Southern Maryland News Net

Missing Child with Autism Found in Water, Rescued by St. Mary’s Deputy

A St. Mary’s County sheriff’s deputy entered a body of water and rescued a missing 9-year-old child with autism during a multi-agency search in Hollywood on Friday, July 17, 2026. According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Hollywood area after receiving a report that the child was missing. A coordinated search was launched with assistance from the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police Aviation Command’s Trooper 7, the...
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Taylor Fresh Foods – Iceberg Lettuce Distributed in Maryland Recalled Amid Massive Cyclospora Outbreak

Taylor Fresh Foods has recalled iceberg lettuce distributed in Maryland and more than two dozen other states because of a possible connection to a widespread outbreak of Cyclospora infections. Taylor Farms de Mexico, based in Guanajuato, Mexico, voluntarily removed all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market on Friday, July 17, 2026. The recalled shredded lettuce and salad products were distributed between June 29 and July 16 in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and 24 other states. Products...
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Potomac Speedway Promoters Announce They Will Not Renew Lease After 2026 Racing Season

The current promoters of Potomac Speedway announced they will not renew their lease after the conclusion of the 2026 racing season, bringing their two-year run at the historic track to an end. In a statement, the promoters said the decision was difficult but emphasized that they remain committed to completing the current season and making the remaining events memorable for racers, fans, sponsors, employees, and supporters. “After two incredible years of promoting Potomac Speedway, we have made the difficult...
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Man Rescued from Burning Vehicle After Serious Crash in Mechanicsville; Operator Flown to Burn Center

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, at approximately 9:53 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Harper’s Corner Road in Mechanicsville, for the serious motor vehicle collision with a vehicle on fire with occupants trapped. Police arrived on the scene within minutes of dispatch to confirm a single vehicle off the roadway and fully engulfed in flames with the operator trapped inside. Deputies began attempting to remove the victim and utilized...
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VIDEO: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Deputies Save Missing Autistic Child Found in Water – NO Injuries Reported

UPDATE 7/20/2026: On Friday, July 17, 2026, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a missing 9-year-old child with autism in the Hollywood area. A coordinated search quickly began with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police Aviation Command (Trooper 7), the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services and multiple local fire and EMS agencies. The child was located in a nearby body of...
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Woman Flown to Trauma Center After Golf Cart Crash in Owings

On Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 9:03 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 5900 block of Scaggs Road in Owings, for the serious motor vehicle collision involving a golf cart. Dispatchers advised 911 callers reported a golf cart struck a pole, resulting in one female victim being unconscious and suffering a seizure after being ejected from the vehicle. Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 2 was placed on standby, then pre-launched to land nearby due...
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Washington Woman Arrested After Using Dead Person’s Identity to Buy a $52,000 Mercedes in Waldorf

Louisa Michelene Coles, 48, of Washington, D.C., has been charged with felony theft of $1,500 to less than $25,000, possession or use of a false government identification document, using another person’s identity to avoid identification or prosecution, and felony identity fraud involving property valued from $25,000 to less than $100,000. The charges stem from an attempt to purchase a $52,000 Mercedes-Benz SUV at a Waldorf dealership using the identity and financial information of a recently deceased woman. A Charles...
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Police Investigating Stabbing in Lexington Park, Helicopter Requested for Victim

On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at approximately 10:53 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 21000 block of Springwood Court in Lexington Park, for the reported stabbing. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 48-year-old male suffering from a stab wound to the upperbody. The victim was conscious alert and breathing. Upon consultation with an area trauma center, the patient was approved for aviation transport. The victim told First Responders he wasn’t going to say...
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Police Investigating Death of Teen in California After Reported Medical Emergency

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at approximately 12:43 a.m., police firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 22000 block of Armsworthy Court in California, for the reported one not breathing. 911 callers reported a 14-year-old female was not breathing. Crews arrived on the scene within minutes of dispatch to confirm CPR was in progress. The patient, identified as a teen male, was quickly transported to the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital with CPR still in progress. Deputies from the...
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Police Investigating Infants Death in Leonardtown After Reported Medical Emergency

