Charles News

Maryland State Police Reminds Motorists of Steps to Reduce Vehicle Thefts As Winter Season Approaches

Maryland State Police Reminds Motorists of Steps to Reduce Vehicle Thefts As Winter Season Approaches

As we near the winter holiday season, motorists need to remember to take the proper precautions to reduce the chances of their vehicles being stolen. This is especially true right now for owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, which have been stolen at increased rates both in Maryland and nationwide, according to the National...
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24-Year-Old Mechanicsville Man Dies in Motor Vehicle Crash in Waldorf

24-Year-Old Mechanicsville Man Dies in Motor Vehicle Crash in Waldorf

On Monday, October 24, 2022, at approximately 11: 50 a.m., Troopers from Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded to Maryland Route 5 (Mattawoman Beantown Rd) in the area of Pinefield Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Due to the circumstances, the Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded to assume...
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Police in Charles County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 40-Year-Old White Plains Woman

Police in Charles County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 40-Year-Old White Plains Woman

On Monday, October 24, 2022, at approximately 8:40 a.m., Troopers from Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded to Maryland Route 229 (Bensville Rd) in the area of Shannon Drive for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Due to the circumstances, the Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded to assume the investigation....
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Accokeek Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery in Waldorf

Accokeek Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery in Waldorf

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Arron William Saunders, 25, of Accokeek, to 30 years, with all but 15 years suspended in prison for Armed Robbery, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime...
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Maryland Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days Set for 2022-23

Maryland Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days Set for 2022-23

Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel will be afforded a unique opportunity to experience Maryland’s tradition of waterfowl hunting on two special hunt days: Nov. 5, 2022 and Feb. 4, 2023. On these two days, hunting for ducks, geese, and coots on public and private lands in Maryland will be offered exclusively to...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Master Corporal Renee Cuyler Retires After More Than 25 Years of Service, and K9 Who Retires with 8 Years of Service

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Master Corporal Renee Cuyler Retires After More Than 25 Years of Service, and K9 Who Retires with 8 Years of Service

On Friday, October 21, 2022, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said a bittersweet farewell to an outstanding Police Officer and person. Master Corporal Renee Cuyler #295 is retiring after more than 25 years of dedicated service to Charles County. Her partner, K-9 Cooper, is beginning his retirement as well after being part of the...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal Investigating Arson at Waldorf Library

Charles County Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal Investigating Arson at Waldorf Library

On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at approximately 2:37 p.m., police responded to the Charles County Public Library located at 10405 O’Donnell Place in Waldorf, for the reported arson. Police responded and made contact with two witnesses who had observed the suspect lighting paper towels on fire in the bathroom. Deputies from the Maryland Office...
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Popular Hospice of the Chesapeake Golf Tournament Brings in $240,000

Popular Hospice of the Chesapeake Golf Tournament Brings in $240,000

With the abundance of golf tournaments offered around Chesapeake Bay, an avid golfer could sign up for one for every week of the season. While that’s great for golf fans, it presents a challenge to Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Golf Committee. And it’s a challenge they get better at every year. This year, a...
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SMECO Awards $10,000 Contribution to Local Organizations

SMECO Awards $10,000 Contribution to Local Organizations

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently received a $10,000 contribution from CoBank to award to local organizations that SMECO has supported with matching funds. Each of the following will receive $2,500: Christmas in April, Calvert County Rebuilding Together Charles County Christmas in April, St. Mary’s County Clements Cuties Foundation. “The generous funding from SMECO and...
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Two Replica Firearms Recovered from Students at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center – Cases are Unrelated

Two Replica Firearms Recovered from Students at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center – Cases are Unrelated

On October 19, 2022,  at 9:51 a.m., school administrators at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center detected the odor of marijuana on a 14-year-old student. Further investigation by the administrators revealed the student was in possession of baggies containing residue of marijuana and a replica firearm / BB gun, which was recovered from his waistband....
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One Transported After Single Vehicle Rollover with Entrapment in La Plata

One Transported After Single Vehicle Rollover with Entrapment in La Plata

On Sunday, October 16, 2022, at approximately 11:48 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Turkey Hill Road and Brittingham Court in La Plata for a motor vehicle collision reported serious with one vehicle overturned. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle overturned on its side with...
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Charles County Police Officers Investigate Report of Firearm on Elementary School Property

Charles County Police Officers Investigate Report of Firearm on Elementary School Property

On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 3:16 p.m., school authorities at J.P. Ryon Elementary School notified the school resource officer about a juvenile male in the parking lot with what appeared to be a gun. A parent who was waiting in the car rider line saw the juvenile place the gun in his backpack...
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Prince George’s County Police Investigating Waldorf Woman Killed in Single Vehicle Collision

Prince George’s County Police Investigating Waldorf Woman Killed in Single Vehicle Collision

The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal collision in Accokeek. The deceased driver is 33-year-old Tiffanie Bunch of Waldorf. On Saturday, October 15, 2022, at approximately 3:00 a.m., officers responded to the area of Indian Head Highway near Berry Road for a single-vehicle collision. The preliminary investigation revealed Bunch was traveling...
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Tri County Love Center First Annual Walk/Runathon in White Plains on Friday, November 25, 2022

