Charles News

AUDIO: La Plata Police Department Release Statement Regarding Social Media Post

AUDIO: La Plata Police Department Release Statement Regarding Social Media Post

The La Plata Police Department was made aware of a media post made on Monday, July 26, 2021, stating there was a large fight at the Walmart located at 40 Drury Drive in La Plata. The post also included fake information about MS-13 gang activity in the area. The La Plata Police Department did...
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Police Arrest Waldorf Man for Armed Robbery at Marie’s Diner – Reward Offered for Identity of Second Suspect

Police Arrest Waldorf Man for Armed Robbery at Marie’s Diner – Reward Offered for Identity of Second Suspect

On July 4 at 5:15 a.m., two suspects entered Marie’s Diner, located at 6325 Crain Highway in La Plata, and confronted an employee who was getting ready to open the business, announced a robbery. The employee said he was filling up an ice machine when two suspects entered the diner through an unlocked back...
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Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Waldorf Man in Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old in Washington D.C., Five Other Victims Shot

Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Waldorf Man in Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old in Washington D.C., Five Other Victims Shot

On Friday, July 16, 2021, at approximately 11:11 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department were in the area of the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE and Malcolm X Ave., when they heard the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, police located a juvenile female, two adult females and two adult...
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Maryland State Police to Participate In Annual National Night Out Events on Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Maryland State Police to Participate In Annual National Night Out Events on Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Maryland State Troopers will join communities and other law enforcement agencies across the state on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 in support of National Night Out. Every year since 1984 National Night Out is observed on the first Tuesday in August in local communities to promote positive police-community partnerships and neighborhood comradery to make all...
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Waldorf Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies

Waldorf Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies

UPDATE 7/27/2021: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, July 26, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Dashawn Fitzgerald Thomason, 19, of Waldorf, to 15 years in prison for Armed Robbery, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Robbery, and two...
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Police and Maryland State Fire Marshal Investigating Stolen Vehicle Found Ablaze in Accokeek

Police and Maryland State Fire Marshal Investigating Stolen Vehicle Found Ablaze in Accokeek

On Friday, July 23, 2021, at approximately 9:40 p.m., police and firefighters responded to the area of 8564 Barry’s Hill Road in Accokeek, for the reported vehicle fire. Four firefighters from the Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene to find a Ford Explorer Sport Trac fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters extinguished...
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Preparing Your Children to Stay Home Alone – Fire Safety and Beyond

Preparing Your Children to Stay Home Alone – Fire Safety and Beyond

Story courtesy of the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department / PIO / Fire Prevention Officer Scot Best At some point during the school year and summer, you may begin to consider the possibility of having your children care for themselves throughout the day. Self-care can be a rewarding experience for children who are ready for...
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UPDATE: Maryland State Police Investigating 56-Year-Old Charles County Man Struck and Killed in Waldorf

UPDATE: Maryland State Police Investigating 56-Year-Old Charles County Man Struck and Killed in Waldorf

UPDATE 7/25/2021: On Saturday, July 24, 2021, at approximately 10:02 p.m., Troopers from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision on United States Route 301 (Crain Hwy) in the area of Smallwood Drive in Waldorf, Maryland. Due to the seriousness of the collision, the...
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AUDIO: Police Investigating Motorcycle Collision in La Plata, Operator Transported to Hospital with Life-Threatening Injuries

AUDIO: Police Investigating Motorcycle Collision in La Plata, Operator Transported to Hospital with Life-Threatening Injuries

On Friday, July 23, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Crain Highway and Fairgrounds Road in La Plata, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a motorcycle. Police arrived on the scene in under 3 minutes from dispatch and found a male unconscious in the...
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Minor Injuries Reported After Motorcycle Crash at Maryland International Raceway

Minor Injuries Reported After Motorcycle Crash at Maryland International Raceway

On Friday, July 23, 2021, at approximately 6:30 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the Maryland International Raceway located at 27861 Budds Creek Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a motorcycle. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 61-year-old male with minor injuries. The operator of the...
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Man Sentenced to Two Life Sentences for Rape and Solicitation to Kill Victim and Witness

Man Sentenced to Two Life Sentences for Rape and Solicitation to Kill Victim and Witness

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, July 23, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Daniel Jonathan Felts, 38, to two life sentences in prison for Second Degree Rape, Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Solicitation to Commit Murder. On April 21, 2021,...
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MedStar St. Mary’s Award Scholarships to Six Area Students

MedStar St. Mary’s Award Scholarships to Six Area Students

For 20 years, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital has supported students in the Southern Maryland region by providing scholarships to individuals pursing degrees in health care. Since 2001, 169 students have received support through this program. For 2021, six area students were awarded $132,000 in scholarships to help them continue their journey to become the...
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New “Destructive” Severe Thunderstorm Warning Category to Trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on Mobile Phones

