On October 4, 2024, at 12:17 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash near Chapel Point Road and Brooks Farm Road in La Plata. Upon arrival, officers and EMS discovered a Chevy Tahoe that had veered off the road, struck a tree, and come to rest back on...
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Each week, SMNEWSNET.COM will provide a list of all arrests and criminal summonses issued in Charles County. In the spirit of transparency, we are committed to keeping our community informed about local law enforcement activities. This list includes arrests made by both the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police, providing a...
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Keanu Destine Grissett, age 23, of Waldorf, is facing charges of first- and second-degree assault after an alleged domestic altercation on September 26, 2024. According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to a distress call at Amber Leaf Apartments in Waldorf, where they encountered a female victim who reported being physically assaulted...
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UPDATE 10/3/2024: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 3-day trial, convicted Katravien Tyrieus Vercher, 25, of Waldorf, of five counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Third-Degree Sexual Offense. On March 22, 2023, officers with the...
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As news of a major port strike across the U.S. hits the headlines, people are panic-buying toilet paper, flooding social media with reports of empty shelves at their local stores. While this scenario feels eerily similar to the shortages we saw during the pandemic, there’s an important fact to understand: There’s no actual shortage...
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Gallery Exhibit Entitled ‘NEW’: Works by Jerry Truong, Coy Gu, Andrew Wodzianski, and George Bedell. See gallery art created by the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) faculty through Oct. 18 at the Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery located at the La Plata Campus. CSM’s Studio Art Professors exhibit their latest creations, resulting in a group...
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Maryland State Police will join faith-based organizations and law enforcement agencies across the state to celebrate National Faith & Blue Weekend, set for October 11-14, 2024. National Faith & Blue is a collaborative initiative that builds bridges and breaks down biases through activities and outreach amongst law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve....
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Members from the Maryland Car Rally Task Force, working in collaboration with the Maryland State Police Special Operations Division, and allied police agencies disrupted twelve unlawful exhibition driving events throughout multiple Maryland counties, including Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore, Saturday night. Police responded to several locations where up to 500 participants gathered...
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The Justice Department announced today that it is awarding $4 billion to support public safety and community justice activities in the states and territories and in local and Tribal communities. The grants, from the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will fund efforts across the country to reduce violence, expand services for crime victims and...
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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a part of the Department of Justice, has announced a public hearing regarding a significant change in how marijuana is classified under federal law. The proposal seeks to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This move, which has...
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UPDATE 9/29/2024: On Saturday, September 28, 2024, at approximately 4:33 p.m., Maryland State Police (MSP) Troopers from the La Plata Barrack responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on Maryland Route 488 at Grant Chapman Road. Due to the nature of the incident, the MSP CRASH Team was called to assume the investigation. Preliminary...
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On Friday, September 27, 2024, at approximately 9:32 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Three Notch Road and New Market Turner Road in Mechanicsville, for a serious motor vehicle collision with injuries and entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to find a three vehicle collision involving a Dodge...
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On Friday, September 20, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., officers responded to Piccowaxen Middle School after a school bus driver returned from his bus route after a student reported seeing someone with what appeared to be a gun pointing it toward the bus as the bus was dropping students off at a bus stop. The...
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On September 23, 2024, at approximately 7:40 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence call on Meadow Court in Hughesville. The suspect, identified as Brandon Wayne Blitch, 38, of Hughesville, allegedly fired a gun during an argument with the adult female victim. Three juveniles were also present in...
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UPDATE 9/24/2024: The operator of a motorcycle involved in a fatal collision on Old Washington Road has been identified as Jesel Edolen Rodriguez Amaya, age 16, of Waldorf. On September 22 at 12:11 a.m., patrol officers responded to the 2400 block of Old Washington Road in Waldorf for the report of a motorcycle collision....
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that squirrel, rabbit, fall turkey, and other small game seasons are either underway or set to open in the coming weeks. Some of these species offer generous seasons and bag limits and are abundant throughout Maryland. “Small game hunting can be an enjoyable way to spend time afield for both new...
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin fall trout stocking in early October as soon as water levels and temperatures are acceptable for trout. Department crews will transport thousands of state hatchery-raised brown, golden rainbow, and rainbow trout and release them statewide in select creeks, rivers, lakes, and ponds. The department is...
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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) announces the launch of its new five-year strategic plan, “Built for Success.” The plan emphasizes a student-centered culture with access, momentum, and mobility at the core of all of the college’s efforts. “At the College of Southern Maryland, fostering a student-centered culture is a journey that we embark...
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It is with profound sadness that the Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad announces the passing of our esteemed President, Jeff Garner, on September 23, 2024. Jeff was a dedicated public servant who spent a lifetime serving the Charles County community with passion and selflessness. Jeff’s commitment to public safety spanned several decades, beginning with...
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In a display of unity and solidarity, Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry, along with members of the CCSO’s Domestic Violence Unit, is joining Sheriff John Carr of the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Everett Sesker of the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office to host three multijurisdictional events, “Purple Light Nights,” at...
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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 received $2,500: American Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region, A Community That Shares (ACTS), Patuxent Habitat for Humanity, and Clements Cuties Foundation....
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Care Net Pregnancy Center of Southern Maryland is delighted to announce the grand reopening of its newly remodeled Boutique. On September 27, 2024, at 1 PM, the center will host a special event called the “Blessing of the Boutique,” and everyone in the community is warmly invited to attend. About Our Boutique The Boutique...
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On the evening of September 13, 2024, officers with the La Plata Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Potomac Street after observing a vehicle traveling without its lights on. The stop occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. and involved multiple juvenile occupants, including the 17-year-old driver, who did not have identification. During the stop,...
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On Friday, September 20, 2024, at approximately 9:20 p.m., firefighters from Hollywood, Leonardtown, Mechanicsville, Bay District, Prince Frederick, Solomons and Seventh District responded to the 25500 block of Friendship School Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported garage on fire. Multiple 911 callers reported smoke was coming from their neighbors garage, with additional callers then...
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UPDATE 9/20/2024: Maryland State Troopers from the Prince Frederick Barrack responded and investigating the crash. Preliminary investigation determined the Kia Soul, operated by a 79-year-old female, was travelling Westbound on Hallowing Point Road and attempted to make a left turn onto Hallowing Lane. The Ford Mustang, was travelling Eastbound on Hallowing Point Road and operated...
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