report, which spotlights the Department’s work to produce more affordable housing, support local businesses and create lovable places across the state. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Department’s programs generated $8.5 billion in economic impact, $1.9 billion in wages and salaries...
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Maryland State Police Investigating Two-Vehicle Double Fatal Crash In Prince George’s County

Maryland State Police are investigating a two-vehicle double fatal crash in Prince George’s County. The driver of a Nissan Maxima, identified as Douglas Orlando Smith, 39, of Brandywine, Maryland, was pronounced deceased on the scene. A passenger in the Nissan, whose identification is being withheld pending next of kin notification, was additionally pronounced deceased...
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Lexington Park Man Arrested After Shots Fired and Vehicle Pursuit; Deputies Recover Loaded Rifle

On Monday, March 9, 2026, at approximately 9:30 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office heard gunfire while conducting proactive patrol operations in the Lexington Park area and immediately responded to Bunker Hill Drive. Upon arrival, deputies located a red Chevrolet Equinox with the passenger-side window broken out. Deputies attempted to speak...
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Man Flown to Burn Center After Gasoline Explosion in Lusby

On Monday, March 9, 2026, at approximately 7:57 p.m., emergency medical services, and firefighters from Solomons and St. Leonard responded to the 12000 block of Painted Horse Trail in Lusby, for the reported brush fire with burn injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find a small fire contained to the backyard of the...
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No Injuries Reported After Vehicle Rear-Ends School Bus in Waldorf

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at approximately 1:55 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Leonardtown Road and Mattawoman Beantown Road in Waldorf, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a school bus with possible entrapment. 911 callers reported a sedan rear-ended a school bus, with unknown occupancy and...
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Newburg Man Charged After Returning to Lexington Park CVS Despite Trespass Notice

Joshua Antoine Miles, 37, of Newburg, is facing a misdemeanor trespassing charge after Maryland State Police say he returned to a Lexington Park CVS where he had previously been banned from the property. According to court documents, Miles is charged with trespass on private property stemming from an incident that occurred around 11:20 p.m....
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Waldorf Man Faces Theft and Weapon Charges Following Hot Dog Theft at Wawa in White Plains

Juan Carlos Quiros-Aceredo, 57, of Waldorf, is facing misdemeanor charges of theft under $100 and carrying a concealed dangerous weapon following an incident at a convenience store in White Plains, according to court documents. The charges stem from an incident reported around 9:30 p.m. on March 3, 2026, at a Wawa located on Crain...
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Charles County Commissioners Advance Inspector General Legislation, Housing Initiatives, and Zoning Updates

The Charles County Commissioners reviewed and advanced several legislative and planning initiatives during their recent meeting, including the creation of an independent Inspector General office, housing development updates, and zoning changes aimed at supporting retail and residential growth. Independent Office of the Inspector General Proposed County Attorney Wes Adams presented legislation to formally establish...
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Vendors Sought for Calvert County Farmers Markets

Buying local is easy with an abundance of fresh food from Calvert County’s farmers, agribusinesses and watermen. Patrons can find local produce, meat, bedding plants (vegetables and herbs) and a cornucopia of other offerings. The Calvert County Farmers Market Association is seeking vendors for its Prince Frederick and Dunkirk markets this season. These are...
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A Week of Hands-On Spring Break Activities at Historic Sotterley!

Historic Sotterley, the Southern Maryland Folklife Center, St. Mary’s County Public Library, and local author Nocola Williams are teaming up to offer a full week of low-cost, family friendly Spring Break programs designed to keep children active, curious, and learning while school’s out. From March 30 through April 3, families can enjoy a different...
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St. Mary’s County to be Honored as the Birthplace of Stuffed Ham with Historic Marker Unveiling at St. Clement’s Island Museum

St. Mary’s County has been designated as the official birthplace of stuffed ham, and a historic marker will be erected and dedicated to this honor by the St. Mary’s County Museum Division with a grant from the Pomeroy Foundation. On Sunday, March 29, 2026, the marker will be installed on the grounds of the...
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