Tri County Love Center First Annual Walk/Runathon in White Plains on Friday, November 25, 2022

Tri-County Love Center is a transitional home for women in need of a steppingstone after seeking treatment from substance abuse. “We are a 501 (c) (3) EIN 84-4197062 seeking fundraising sponsors and registrants for our First annual Walk/Runathon on November 25, 2022, 9am at the Indian Head Rail Trail (IHRT) located at 10410 Theodore...
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FirstNet, Built with AT&T is Connecting More First Responders Across Maryland – More 5G Sites in Anne Arundel, Charles, and 4 Other Counties

FirstNet, Built with AT&T is Connecting More First Responders Across Maryland – More 5G Sites in Anne Arundel, Charles, and 4 Other Counties

What’s the news? AT&T* is America’s public safety communications partner. It’s been more than 5 years since we were selected by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) to build and operate FirstNet®, and we have moved quickly to bring more coverage, boost capacity and drive new capabilities for Maryland’s first responders and the...
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Island Music Company Partners with Shop 53 Custom Tattoo and Art Studio to Recognize La Plata as Maryland’s First Bird City

Island Music Company Partners with Shop 53 Custom Tattoo and Art Studio to Recognize La Plata as Maryland’s First Bird City

Whether you’re a local or a visitor passing through Southern Maryland, you’re sure to notice bird art displayed throughout the town.  These art projects were created to represent La Plata, Maryland as Maryland’s First Bird City!  La Plata is recognized as the first bird city due to their efforts taken to implement sound bird-conservation...
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Department of Justice Announces New Active Shooter Training Award for First Responders

Department of Justice Announces New Active Shooter Training Award for First Responders

The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced a new $9.8 million award under the Preparing for Active Shooter Situations (PASS) program to the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University to provide multi-disciplinary, scenario-based active shooter training to first responders. The PASS program...
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Governor Larry Hogan Visits Charles County Public Library La Plata Branch for It’s 100th Anniversary

Governor Larry Hogan Visits Charles County Public Library La Plata Branch for It’s 100th Anniversary

In addition to dedicating the new Nice-Middleton Bridge over the Potomac River, Governor Larry Hogan made several stops across Charles County as part of his ongoing legacy tour across the state Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park. To start out his day in Southern Maryland, Governor Hogan toured the Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park and...
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Overnight House Fire in Hollywood Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported

Overnight House Fire in Hollywood Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, at approximately 1:42 a.m., firefighters from Hollywood, Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, Bay District and Seventh District Volunteer Fire Departments responded to 40740 King Drive in Mechanicsville, for the reported residence on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find smoke and fire showing from the single story residence. Firefighters extinguished the...
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No Charges Filed After Charles County Officers Recover Replica Firearm from Davis Middle School Student

No Charges Filed After Charles County Officers Recover Replica Firearm from Davis Middle School Student

On Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 8:17 a.m., officers responded to a school bus stop for students at Davis Middle School in the area of Silent Creek Road and Stewards Chance Lane after a witness called to report a juvenile pointing what appeared to be a handgun at other students. At the same time,...
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Two St. Charles High School Students Charged After Fight Involving Stun Gun, Charges Pending for Third Student

Two St. Charles High School Students Charged After Fight Involving Stun Gun, Charges Pending for Third Student

On Tuesday, October 4 at 2:14 p.m., a 14-year-old student was fighting with another student in the parking lot during dismissal at St. Charles High School. During the altercation, the student ran to a school bus and obtained a stun gun, which another student held for her. The student activated the stun gun several...
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Prince George’s County Police Investigating Construction Worker Struck and Killed

Prince George’s County Police Investigating Construction Worker Struck and Killed

The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision in Fort Washington. The victim is 56-year-old Huerta Melendez of Montgomery Village, MD. On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at approximately 10:55 p.m., officers responded to the area of northbound Indian Head Highway and Kerby Hill Road. The preliminary investigation revealed Melendez was...
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Threat of Mass Violence at Mattawoman Middle School Investigated

Threat of Mass Violence at Mattawoman Middle School Investigated

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, several students at Mattawoman Middle School told school staff about another student who was overheard making a threat to commit mass violence. The school resource officer (SRO) was notified and initiated an investigation. The SRO made contact with the student’s parents, followed up with a home safety check, and...
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REMINDER – Deadline to Register is October 18, 2022; Maryland State Board of Elections 2022 General Election

REMINDER – Deadline to Register is October 18, 2022; Maryland State Board of Elections 2022 General Election

Ballot Drop Boxes In addition, yesterday SBE began the process of delivering and installing official ballot drop boxes across the state. SBE anticipates it will take five days to deliver and install all 281 ballot drop boxes. A list of the ballot box locations is available online (in Spanish) Voters who choose to utilize...
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La Plata Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Admitted to Sexually Abusing Minor Over 3-Year Period

La Plata Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Admitted to Sexually Abusing Minor Over 3-Year Period

Charles Clark, 65, of La Plata, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Clark pleaded...
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