Southern Maryland News Net

UPDATE: Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal Continues Investigation Into Tall Timbers Marina Fire

UPDATE 6/8/2023: The Office of the State Fire Marshal is continuing its investigation into the cause of a fire that destroyed close to ten boats and caused nearly $400,000 in damages Wednesday afternoon. At around 12:30 p.m., Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding fire departments responded to Tall Timbers Marina in the 18500 block of Herring Creek Road for a boat fire. When firefighters arrived, they discovered several boats on fire under a covered pier. Firefighters were assisted by fire...
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UPDATE: State Fire Marshal and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Double Fatal Fire in Huntingtown

UPDATE 6/7/2023: A team of investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office continue investigating the origin and cause of a house fire that claimed two lives in Huntingtown overnight. Just after 3:00 a.m., Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding fire departments responded to the 1600 block of Maurham Court after a neighbor discovered the house engulfed in flames. Upon arrival, they were told two people might still be trapped inside the...
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UPDATE: Photos of Suspect Released, Police Investigating Armed Robbery in Lusby

UPDATE 6/6/2023: On Monday, June 5, 2023, at 12:36 p.m., deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau responded to Ranch Liquors located 246 Town Square Drive in Lusby, for the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, deputies determined that an armed robbery had occurred. Detectives with the Criminal Investigative Bureau arrived on scene and assumed the investigation. Preliminary investigation revealed, an adult male described as tan complexioned, between 5 feet 10 inches tall and 6 foot,...
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3 Transported to Hospital and 1 Transported to Trauma Center After Deck Collapses During Graduation Party in Waldorf

On Sunday, June 4, 2023, at approximately 4:23 p.m., fire and rescue personnel responded to the 12000 block of Wendy Lane in Waldorf, for the reported building collapse with entrapment. The 911 caller reported the deck collapsed during a graduation party with six victims possibly trapped with the victims ranging from children to elderly. Upon receiving this information, additional medical units were dispatched to respond. Crews arrived on the scene and reported 8 patients to be evaluated with no...
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Two Injured and One Flown After Vehicle Drives Through Church in Prince Frederick

On Sunday, June 4, 2023, at approximately 12:52 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the Calvert County Baptist Church located at 2190 Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick, for the reported motor vehicle collision with a vehicle into a structure with collapse. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle into the building with three patients to be evaluated. Firefighters reported one load bearing wall was damaged, crews placed temporary struts to stabilize the area...
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UPDATE: GoFundMe Added to Assist Family Who Lost Everything in Lexington Park Trailer Fire

UPDATE 6/4/2023: GoFundMe added to assist the family displaced by the fire. The family lost everything and is currently seeking clothing items. Adult female, adult males, large dog, and toddler clothing size 3T/4T. Please share, or click here to assist. 6/3/2023: On Saturday, June 3, 2023, at approximately 11:33 a.m., firefighters from Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, Valley Lee, and Hollywood responded to the 21400 block of Dana Court in Lexington Park, for the reported trailer on fire. Crews...
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Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Going Door to Door to Install Smoke Alarms – June 4th and 11th

Don’t be alarmed if you see firefighters from Bay District Volunteer Fire Department (BDVFD) going door-to-door in your neighborhood on Sunday, June 4th or Sunday, June 11th, 2023. We will be installing smoke alarms free of charge in neighborhoods on Sunday June 4th and Sunday June 11th. Firefighters will be going door-to-door offering to install smoke alarms in homes that don’t have them. NOTE that we will not be giving away smoke alarms for residents to install at a...
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UPDATE: GoFundMe Started for Woman Killed in Mechanicsville Crash, Witnesses Say Two Cars Were Drag Racing

UPDATE 6/4/2023: GoFundMe added in support of the family of Jalesa Wilcox. Please share, you can assist by clicking here. UPDATE 6/1/2023: On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 1:44 pm, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Patrol deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Three Notch Road near the intersection of Mt. Zion Church Road in Mechanicsville. Deputies arrived on scene to find multiple vehicles involved in a serious crash, with two overturned. The vehicles involved were a...
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Detectives Charge Mother and Daughter with Murder of Grandmother in Landover