On Monday, July 13, 2026, at approximately 4:05 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 39000 block of Lake Cecil Lane in Leonardtown, for the reported infant not breathing. 911 callers reported a 3-month old not breathing with CPR instructions being given. While police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the scene, the St. Mary’s Hospital and Maryland State Police Aviation Command were placed on standby and made aware of the incident. Police arrived on the...
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Lithium Ion Batteries Cause Second Structure Fire in Southern Maryland This Week

On Sunday, July 13, 2026, at approximately 9:10 p.m., firefighters from Charles and Prince George’s County responded to the 4000 block of Ray Drive in La Plata, for the reported structure on fire. 911 callers reported fire coming from the roof with unknown occupants inside. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a large one story machine shop with smoke and fire showing. Crews made entry to find a fire inside the building with extensions to the exterior. A...
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Waldorf Man Struck by Vehicle After Stealing Necklace from Jewelry Store in St. Charles Mall

On June 29, 2026, at 11:27 a.m., a male suspect entered a jewelry store inside St. Charles Town Center and asked to view a necklace. After the employee handed it to him, the suspect fled on foot with the necklace. As he ran through the parking lot, the suspect was struck by a car that did not remain on the scene. Despite being injured, the suspect continued running and escaped the immediate area. While officers were investigating the theft,...
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Lusby Woman With Four Prior Felony Drug Convictions Over 25 Years Faces 13 New Cocaine Charges

Temeka Uganda Mason, 49, of Lusby, faces 13 new cocaine-related charges after Calvert County investigators say she sold cocaine from a home near Patuxent High School and used rental vehicles, social media and other people to support a drug-distribution operation. The new charges include four counts of possessing cocaine, three counts of distributing cocaine within 1,000 feet of school property, three counts of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute near school property, one count of possessing cocaine with intent...
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UPDATE: Suitland Man Arrested on Kidnapping Charge After Posing as a Police Officer and Handcuffing a Woman

UPDATE 7/13/2026: Bryan Neal Gordon, 27, of Suitland, faces charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, second-degree assault, theft of less than $100, and soliciting prostitution following an investigation into allegations that an adult female victim was handcuffed, assaulted and taken from Charles County to Prince George’s County. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after officers responded to Master Suites on Old Washington Road in Waldorf at approximately 3:28 a.m. on June 29, 2026, for a reported kidnapping and sexual...
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Police Investigating Kitten Thrown From Vehicle on Woodrow Wilson Bridge; Cat is Safely Rescue by Officer

On Sunday, July 12, 2026, officers from the Maryland-National Capital Park Police PG Division responded after a citizen reported witnessing an individual attempt to throw a cat from a moving vehicle while crossing the Woodrow Wilson bridge. Thanks to the quick report from the citizen and the swift compassionate response of the officer, the frightened kitten was safely rescued without injury and is now receiving the care it deserves. We commend the citizen for speaking up and our officer...
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Calvert Detectives Make Arrest in North Beach Stabbing

On July 4, 2026, at approximately 10:47 p.m., deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4000 block of 3rd Street in North Beach for the report of a stabbing. A preliminary investigation indicates that a group of individuals had been setting off fireworks when an argument broke out, escalating into an...
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Waldorf Man Arrested and Charged with Theft of a School Bus in Charles County

On July 19, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a school bus after the driver failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of Leonardtown Road and Old Washington Road in Waldorf. As the driver started pulling over, he struck a...
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CSM Nursing Program Ranks Among Top in the State

Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in Maryland. The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is recognized for excellence in preparing students for successful careers entering this in-demand field. The CSM Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program is ranked second best in the state by PracticalNursing.org, a nursing publication recognized for providing information...
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$50,000 Bonus Match 5 Winner Sold in Waldorf

Check your Bonus Match 5 tickets if you made a purchase in Waldorf as a $50,000 winning ticket was sold for last night’s drawing. The winning ticket was sold in Charles County at the Dash-In at 2007 Smallwood Drive. For selling the top-tier winning ticket, the Waldorf retailer receives a bonus of $500. The...
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La Plata Native, Chief Petty Officer Luke Mauck Now Serving Proudly Aboard The USS Wichita

Chief Petty Officer Luke Mauck, a native of La Plata, Maryland, with family ties to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, serving aboard USS Wichita, recently completed a port visit to Bristol, Rhode Island, with the ship’s crew to participate in the Fourth of July celebrations. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy...
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FDA Approves First Gene Therapy for Young Children with Sickle Cell Disease

