Southern Maryland News Net

St. Mary’s County Man Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer After Pulling Over Cop in Silver Spring

42-year-old Melvin Andrew Pinkney Jr. of California, MD has been arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer after attempting to conduct a traffic stop on a Montgomery County Police officer. Detectives believe there may be victims who were stopped by Pinkney while he was posing as a law enforcement officer and are urging them to come forward. On Monday, June 15, 2026, at approximately 12:15 a.m., a Montgomery County Police officer assigned to the 2nd District Special Assignment...
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UPDATE: Police Investigating Head-On Minibike Collision That Left 16-Year-Old in Serious Condition, 19-Year-Old Dead

UPDATE 6/16/2026 @ 12:30 p.m.: On Monday, June 15, 2026, at approximately 11:21 p.m., Troopers from Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack along with deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to Maryland Route 224 (Riverside Rd) in the area of Wilson Landing Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Due to the circumstances, TFC A. Sabock, Advanced Collision Investigator (ACI) responded to assume the investigation. A preliminary investigation conducted by Troopers indicates a 2021...
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UPDATE: Valley Lee Man Sentenced to 90-Years For His Role in Quadruple Attempted Homicide in Lexington Park

UPDATE 6/16/2026: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced that Cameron David-Louis Curtis, 23, of Valley Lee, Maryland, was sentenced to 90 years in prison with 30 years of active incarceration for his role in the 2025 attempted murders of four St. Mary’s County men. Curtis was convicted by a St. Mary’s County jury of two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of...
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Home Destroyed and Two Pets Rescued After House Fire in NSWC Indian Head Base Housing

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, at approximately 7:10 p.m., firefighters from NSWC Indian Head and surrounding departments in Charles County were dispatched to the 4000 block of Parsons Road, located in the on base housing section of NSWC Indian Head, for the reported structure fire. A short time after dispatch, the incident was upgraded to a working fire as communications began receiving multiple calls reporting fire through the roof of the home. NDW Engine 201 arrived on the scene...
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VIDEO: State Police Make One Arrest – Police Stepping Up Patrols in Response to Shootings in St. Mary’s County

Following a series of incidents, including the shooting of two individuals, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has deployed extra patrols throughout the Lexington Park and Great Mills areas. On Saturday, June 13, at approximately 6:32 p.m., deputies responded to the 46000 block of Hilton Drive in Lexington Park, where they located two males suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were flown to an area trauma center. One victim has since been released, while the second remains hospitalized in...
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Clover Hill Dairy Cheese Products Consumer Advisory Expanded Due to Continued Risk of Foodborne Illness

Baltimore, MD (June 14, 2026) — The Maryland Department of Health announced today an expanded consumer advisory for all cheese products made by Clover Hill Dairy, located in Mechanicsville, Md., due to possible Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) contamination. The facility has agreed to initiate a voluntary recall for all of its cheese products. The Maryland Department of Health previously issued a consumer advisory on June 3, 2026 for Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta cheese products. Due to the public health...
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Lexington Park Man Charged With Felony Assault, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct After Incident in St. Mary’s County

Javontay K Nolan, 19, of Lexington Park, has been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of second-degree assault, two felony counts of second-degree assault on law enforcement or emergency personnel, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, and resisting or interfering with an arrest. The charges stem from an incident on June 13, 2026, in St. Mary’s County. According to the filing, Nolan was arrested following an on-view incident investigated by Maryland State Police Barrack...
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Police in St. Mary’s County Investigating Multiple Victims Shot in Lexington Park

On Saturday, June 13 2026, at approximately 6:40 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 46000 block of Hilton Drive in Lexington Park for the reported shooting. Multiple 911 callers reported multiple victims shot. Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 7 and Trooper 2 were pre-launched to land nearby. Crews arrived on the scene to find two males suffering from gunshot wounds. Police are investigating the assault and updates will be provided when they become available.
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Temple Hills Man Arrested for Stealing Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Lobster Bisque From Waldorf Sam’s Club

Lamont Anthony Campbell, 52, of Temple Hills, has been charged with theft of property valued between $100 and $1,500 after authorities say he failed to pay for several items at a Sam’s Club in Waldorf on June 7, 2026. The charge is a misdemeanor. According to charging documents, an officer with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 1:05 p.m. to the Sam’s Club on Crain Highway in Waldorf for a report of a shoplifter in custody. Store...
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Waldorf Woman Charged With First-Degree Assault After Chick-fil-A Parking Lot Dispute

