UPDATE: On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 6:13 a.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 27000 block of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville for the report of a person lying on the ground off the southbound shoulder of the roadway. Upon arrival, deputies located an unidentified male lying in the grass who was pronounced deceased. Investigation determined there was evidence to suggest the unidentified male was struck by a vehicle. The St. Mary’s County...
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On Thursday, April 15, 2021, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office received information of a bomb threat at the Great Mills High School. While searching the school and the surrounding area police found evidence that required an upgrade of additional resources respond to the incident. The entire building has been evacuated and the school area is currently closed off. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office are currently coordinating with a bomb technician from the Maryland State Police Office of...
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UPDATE 4/14/2021 @ 4:00 p.m.: Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators today continued their investigation into yesterday’s trooper-involved fatal shooting yesterday in St. Mary’s County and have released a photo of the knife and a stock photo of the gun recovered at the scene. State Police investigators continued to interview individuals, locate additional witness and search for evidence today. Anyone who witnessed the shooting yesterday or who has any information related to this investigation is urged to contact Maryland...
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This is the official statement provided by Mr. Christopher T. Longmore, attorney for the Boyle family, for distribution on behalf of Peyton Ham’s Family, Michael & Kristee Boyle, (Birthfather Jason Ham Haight) Peyton Alexander Ham is an incredibly smart, gifted sweet young man. Peyton is an honor student who enjoyed attending Leonardtown High School. Peyton was thrilled in his 8th grade year to be accepted into the St. Mary’s County Public Schools premier academy, The Global International Studies program,...
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In March of 2021, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor that occurred in the late 1990s. The suspect was identified as Allen Briscoe Weiland, 59 of Leonardtown. During the course of the investigation evidence was obtained supporting the allegations. The investigation was presented to the Grand Jury for St. Mary’s County and an indictment issued for Weiland’s arrest. On April 9, 2021, Weiland was arrested and charged with...
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Despite fewer drivers on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic, motor vehicle crashes on Maryland roadways claimed 569 lives in 2020, an increase of 6.4% compared to 535 deaths the previous year. Preliminary data released today by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) also shows an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, from 124 and 10 in 2019 to 134 and 14 in 2020, respectively. Overall crashes and serious injuries decreased, but crashes in 2020 were more severe,...
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On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at approximately 3:55 p.m., a deputy from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office was stationary at the intersection of Dares Beach Road and Solomons Island Road in their marked patrol vehicle. The deputy observed a silver 2005 Toyota passenger car traveling Northbound at a high rate of speed, run a red light at the intersection. The deputy immediately activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle just prior to Steeple Chase Drive. As the deputy...
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On Friday, April 9, 2021, at approximately 3:00 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the 46800 block of Rogers Drive in Lexington Park, for the report of a large fight and five subjects possibly shot. Due to the amount of 911 calls, fire and rescue personnel requested a Mass Casualty Unit to respond. Charles County responded, however, they were cancelled before their arrival. Seven ambulances from Lexington Park, Hollywood, Solomons, and NAS Patuxent River along with three...
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Statement Regarding Death of Off-Duty Calvert County Sheriff’s Deputy The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened to announce the sudden death of Deputy First Class William ‘Wes’ Beisel, a school resource officer (SRO) assigned to Northern High School (NHS) in Owings. Beisel was found deceased at his residence in St. Mary’s County, on April 8, 2021. Beisel began his career with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office in January of 2012. Beisel was initially assigned to the Patrol Bureau...
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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. We are working with stakeholder groups...
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UPDATE: John Lawrence Brandt III, 34, of Lusby, was charged with driving, and attempting to drive while impaired by drugs. SMNEWSNET.COM contacted the St. Mary’s and Calvert County Sheriff’s Offices for a booking photo of Brandt, and neither agency could provide one. Below are SOME of previous arrests and citations for John Lawrence Brandt III, 34, of Lusby SMARY’S COUNTY (DRIVING, ATT.TO DRIVE) VEH. WHILE SO FAR IMPAIRED BY (DRUG(S),DRUG(S)& ALCO.)) CANNOT DRIVE SAFELY – 4/7/2021 (DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO...
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On Friday, April 2, 2021, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Vice Narcotics Division, along with the Emergency Services Team (EST), Special Operations Division (SOD), and members of the Patrol Division, executed a search and seizure warrant in the 47000 block of Thurman Davis Lane in Lexington Park. Detectives located four handguns, U.S. currency, and approximately two pounds of marijuana that was packaged for distribution. Following the search and seizure warrant, Jermaine Anthony Bell Jr., age 26...
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UPDATE 4/6/2021: A spokesperson for the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections confirmed that the driver, Tanesha Renea Williams, 25, and Diamond Shany Johnson, 28, both of Waldorf. are Prince George’s County Correctional Officers and were off-duty at the time of the incident. UPDATE 4/6/2021: Charles County Sheriff’s patrol officers have identified and arrested two women in connection with an assault that occurred at the Taco Bell on Smallwood Drive on March 31, 2021. In the case, Tanesha Renea...