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit charged a mother and daughter in connection with a murder inside of the family’s Landover home. The suspects are 44-year-old Candace Craig and 19-year-old Salia Hardy. Based on the preliminary investigation, the victim in this case is believed to be 71-year-old Margaret Craig of Landover. Candace Craig is Ms. Margaret Craig’s daughter. Hardy is her granddaughter. On June 2, 2023, at approximately 1:35 pm, Division III Landover station patrol officers responded...
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Two Adults and One Child Flown to Trauma Centers After Serious Motor Vehicle Collision in Hollywood

On Friday, June 2, 2023, at approximately 1:23 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the intersection of Mervell Dean Road and Clarkes Landing Road in Hollywood, for a motor vehicle collision reported serious with multiple victims trapped. Crews arrived on the scene to find three vehicles involved with two victims trapped. Incident command requested three medic units and a helicopter for three victims. 19 volunteer firefighters from Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department responded and extricated the victims in...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating Abandoned House Fire in Lexington Park

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, at approximately 10:00 p.m., firefighters from Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, Ridge, and Valley Lee was dispatched to the area of Three Notch Road and Forest Park Road, for the reports of a house on fire. While responding, multiple 911 callers reported the fire was between Lincoln Avenue and Melissa Moore Lane. Firefighters arrived on the scene in under 3 minutes to find a two-story residence with fire throughout. The fire was extinguished in...
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Calvert County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Brandywine Man on Multiple Drug Charges in Lusby

On May 31, 2023, members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) observed a burgundy Chevrolet Trailblazer, with Maryland registration travelling northbound Route 4 in Lusby. A traffic violation was observed by detectives and a traffic stop was initiated along northbound Route 4 in the area of White Sands Drive. The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Avery Dionnie Wills, Jr., 26 of Brandywine. Detective B. DeLeon and...
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UPDATE: Roadway Open and Gas Secured After Contractors Strike Gas Line in Wildewood

UPDATE @ 8:30 p.m.: Roadway is open with the gas leak secured. Washington Gas remaining on scene. All residents able to return home are asked to open windows to air out possible gas odors. 6/1/2023 @ 6:30 p.m.: On Thursday, June 1, 2023, around 4:45 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the 22000 block of Sycamore Hollow Drive in California, for the Hazardous Materials Emergency. The 911 caller was a utility company reporting a 4 inch gas...
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19-Year-Old Male Transported to Trauma Center After Being Stabbed in Waldorf

On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m., emergency medical personnel was dispatched to the Smallwood Drive Park & Ride located at 1125 Smallwood Drive West in Waldorf, for the unknown problems. The 911 caller requested an ambulance to the location but would not answer any other questions as to why one was needed, the caller then hung up on the 911 dispatcher. Police were then dispatched to assist the responding medical personnel. Emergency medical personnel arrived on...
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UPDATE: Police Locate and Arrest 15-Year-Old Wanted for Attempted Murder After Attempting to Shoot 14-Year-Old Multiple Times on School Bus

UPDATE 5/30/2023: This afternoon, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), which includes PGPD officers, located and took into custody the 15-year-old male who is charged with the attempted murder of another teenager on a school bus. The suspect goes by the name “Baby K”. He’s charged as an adult in this case. At approximately 2:40 pm, through investigative means, CARFTF members located the suspect in the 6300 block of Baltimore Avenue in...
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Owner of Funeral Service Company Arrested After Shooting Two People During Funeral of 10-Year-Old

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit charged the man who shot two people at a Suitland cemetery, killing one of the victims. The suspect is 48-year-old Wilson Chavis of Hughesville, MD. He’s charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Ronald Steven Banks of Washington, DC. Banks was a pallbearer at...
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Annapolis Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Fatally Shooting Stranger Outside D.C. Nightclub

Brandon Randall, 35, of Annapolis, Maryland, was sentenced on June 2, 2023, to 264 months in prison for shooting a stranger outside a Northwest Washington D.C. night club, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Randall pleaded guilty on November 22, 2022, in the...
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St. Mary’s County Woman Wins $100,000 a Week Before Tying the Knot!