July 01, 2026: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a supplemental approval for Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel) for patients aged 2 years and older with either sickle cell disease (SCD) with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) or transfusion-dependent β thalassemia (TDT). This is the first gene therapy approved for patients aged 2 years and older with...
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UPDATE: Police Identify All Three Victims in Second Triple Fatal Crash Involving Motorcycle in Prince George’s County

UPDATE 7/19/2026: The three decedents in Tuesday’s multi-vehicle crash in Adelphi have all been identified. The motorcycle operator is 22-year-old Elvin Martinez Hernandez of Hyattsville. The driver and passenger of one of the involved vehicles are 61-year-old Reddick Speight and 62-year-old Terri Stringfellow, both of Adelphi. The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis...
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Deputies Recover Stolen SUV – Arrest Mechanicsville Woman Hiding in Closet and a Chaptico Man

Patrick Wayne Wood, 24, of Chaptico, and April M. Quade, 29, of Mechanicsville, were arrested July 15, 2026, after deputies investigating an allegedly stolen vehicle went to a home on Hill Farm Lane in Chaptico. Wood faces charges of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, unauthorized removal of property, possession of a controlled substance...
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Man With History of Being Found Unconscious in Vehicles Arrested Again in St. Mary’s County

Austin Cameron Darling, 31, of Leonardtown, faces two counts of possessing a controlled substance other than cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, drug-impaired driving and several traffic citations following a July 3, 2026, arrest in Hollywood. He also faces a separate misdemeanor theft charge stemming from an alleged June 17, 2026, incident at a Charlotte...
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Maryland Department of Health Confirms 5 Measles Cases in Residents Following Recent Out-of-State Travel

The Maryland Department of Health confirmed today that five cases of measles have been identified in residents of Central Maryland. These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak. All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on...
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Juvenile Arrested in Charles County and Charged as Adult in Armed Robbery Investigation; Firearm Recovered

On July 16, 2026, detectives from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office charged a 16-year-old male in connection with an armed robbery that occurred on July 13 in the area of Post Office Road and Gallery Place in Waldorf. The victim reported that he was walking along the path when the suspects approached him. One...
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Prince George’s County Man Charged in Attempted Burglary and Indecent Exposure Incident; Additional Investigation Ongoing

The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple incidents that occurred between July 15 and July 16, 2026, involving Moses Ekundayo Olubu, 28, of Prince George’s County. During that time, deputies responded to several calls for service, including a welfare check, an attempted residential burglary, and an indecent exposure incident. Through the initial investigation...
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Police Investigating Strong-Armed Robbery of Citizen in Lexington Park

On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at approximately 11:20 p.m., police responded to the Wawa located at 22530 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park, for the reported robbery. The 911 caller reported they met the suspect at the Wawa to purchase a phone, when the suspect stole the victims money, pushed the victim and then...
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Code Red Air Quality Forecast Statewide Friday Due to Smoke from Canadian Wildfires

A significant wildfire smoke event is expected across Maryland on Friday, with unhealthy air quality forecast statewide and the potential for very unhealthy conditions in the western portion of the state. According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, both ozone and fine-particle pollution are expected to contribute to poor air quality. Code Red,...
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UPDATE: Calvert and Charles County EMS Regrets to Announce Passing of Paramedic Kevin Wells

Charles County Department of Emergency Services shares with great sadness the news of the passing of our former colleague, Kevin Wells. Kevin was a valued member of our team, serving the community as a Part-time Paramedic from 2014 – 2025 and made a lasting impact through his contributions, professionalism, and the relationships he built...
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Search-Warrant Investigation Leads to Drug Charges Against Mechanicsville Man

Gregory Alan Fuchs, 34, of Mechanicsville, faces two counts of possessing a controlled substance other than cannabis, two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended for failing to attend a driver improvement program, driving on a suspended license and driving without the required license and authorization. Fuchs was arrested on July 10, 2026,...
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Police Arrest White Plains Man for Thefts From Lowe’s, LensCrafters and Other Stores, Investigation Leads to Seizure of Guns and Narcotics

David Eugene Gregory, 58, of White Plains, has been charged with two felony counts of theft involving property valued between $1,500 and $25,000 and one felony count of theft scheme involving the same value range following two alleged thefts from a Waldorf optical store. He also faces a separate felony theft-scheme charge in Charles...
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