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Update from CCSO: On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at approximately 11:02 a.m., officers responded to the 12100 block of Old Line Center in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery. The initial investigation revealed a courier was making a delivery to a pharmacy when two suspects approached him. The suspects assaulted the courier and tried to force him into his delivery van, but he was able to break free from them and call for help. The suspects stole...
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On the morning of April 2nd, troopers from the Glen Burnie Barrack responded to the area of I-695 and Rt. 295 for the report of a crash. The driver was seen walking away from the site. Troopers caught up to him on Rt. 259 near Nursery Road and noticed signs of impairment. He was taken into custody and a search found a loaded handgun in his waistband. The gun was reported stolen from Florida. On April 2nd , shortly after...
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Charles County Detention Center Director Brandon Foster, along with Sheriff Troy Berry and members of the CCSO and CCDC Command Staff, are proud to announce that Corrections Corporal Justin Davis has been named the 2020 Correctional Officer of the Year. Cpl. Davis was nominated for Officer of the Year by his supervisor, Sergeant Matthew...
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The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will inspect the MD 4 bridge (Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge) over the Patuxent River connecting Calvert and St. Mary’s counties on Sunday, April 18. Starting at 6:00 a.m., crews will be on-site to check the bridge’s wind sensor and clean inlets. Work is expected...
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On Friday, April 16, 2021, at approximately 10:30 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of 24684 Budds Creek Road in Clements, for the single vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway after overturning over a guardrail and into a tree....
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The Maryland General Assembly operated like never before in 2021 but still passed significant measures that included a multi-billion dollar COVID-19 relief plan, historic police reform, legalized sports wagering, and a wave of overrides of the governor’s vetoes. Only elected officials, portions of their staff, and a limited number of media could be present...
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Maryland State Police are investigating an incident where a man was found lying in the travel portion of I-495 after allegedly jumping out of a vehicle. The man involved in the incident is identified as Mahmoud Diop, 30, of Washington, D.C. Diop was transported by ambulance to the Prince George’s Hospital Center for medical...
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On Thursday, April 15, 2021 at approximately 9:41 a.m., Southern District officers responded to Northbound Route 4 and Southern Maryland Boulevard in Lothian, for a report of an armed subject with a gun. The victim/reporting person is an employee with the Maryland State Highway Administration who was blocking the fast lane of Northbound Route...
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Historic Sotterley is holding its first event of 2021 on May 1st & 2nd — Sotterley Market and Day on the Farm. This will be the first of three Market and Day on the Farm events this year, and the theme of the May event is Preservation. We look forward to sharing preservation in...
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Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) begins Phase 4 of its reopening plan on Monday, April 19. Under Phase 4, more than 5,800 additional students return to their schools for in-person learning. Phase 4 includes students in prekindergarten through Grade 12 and a rotating schedule of two days of in-person instruction each week. Phase 4...
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Saturday, April 24, at 4:00 p.m., visitors are welcomed to St. Clement’s Island Museum for a free authentic American Civil War era concert on the beautiful waterside lawn of the museum during the weekend commemorating a forgotten tragedy of the Civil War – the Black Diamond Disaster, which happened right in the Potomac River...
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April 15, 2021 – Plan to visit the Calvert Marine Museum as we sail into the busy season! Programs and activities are scheduled for all members of the family. Following the guidance of the CDC and State of Maryland, all guests ages five and older must wear a mask during their visit. The museum...
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Maryland State Police are investigating a pedestrian crash that killed one person late last night in Prince George’s County. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased on scene and transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy. The identity of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Just before...
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The St. Mary’s County Public Schools released the following statement. “On April 13, 2021, at approximately 1:30 p.m., St. Mary’s County Public Schools was informed of an officer-involved shooting in Leonardtown. It was later reported that the shooting resulted in the death of a 16-year-old male, identified as Peyton Alexander Ham, a sophomore at...
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Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine M. Carrington Martin sentenced Christopher Anthony Goldbeck, 47 of Waldorf, to 43 years in prison for Second Degree Rape and Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Upon release, the defendant will be on supervised probation...
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UPDATE 4/14/2021: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect. Updates will be provided when they become available. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the identity of the suspect shown in a theft investigation. On Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 11:47 p.m., the suspect stole several pallets from behind the...
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On Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at approximately 3:45 p.m., firefighters from Waldorf and surrounding departments responded to 1007 Victoria Place in Waldorf, for the reported kitchen on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 2-story middle of the row townhouse with smoke showing. Firefighters immediately made entry and found a fire on...
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On Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at approximately 12:55 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of the Murphy’s Store located at 8505 Port Tobacco Road in Port Tobacco, for a motor vehicle collision reported serious with one subject trapped and unconscious. Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 was pre-launched due to...
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As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen ) vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. In these cases, a...
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