Jaia Sorrell Hardaway, 20, of Waldorf, has been charged with first-degree assault after an argument that began with a driving dispute escalated outside a Chick-fil-A on Crain Highway in Waldorf on June 5, 2026. According to allegations filed in the case, a Charles County Sheriff’s Office officer responded at about 10:46 a.m. to the restaurant for a report of property destruction in the parking lot. The adult male victim told police he had been driving on Smallwood Drive toward...
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Police Searching for Critical Missing Person, James Edward Harding Sr., age 83 Last Seen in La Plata

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is searching for James Edward Harding Sr., age 83, who is missing from the Ellenwood Park area in La Plata, MD. Mr. Harding has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He was last seen early this morning around 3:30 a.m. leaving his home. Mr. Harding, a retired police officer, is 5’9”, about 165 lbs., with gray hair and a gray beard. He was wearing a gray checkered jacket, white undershirt, dark blue jeans, navy boat...
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Police Investigating Unoccupied Jeep Found Underwater at Allen’s Fresh in Charles County

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at approximately 6:15 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Route 234 in the area of Allen’s Fresh, for the reported vehicle in the water. The 911 caller, a firefighter, reported a Jeep was off the roadway and in the water with the vehicle appearing to be unoccupied. Crews arrived on the scene and were able to quickly confirm the vehicle was unoccupied. Police responded to the scene and...
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UPDATE: Southern Maryland Communities Rally Behind Local Coach and Firefighter Who Suffered Serious Injuries at Jobsite

UPDATE 6/11/2026: “The Officers and Members of the Solomons Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department ask our community to keep Member Jordan Haines and his family in their thoughts and prayers following a serious accident that occurred while he was at work. Jordan sustained severe injuries and faces a long and challenging road to recovery. While the days ahead will not be easy, those who know Jordan understand his determination, strength, and resilience. We have no doubt that he will...
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First Responders Recognized After CPR Saves Medical Emergency Patient

Today, June 10, 2026, 4 members of our Department, alongside members of the Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad and employees from Charles County Department of Emergency Services, were recognized by Mr. Billy Maddox for a CPR life save that occurred back in August 2025. Crews responded to Mr. Maddox’s residence for a medical emergency and arrived to find him in cardiac arrest. Through the quick actions, teamwork, and dedication of everyone involved, crews worked tirelessly for several minutes to...
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Firefighters Respond to Residential Fire Alarm and Find Basement Fire, State Fire Marshal Investigating Cause

On Friday, June 5, 2026, firefighters from Solomons responded to the 13600 block of Dowell Road in Solomons, for an automated 911 call for a fire alarm sounding in the residence. Initial dispatch information indicated that smoke alarms were sounding inside a single-family residence while the caller was away from the home. Units from Solomons arrived to find a single-family dwelling with nothing evident from the exterior. After further investigation, crews found smoke conditions inside the residence and began...
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La Plata Police Plan Sobriety Checkpoint for Thursday, June 18

The La Plata Police Department will conduct a multi-jurisdictional sobriety checkpoint on Thursday, June 18, 2026, within the Town of La Plata as part of an effort to reduce alcohol- and drug-impaired driving. The initiative is supported in part through grant funding from the Maryland Highway Safety Office. Police said the checkpoint is intended...
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20th Annual Lawn Mower Races Coming Back to SOMD – July 31st to August 1st, 2026

The mowers are heading back to Bowles Farms for another weekend of racing, family fun, and community support. The 20th Annual St. Mary’s County National Lawn Mower Races will take place on Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Bowles Farms, located at 22880 Budds Creek Road in Clements, Maryland, near the...
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Father’s Day Gift Guide 2026: Shop Local, Celebrate Dad

Father’s Day is a chance to celebrate the dads, grandfathers, stepdads, and father figures who have helped shape our lives. Whether they’re teaching us how to change a tire, helping with a home project, coaching from the sidelines, or simply being there when we need them most, Father’s Day is an opportunity to say...
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MD 225 Hawthorne Road Culvert Replacement Project to Begin, Five-Month Closure Planned

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will soon begin a major culvert replacement project on MD 225, also known as Hawthorne Road, at the crossing of a branch of Mattawoman Creek in Charles County. The project will replace the existing roadway crossing and culverts, identified as structure CH1685180. SHA officials said the...
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State of Maryland Announces $375,000 for Community Development Projects in Southern Region

