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UPDATE: Fire That Completely Destroys House in Lexington Park Ruled Accidental

UPDATE 1/23/2019: On January 22, 2019 at 12:40 p.m., firefighters responded to 20915 Olympia Court, in Lexington Park for the reported structure fire. The owner is identified as Federal National Mortgage Association, and the occupant Latoya Mason. The estimated loss is valued at $350,000. Smoke alarms were present and activated. 26 firefighters responded and controlled the fire in 1 hour. Firefighters operated on scene for over 2-hours. The fire was discovered by an occupant, and the origin of fire...
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Lexington Park Man Arrested After Found with Loaded Stolen Handgun and Drugs in Great Mills

On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at approximately 9:20 p.m. deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were in the 45500 block of Coronado Drive in Great Mills, actively searching for a burglary suspect who had stolen two firearms from a residence. Corporal Brandon Foor observed a vehicle with a passenger that resembled the individual being sought. Cpl. Foor made contact with the passenger later determined to be Davian Marquess Curtis, 20 of Lexington Park. Curtis was found to...
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St. Leonard House Fire Caused by Improperly Discarded Smoking Materials

On Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at approximately 2:05 p.m., firefighters from Prince Frederick and surrounding companies responded to 6015 Bandit Al Lane in Saint Leonard, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on scene to find a 2-story Cape Cod residence with fire showing from the back deck. The fire had spread to the interior of the first and second floor, the walls and attic. As the fire was being knocked down by volunteers, a cat managed to escape....
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Early Morning Lexington Park House Fire Deemed Accidental

On Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at approximately 4:00 a.m., firefighters from Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, and Second District responded to 21482 Forest Run Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on scene to find fire showing from the front of the house. Firefighters made entry and extinguished the fire in approximately 15 minutes. The owner and occupants were identified as George Hill and Dorothy McGowan. The estimated loss is valued at $75,000. It is unknown...
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Fort Washington Man with Gun Arrested After Chasing Kids Getting off School Bus in Lexington Park

On Friday, January 11, 2019, Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff Office responded to Olympia Court in Lexington Park for the report of a black male, later identified as Edgar C. Watts, 19 of Fort Washington, operating a silver Hyundai Elantra at a high rate of speed in the area where the child get off the bus. The victims told officers that when the vehicle passed them, it was very close to them, and caused them to move...
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Charles County Kindergarten Teacher Caught Smoking Crack at Korner Karryout in Mechanicsville

On Saturday, January 12, 2019, Cpl. C. Beyer of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Korner Karryout on Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville, after a witness reported what looked like a woman smoking crack in the parking lot. When police arrived, they found the driver of a Silver Hyundai Sonata slumped over the steering wheel, with a lighter in her hand. The operator was identified as Eileen Elizabeth McMahon, 61 of Mechanicsville. Located in McMahon’s vehicle...
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UPDATE: Overloaded Power Strip to Blame in Hollywood House Fire where Five Pets Perished

UPDATE 1/22/2019 @ 9:00 a.m.: On January 18, 2019 at approximately 2:07 p.m., firefighters from Hollywood and surrounding companies responded to Sandy Bottom Road in Hollywood, for the single family home structure fire. The owner and occupants have been identified as John and Tracey Russell, Sr., John Russell, Jr., and Heather Payton. The estimated loss of structure and contents is $275,000. The family is currently being assisted by the American Red Cross, friends and family, and numerous local businesses and...
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UPDATE: Leonardtown High School Teacher Arrested on Gun and Drug Charges in Waldorf After Being Stopped for Drunk Driving

UPDATE 1/20/2019: According to a Staff Directory on the Leonardtown High School website, Dwayne Ronald Dyke, 58 of Issue, is employed as a physical education teacher. Dykes Employment status is unknown at this time. A spokesman for the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Dyke is a teacher at Leonardtown High School, and that the School Resource Officer at the school was aware of his arrest. An update will be provided as soon as a statement is released by a...
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18-Year-Old Female Found Alive Hours Later After Jumping From Thomas Johnson Bridge

