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St. Mary’s County Bar Closes After Murder Investigation Uncovers Multiple Alcohol Violations

St. Mary’s County Bar Closes After Murder Investigation Uncovers Multiple Alcohol Violations

Big Dogs Paradise, a bar and liquor store located in Mechanicsville, has had its liquor license revoked following a series of alcohol-related violations uncovered during a homicide investigation. The establishment, already grappling with past violations, became the focal point of a probe that ultimately led to its closure after the St. Mary’s County Alcohol...
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NAS Pax River Security Seeks Information on Traffic Incident

NAS Pax River Security Seeks Information on Traffic Incident

The NAS Patuxent River Security Department is seeking information related to a traffic incident that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at approximately 2:35 p.m. at the intersection of Tate Road and Dilalio Road next to Hangar 301. The incident involved a red two-door pickup truck and a bicyclist. The truck was last seen...
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Santa Claus Delayed Due to Weather, He is Now Coming to Southern Maryland on December 12th, 2024

Santa Claus Delayed Due to Weather, He is Now Coming to Southern Maryland on December 12th, 2024

UPDATE 12/10/2024: Due to fog and incoming weather, Santa’s arrival has been delayed until Thursday, December 12, 2024 with the same times. Even the best aviators know to respect the weather! Due to foggy conditions (and with Rudolph back at the North Pole), Adm. Claus and his HX-21 Blackjacks crew postponed their holiday mission...
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La Plata High School Takes 1st in ‘It’s Academic’ Contest, with McDonough in 2nd and St. Charles in 3rd!

La Plata High School Takes 1st in ‘It’s Academic’ Contest, with McDonough in 2nd and St. Charles in 3rd!

For the second year in a row, the “It’s Academic” team of La Plata High School team clenched first place in the county’s annual competition. Held Dec. 3 at St. Charles High School, the “It’s Academic” event challenges high school students to correctly answer questions on various subjects in a quiz show format. The Warriors...
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Upcoming Alcohol Beverage Board Meeting in St. Mary’s County to Address Violations Involving Big Dog’s Paradise & Bar

Upcoming Alcohol Beverage Board Meeting in St. Mary’s County to Address Violations Involving Big Dog’s Paradise & Bar

The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County will hold its next meeting on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 1:00 PM in the County Commissioners Conference Room, Chesapeake Building, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown. The meeting is open to the public, and citizens are welcome to attend in person or watch the live broadcast on...
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UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Deputies Arrest Hughesville Man on Assault and Gun Charges

UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Deputies Arrest Hughesville Man on Assault and Gun Charges

Joseph Robert Willet III, 31, of Hughesville, was arrested on December 8, 2024, following an alleged domestic assault at a residence in California, Maryland. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident, which resulted in multiple charges against Willett, including assault and firearm-related offenses. According to court documents, Deputy Ocasio-Rivera responded to...
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DNA Evidence Links Suspect to Seabreeze Restaurant Break-In 2 Years Ago in Mechanicsville

DNA Evidence Links Suspect to Seabreeze Restaurant Break-In 2 Years Ago in Mechanicsville

Michael Anthony Deep, 31, of Lexington Park, has been charged in connection with a burglary at the Seabreeze Restaurant on South Sandgates Road in Mechanicsville. The incident, which occurred over 2 years ago, on October 13, 2022, involved theft, property damage, and unauthorized entry, according to court documents filed by the St. Mary’s County...
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VIDEO: What to Expect at a Sobriety Checkpoint and How to Act

VIDEO: What to Expect at a Sobriety Checkpoint and How to Act

Sobriety checkpoints are common tools law enforcement uses to ensure road safety by identifying impaired drivers. If you find yourself approaching one, it can be helpful to know what to expect and how to handle it smoothly. As you approach a sobriety checkpoint, you’ll likely notice signs and flashing lights, along with uniformed officers...
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Waldorf Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Jail Seven Months Ago Arrested Again in Stolen Vehicle

Waldorf Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Jail Seven Months Ago Arrested Again in Stolen Vehicle

A 21-year-old Waldorf man was arrested on November 29, 2024, following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of a stolen vehicle, according to court documents filed in Charles County. Chidozie Charles Obinna Udoji, 21, of Waldorf, was charged with theft of property valued between $1,500 and $25,000. The charge carries a potential...
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Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack – Weekly Press Release 12/4/2024

Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack – Weekly Press Release 12/4/2024

The Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack is a full-service barrack, meaning it provides a comprehensive range of law enforcement services to the community in St. Mary’s County. These services include enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, conducting investigations into various offenses such as assaults, burglaries, drug-related crimes, murders and serious violent incidents. Additionally, the...
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Brandywine Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Assault and Handgun Incident in Charles County

Brandywine Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Assault and Handgun Incident in Charles County

Court documents from two separate cases detail criminal charges against Foday Badara Ladie Jr., 27, of Brandywine, stemming from incidents reported on November 23 and 24, 2024. The charges include alleged handgun possession, failure to obey a lawful order, and second-degree assault. Officers were called to the Indian Head Inn on Strauss Avenue at...
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Waldorf Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Assault and Narcotics Arrest in Charles County

Waldorf Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Assault and Narcotics Arrest in Charles County

On December 1, 2024, authorities in Charles County apprehended Corness Margo Gray, 58, of Waldorf, following an assault and drug-related offenses. The incident occurred on Pinewood Drive, where police responded to reports of an altercation. According to court documents, deputies encountered Gray standing in the roadway, matching the description of the suspect. During questioning,...
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Two Temple Hills Women Arrested for Shoplifting Over $1,100 in Merchandise at Target in Waldorf