On June 1, 2026, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced that Southern Maryland counties have received a combined $375,000 through the state’s State Revitalization Programs for projects and activities that promote community development and economic growth in Fiscal Year 2027. The state’s six State Revitalization Programs support revitalization and redevelopment projects...
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Former Maryland Based CFO Charged in Embezzlement Scheme and Immigration Fraud

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced, today, that a former Maryland-based chief financial officer (CFO), who worked for a multinational company, is facing indictment stemming from an embezzlement scheme and immigration fraud. Teresa Desy Majo, 42, a legal permanent resident from Italy, residing in Annadale, Virginia, is charged with wire...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After ATV Crash in Hollywood

On Monday, June 16, 2026, at approximately 6:15 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 25000 block of Nolan Road in Hollywood, for the reported traumatic injuries after a 4-wheeler crash. 911 callers reported a 59-year-old male wrecked his 4-wheeler and had injuries to his head and limbs. Crews arrived on...
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One Transported to Trauma Center After Rollover Crash Leaves Woman Trapped in Charlotte Hall

On Monday, June 16, 2026, at approximately 3:48 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Golden Beach Road at Triangle Drive in Charlotte Hall, for the serious motor vehicle collision with rollover and entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to confirm a two vehicle collision with one SUV overturned...
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Community Parks and Playgrounds Program to Invest $5 Million in Local Outdoor Recreation for Fiscal Year 2027

Gov. Wes Moore’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget includes $5 million in Community Parks and Playgrounds grant funds for 26 projects in municipalities across 15 counties. This competitive grant program managed by the Department of Natural Resources provides funding to municipal governments to rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks; create new parks; or purchase and...
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Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to 42 Months in Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone

Daijon West, 29, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 42 months in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in the Washington, D.C., area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. West pleaded guilty on Feb. 5, 2026, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. In...
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No Injuries Reported After Large Tree Falls Into Mechanicsville Home; Briefly Trapping Occupants and Pets

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, at approximately 7:43 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 30000 block of Summitt Court in Mechanicsville, for the reported technical rescue after a structure collapse with multiple trapped. 911 callers reported a tree fell onto the residence with two occupants and multiple pets trapped on...
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Man Arrested After Crashing Car in Lexington Park Dollar General Parking Lot

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, at approximately 9:37 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Lexington Park Dollar General located at 21411 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, for the serious motor vehicle collision with the operator not breathing. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle over a...
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Charles County Board of Education Approves $553.5 Million FY2027 Operating Budget

The Board of Education of Charles County at its June 9 meeting unanimously approved the fiscal year 2027 operating budget. The $553,532,999 budget represents a $26.02 million increase, or 4.9%, over the fiscal year 2026 operating budget. The CCPS operating budget is primarily funded through state and county dollars, with about 39% coming from the overall Charles...
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Governor Wes Moore Announces $31.5 Million for Ecological Restoration Projects to Improve Water Quality in Local Waterways and the Chesapeake Bay

Governor Wes Moore announced the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is awarding $31.5 million in grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund for 25 ecological restoration projects encompassing 188 sites throughout the state that will improve water quality and wildlife habitats. “The Chesapeake Bay is the centerpiece of our tourism and seafood...
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Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southern Maryland Until 11pm Tonight

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until 8:30 p.m. EDT for portions of St. Mary’s County, Calvert, Charles, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties The storm was located near Coles Point, or near Tall Timbers, and moving east at 15 mph. Hazards include: Wind gusts up to 60 mph Hail up to 0.75...
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Maryland State Police Arrest Man After Six Same-Day Police Contacts In St. Mary’s County

Jerome Lamont Holt, 64, of an unknown address, is facing charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and trespassing on private property after police said he caused a disturbance at a Shell gas station on Point Lookout Road in Callaway on June 8, 2026. According to the allegations, a Maryland State Police trooper from...
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Indian Head Man Arrested After Deputies Find Cocaine, Methamphetamine and Hidden Compartments During Search Warrant

Jerry Carlos Bannister, 54, of Indian Head, is facing seven drug-related charges after the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said investigators found crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine, Suboxone strips, cash, packaging materials and hidden compartments during a June 3, 2026, search at his home on Stump Neck Road in Indian Head. Bannister is charged with possession...
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