St. Mary’s County woman claims top prize on $10 Winfall Doubler game A bride-to-be from Southern Maryland recently got a wedding gift from Lady Luck while stopping at a store to grab snacks for movie night with her future spouse. The dog mom and longtime Maryland Lottery player, who selected the nickname “Locke &...
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Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Pleads Guilty to Using Her Position to Obtain the Personal Information of Victims as Part of a Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud

Breanna Lee Cartledge, age 28, of Clinton, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud financial institutions by creating fake checks using information Cartledge intercepted as a Clerk with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron,...
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Police Searching for Male Suspect After High Speed Chase in Calvert County

On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at approximately 9:55 a.m., deputies advised a high speed chase ended in the area of White Sands Drive and Cedar Lane in Lusby. The male operator of the vehicle fled on foot and was last seen in the area of Cedar Lane and Balsom Road. A large police presence...
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Police Apply for Charges Against Woman Who Stole Donation Box from Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control Facility

On June 1, 2023, at approximately 12:15 p.m., an officer responded for a report of a theft at the Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control facility in Millersville. A female suspect entered the facility and submitted paperwork to surrender an animal. After completing the surrender, the woman removed a donation box from a...
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Maryland Department of The Environment Issues a Code RED Air Quality Alert for Maryland Counties

The Maryland Dept. Of The Environment has issued a Code RED Air Quality Alert today for the Baltimore, Eastern Shore, Annapolis, and Southern Maryland regions. Air pollution is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, seniors, and people suffering from respiratory or heart conditions An Air Quality Alert has been issued for our area....
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Severn Man Arrested for Impaired Driving and Assault After Striking Multiple Pedestrians

On June 4, 2023, at approximately 1:50 a.m., officers responded for a report of an erratic driver striking several pedestrians and an occupied parked vehicle at the 7-Eleven located at 1075 Dorsey Road in Hanover. During their investigation, officers learned that an adult male victim was assaulted by the suspect in the parking lot...
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Drone Crash Under Investigation in Southern St. Mary’s County

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at approximately 1:04 p.m., police, fire and emergency medical personnel, DOD and personnel from NAS Patuxent River and NAS Webster Field was dispatched to the area of Fresh Pond Neck Road in Ridge, for the reported aircraft crash investigation. NAS Patuxent River personnel advised a (UAV) Unmanned aerial vehicle...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Announces Passing of Retired Corporal Nolan B. Woodland

It is with deep sorrow Sheriff Troy Berry and the men and women of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office announce the passing of retired Corporal Nolan B. Woodland on Friday, June 2, 2023. Corporal Woodland was a sworn officer with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 21 years (November 1976–August 1997). He served...
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Longtime Bomb Tech and Hero Dog Handler Nominated For Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year

Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Michael Redding has been selected as the Bomb Squad nominee for Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year. He will join other investigators chosen throughout the state for the 2022 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award during the Maryland State Fireman’s Convention in Ocean...
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St. Mary’s County Government Operations for Juneteenth

All St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) administrative offices will be closed on Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Offices will resume normal operating schedules on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The June 19 closure also includes: All three St. Mary’s County Libraries (Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown, and Lexington Park) All three Senior...
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Maryland Casinos Generate $169.4 Million in Gaming Revenue During May 2023

Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $169,401,366 in revenue from slot machines and table games during May 2023, a decrease of $9,366,462 (-5.2%) compared to May 2022. Casino gaming contributions to the state in May 2023 totaled $70,831,586, a decrease of $2,614,929 (-3.6%) compared to May 2022. Contributions to the Education Trust Fund (ETF)...
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Navy launches historic aircrew study to update size requirements for a diverse fleet

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is leading the Navy’s first comprehensive study since 1964 to update aviator size requirements, improve aircrew gear and equipment, and expand access for prospective future aviators. This is the Navy’s first aircrew study to include women and minorities. “We are excited to launch this historic study that will...
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Maryland Department of Commerce Announces Applications Open for Cannabis Business Assistance Fund

The Maryland Department of Commerce today announced that applications are now open for the first round of funding available through the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund. The fund, which will offer both grants and loans, will help increase small business and entrepreneur capacity to participate in Maryland’s adult-use cannabis industry. “The Cannabis Business Assistance Fund...
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Be Prepared for the 2023 Hurricane Season

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Emergency Services urges community members to be prepared for the next Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1, 2023, and goes through November 30, 2023. Forecasters at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, predict near-normal hurricane activity...
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Wednesday, June 7, 2023: Traffic Delays Expected on Rt.301 Bridge for Dismantling of Old Bridge

On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., additional dismantling of the old Nice Middleton Bridge/Rt 301 will take place. This will require closure of the new Nice Middleton replacement bridge for approximately 15 – 30 minutes. The closure may cause traffic delays along Rt. 301 north and south of the bridge. Please plan...
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