Two Temple Hills Women Arrested for Shoplifting Over $1,100 in Merchandise at Target in Waldorf

Two women were arrested following a shoplifting incident at the Target store located at 3300 Western Parkway, in Waldorf, on December 2, 2024. According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the scene at approximately 7:55 PM after store loss prevention staff reported observing a theft in progress. The suspects, identified...
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Avenue Man Faces Second-Degree Assault Charges in St. Mary’s County

Avenue Man Faces Second-Degree Assault Charges in St. Mary’s County

Joseph Franklin Burch, 27, of Avenue, has been charged with second-degree assault following an incident on July 28, 2024, according to court documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County. The charge stems from an alleged altercation at the defendant’s residence on Burch Road. According to the statement of charges filed by...
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Fort Washington Man Arrested on Multiple Offenses Following Lexington Park Incident

Fort Washington Man Arrested on Multiple Offenses Following Lexington Park Incident

Andre Timothy Green, 35, of Fort Washington, was arrested after an altercation at a residence in Lexington Park, on November 25, 2024. The charges stem from incidents that occurred at a home on the 46800 block of Flower Drive and involved multiple individuals, according to court records and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office....
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South Carolina Man Charged with Stealing $10,646 Worth of Equipment from Lowe’s in La Plata

South Carolina Man Charged with Stealing $10,646 Worth of Equipment from Lowe’s in La Plata

The La Plata Police Department has charged Christopher Ralph Sims, 35, of Sumter, South Carolina, with theft following an incident at a Lowe’s store on Rosewick Road in La Plata on September 22, 2024. According to court documents, Sims is accused of stealing a flatbed trailer and two Toro TimeCutter riding mowers valued at...
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Two Women Arrested on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop in Calvert County

Two Women Arrested on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop in Calvert County

A routine traffic stop in Calvert County on November 17, 2024, led to the arrest of two women, Lisa Diane Dilley, 58, of Chesapeake Beach, and Holly Nicole Sweeney, 50, of Saint Leonard. Both women face charges related to possession of controlled dangerous substances. According to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy First Class...
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Chesapeake Beach Woman Convicted of Animal Cruelty for Operating Illegal Rescue

Chesapeake Beach Woman Convicted of Animal Cruelty for Operating Illegal Rescue

Marliana A. Zahedi-Mullis, 31, of Chesapeake Beach, was convicted on December 2, 2024, in the District Court for Calvert County for charges related to animal cruelty and neglect. The conviction follows a May 2024 investigation by Calvert County Animal Control into conditions at her residence, where she was operating an unlicensed animal rescue, “3...
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Prosecutors Successfully Argue for Murderer’s LIFE Sentence to Endure

Prosecutors Successfully Argue for Murderer’s LIFE Sentence to Endure

State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that a convicted murderer’s sentence of LIFE without the possibility of parole will stand. Earlier this year, Dana Collins, 63, asked the Court to reconsider his sentence stemming from a 1995 murder. The State argued against Collins’s motion. The Court agreed with the State, denied Collins’s motion, and...
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Suttler Post Farm’s 6th Annual Holiday Open House Fundraiser For Hospice Of St. Mary’s Set for December 14th and 15th, 2024

Suttler Post Farm’s 6th Annual Holiday Open House Fundraiser For Hospice Of St. Mary’s Set for December 14th and 15th, 2024

The community is warmly invited to Suttler Post Farm’s 6th Annual Holiday Open House, taking place on December 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Suttler Post Farm. This cherished event will benefit Hospice of St. Mary’s, offering a festive celebration for a meaningful cause. This year’s open house will feature...
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Natural Resources Police Toy Drive Underway for 2024 Holiday Season

Natural Resources Police Toy Drive Underway for 2024 Holiday Season

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is conducting its annual “Boatload of Toys” holiday gift drive at several locations across the state in advance of the 2024 holiday season. NRP officers are collecting donations of new, unopened toys for local children in need. The program is part of the national United States Marine Toys for...
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Rock in the Holiday Season with Historic St. Mary’s City

Rock in the Holiday Season with Historic St. Mary’s City

December 2024 marks the return of a beloved holiday tour, along with a fresh approach to celebration! Historic St. Mary’s City is thrilled to unveil an entire weekend filled with holiday magic, offering activities that will delight every member of your family. Enjoy everything from an outdoor rock show to crafting your own fresh...
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Cannabis-Related ER Visits Increased Ahead of Recreational Legalization, State Dashboard Shows

Cannabis-Related ER Visits Increased Ahead of Recreational Legalization, State Dashboard Shows

by Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters November 24, 2024 Cannabis-related emergency room visits climbed steadily through July 2023, when recreational use was first legalized in Maryland, but have never reached that peak again, fluctuating up and down in the months since. That was just one of the findings of a new Maryland Health Department...
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Holidays and the Dangers of Impaired Driving: Maryland Laws and Recent Crash Data

Holidays and the Dangers of Impaired Driving: Maryland Laws and Recent Crash Data

As families and friends gather for Thanksgiving celebrations, the holiday season also brings increased risks on Maryland’s roads due to impaired driving. Thanksgiving consistently ranks among the busiest travel times of the year, and with that comes a sharp uptick in traffic incidents involving alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement agencies and safety advocates are...
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Police Arrest Nanjemoy Man in Possession of Child Pornography Case

Police Arrest Nanjemoy Man in Possession of Child Pornography Case

Charles County Sheriff’s detectives have charged a suspect in connection with the possession of child pornography. Between January and April of 2023, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received 14 Cyber tips, which were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by a cloud storage provider. The tips outlined a user...
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