On Sunday, January 20, 2019 at approximately 2:25 a.m., fire and rescue personnel from Calvert and St. Mary’s County responded to the Thomas Johnson Bridge, for a water rescue investigation. At approximately 2:15 a.m., police requested a boat to investigate under the bridge after finding an unoccupied vehicle still running on the bridge. Shortly after, the full water rescue assignment was dispatched at 2:22 a.m. Units and personnel from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, United States Coast...
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Subject Transported to Area Trauma Center After Jumping From Thomas Johnson Bridge

On Saturday, January 19, 2019 at approximately 3:30 p.m., police fire and rescue personnel responded to the boat ramp parking lot below the base of the Thomas Johnson Bridge for a subject with traumatic injuries. 911 callers reported the subject had what looked like multiple serious injuries and fire personnel responded asking for a helicopter. Crews arrived on scene to find a male patient in the parking lot with serious injuries. Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 cancelled the...
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UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Commissioner, John O’Connor, Identified as Police Officer Involved in Departmental Shooting in Seat Pleasant

The Prince George’s County Police Department and the Seat Pleasant Police Department have both issued press releases on the investigation of an officer-involved shooting involving on-duty City of Seat Pleasant police officer, and St. Mary’s County Commissioner, John E. O’Connor. Prince George’s County Police, Press Release: Prince George’s County Police Detectives with our Criminal Investigation Division along with the Special Investigation Response Team of our Internal Affairs Division are investigating an officer-involved shooting involving an on-duty City of Seat Pleasant police officer....
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Port Republic Man Arrested After Stealing Jewelry from his Mother

On December 16, 2018 at approximately 6:40 a.m., police from the Calvert County Sheriff Office responded to a residence on Howard Drive in Port Republic for the report of a theft. Police arrived on scene and made contact with the victim who told officers that she was looking through here jewelry box and noticed that some of her rings were missing. She took police to her bedroom and there they saw the jewelry box that was kept on her...
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Mechanicsville Man Arrested for Assault After Pushing Woman Out of Wheelchair Twice

On Saturday, January 12, 2019, Deputy First Class Roszell of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 38000 block of Golden Beach Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported assault. Investigation determined Clements William Copsey III, 41 of Mechanicsville, assaulted the victim, who is an amputee and wheelchair bound. The victim told police that Copsey became angry and came up behind her, grabbed the back of her wheelchair and flipped her out causing her to fall and hit...
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Cold Case Solved – Charles County Detectives Identify Suspect in 1993 Rape Case

Detectives with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and Forensic Science Unit have identified the suspect in a sexual assault that occurred in 1993 in Waldorf. Vincent Wayne Jones, 51, of Tennessee, was arrested by members of the Bartlett County Police Department and the CCSO in September 2018. He waived extradition and was transported to Charles County on September 29. Investigators are looking into the possibility Jones may have assaulted other people, but have not linked him...
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Two Injured in Hollywood Motor Vehicle Accident

On Thursday January 17, 2019 at approximately 7:15 a.m., police fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Hollywood Road, and Fwd Drive, in Hollywood for the reported motor vehicle accident with injuries. Crews arrived on scene to find two vehicles in the roadway in a head-on style collision. Two patients were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. St. Mary’s County Sheriffs Office is investigating the crash.
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Lexington Park Man Arrested for Assault, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct

On Saturday, January 19, 2019, Cpl. Stone of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 21300 block of South Essex Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported disturbance. Upon arrival Stone saw Tyrell Marquice Birdine, 18, of Lexington Park, was on top of the brother, actively assaulting him. Deputies removed Birdine from...
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Waldorf Man Arrested for Assault

On Friday, January 11, 2019 at approximately 3:15 p.m., Deputy Smith from the Charles County Sheriff Office responded to Kenbrook Court in Waldorf for the report of domestic violence. When the deputy arrived, he could hear yelling coming from the inside the residence. When one of the homeowners, who the deputy met in the...
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One Injured After Another Motor Vehicle Accident at First Colony and FDR Boulevard

On Monday, January 21, 2019 at approximately 8:10 a.m., police fire and rescue personnel responded to First Colony Boulevard and FDR Boulevard in California, for the motor vehicle accident reported serious. Crews arrived on scene to find two vehicles involved in a t-bone style collision with one vehicle in the roadway, and one vehicle...
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AUDIO: Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Fire at Waldorf Center for Higher Education Next to Firehouse

On Sunday, January 20, 2019 at approximately 5:25 p.m., firefighters from Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 called dispatch requesting a working fire to be dispatched, after looking over at the building next to the firehouse and seeing fire showing from the top of the building. Crews advised they had fire showing from the 4th...
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One Injured After Motor Vehicle Accident in California Neighborhood

On Saturday, January 19, 2019 at approximately 1:45 p.m., police fire and rescue personnel responded to Wildewood Parkway and Cherry Laurel Parkway in California, for the reported motor vehicle accident. Crews arrived on scene to find two vehicles in the roadway in a rear-end style collision. One patient was transported to an area hospital...
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Bailey Statement on Funding for the University System of Maryland Academic and Research Center

Senator Jack Bailey released the following statement today after the Governor’s inclusion of $11,953,000 in Maryland’s Fiscal Year 2020 Budget to complete the design and begin construction of the University of Maryland Academic and Research Center at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, also known as the ‘Third Building’ at the Regional Higher Education...
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Temple Hills Women Charged With Hindering, Obstruction and Resisting Arrest

On December 17, 2018 at approximately 12:30 a.m., Deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff Office observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and initiated a traffic stop in the area of Nursery Road, on Maryland Route 4, in Lusby. When police approached the vehicle, they noticed that the driver and the...
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Animal Control Officer in St. Mary’s County Rescues Injured Owl

The St. Mary’s County Animal Control Division has many faces. One area they work on which traditionally goes unnoticed is animal rescue. On January 18, 2019, Animal Control Officer Christy Hoover rescued an injured owl after responding to a location in Wildewood. Upon arrival she found a Barred Owl which appeared to be unable...
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Observe “Artists in Action” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center

Annmarie Scuplture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, presents Artists In Action: Temporary Studio Experience, January 18 – February 26, 2019 from 10:00am-5:00pm daily. Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center will serve as a creative retreat for over twenty artists for a few special weeks this winter, providing Annmarie guests the opportunity to get a glimpse into the...
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St. Mary’s County Public Schools Supports Families During the Government Shutdown

St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ families that have lost or reduced income due to any change in family circumstances, including the government shutdown, loss of job, or another similar event, may immediately apply for their children to receive free or reduced-price meals (FARMs). Families that would not ordinarily qualify for the FARMs program could be eligible for the...
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Perdue Recalls Chicken Nuggets After People Find Wood in Them

Perdue Foods, LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 68,244 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken nugget products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The ready-to-eat chicken nugget items were produced on Oct. 25, 2018. The following product is...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes Four New Correctional Officers

Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry is proud to announce the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy (SMCJA) celebrated the graduation of 11 correctional officers – four from Charles County – from the Corrections Entrance Level Training Program (CELTP), Session 60, at a ceremony held January 4 at La Plata High School in La Plata,...
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Winter Storm Expected to Impact Evening Rush Hour Tonight With More Snow/Ice Over the Weekend

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) encourages motorists to keep a sharp eye on the weather conditions and plan accordingly for the afternoon commute. Crews will be treating roads alongside hundreds of thousands of motorists during the afternoon commute, which makes treating roads during the storm challenging. The wet pattern...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’f Office Employees awarded

Select employees of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were recognized for professional excellence during the third quarter of 2018 at a ceremony on Wednesday at office headquarters. The men and women recognized went above and beyond the call of duty, sometimes putting themselves in harm’s way. Employees of the Third Quarter: Meritorious Action:...
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Heroin and Prescription Opioid-Related Deaths Show Decline While Fentanyl and Cocaine-Related Deaths Continue to Rise in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Health today released preliminary data today for unintentional drug and alcohol-related intoxication deaths through the third quarter of 2018. During this nine-month period, which encompasses January through September 2018, there were 1,848 total unintentional intoxication deaths, an eight percent increase over the same period in 2017. Of the total, 1,648...
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Drinking Alcohol in Public Leads to Arrest and Additional Charges for Port Republic Man

On January 4, 2019 at approximately 12:25 p.m., Deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit responded to Safeway in Prince Frederick for the report of a male standing outside consuming an alcoholic beverage in public. The male, later identified as Langford Sylvester Dyson, 59 of Port Republic, was described as a...
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St. Mary’s County Budget Book Receives National Recognition

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, and the St. Mary’s County Department of Finance, its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the FY2019 Budget. This is the third time the county has received the award. The award reflects the county’s commitment...
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