New “Destructive” Severe Thunderstorm Warning Category to Trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on Mobile Phones

Severe thunderstorms can be life-threatening, but not all severe storms are the same. Hazardous conditions range from tornadoes, large hail storms, and widespread straight-line winds called derechoes, to cloud-to-ground lightning and flash flooding. Starting August 2, the National Weather Service will better convey the severity and potential impacts from thunderstorm winds and hail by...
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Lightning Strikes Steeple of Church in Waldorf

Lightning Strikes Steeple of Church in Waldorf

On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, thirty three fire and EMS personnel responded to the Calvary Gospel Church, on Berry Road in Waldorf, just after 2:00 P.M. Firefighters arrived on scene in minutes, and reported fire showing from the roof, they stretched a line to the attic area and extinguished all fire. There were no...
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Maryland Emergency Management Agency Awards $4 Million to Fire, EMS, and Rescue Departments

Maryland Emergency Management Agency Awards $4 Million to Fire, EMS, and Rescue Departments

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced awards of $4 million in federal funding made available through the Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs, and Families Act (RELIEF) of 2021. MEMA will distribute these funds to 181 volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue departments throughout the State of Maryland to assist with hardship relief...
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Traffic on Maryland Roads and Highways Begins to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels

Traffic on Maryland Roads and Highways Begins to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels

According to new data from state transportation officials, traffic on Maryland roads and highways has begun to approach and exceed pre-pandemic levels. “Holiday travel during the Fourth of July Weekend exceeding 2019 levels is an important milestone signaling our state’s strong recovery from the pandemic,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Traffic volumes are exceeding pre-pandemic...
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Governor Hogan Announces Nearly $30 Million in Awards for Broadband Infrastructure

Governor Hogan Announces Nearly $30 Million in Awards for Broadband Infrastructure

Governor Larry Hogan today announced awards to expand broadband internet access to more than 12,000 households in 18 counties. Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB), $29,472,131 in grant funding will support network infrastructure projects by local internet service providers that will provide connectivity to unserved...
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A Reminder to Marylanders: Keep Wildlife in the Wild

A Reminder to Marylanders: Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Each year during the spring and summer months, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receive reports of captive wildlife situations in which residents attempt to care for or possess wild animals. These attempts are often made with good intentions but pose serious risks to both the...
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Heat Advisory in Effect for Saturday, July 17, 2021

Heat Advisory in Effect for Saturday, July 17, 2021

A Heat Advisory Alert in effect from noon to 8pm on Saturday July 17th. Heat index values up to 107 expected, in Calvert, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Invites County Residents to Participate in 2021 Citizens Police Academy

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Invites County Residents to Participate in 2021 Citizens Police Academy

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its 2021 Citizens Police Academy (CPA) class, set to begin in September. This 12-week program will begin on September 15, 2021, and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through December 8, 2021, with the exception of Wednesday, November...
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U.S. Government Launches First One-Stop Ransomware Resource at StopRansomware.gov

U.S. Government Launches First One-Stop Ransomware Resource at StopRansomware.gov

As part of the ongoing response, agencies across the U.S. government announced new resources and initiatives to protect American businesses and communities from ransomware attacks. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), together with federal partners, have launched a new website to combat the threat of ransomware....
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30 Days Left to Renew Driver’s Licenses, Permits & ID Cards that Expired During the State of Emergency

30 Days Left to Renew Driver’s Licenses, Permits & ID Cards that Expired During the State of Emergency

The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) is reminding Marylanders that under Governor Larry Hogan’s Executive Order issued on May 12, 2021, driver’s licenses – both non-commercial and commercial (CDLs) – learner’s permits and identification cards that expired during the COVID-19 State of Emergency must be renewed by August 15, 2021....
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NDW Indian Head Firefighters/EMTs Recognized for Lifesaving Incidents

NDW Indian Head Firefighters/EMTs Recognized for Lifesaving Incidents

Members of Naval District Washington (NDW) Fire and Emergency Services Indian Head Company were recognized for lifesaving during a July 13, 2021, ceremony at the fire house with Naval District Washington Commandant Rear Adm. Michael Steffen and Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP) Commanding Officer CAPT Todd Copeland. The awards covered an astonishing four...
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Wild Birds Unlimited of La Plata Receives Prestigious Recognition

Wild Birds Unlimited of La Plata Receives Prestigious Recognition

Barbara and Chip Whipkey, owners of the local Wild Birds Unlimited, were recognized at the company’s annual Enterprise Leadership Conference for their hard work with the Highest Flying Fledgling award. This award recognizes new franchise store owners with the highest sales volume during their first full year of business. “We are truly honored to...
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VIDEO: Police Investigating Assault in Mechanicsville in Which Two Victims and Two Suspects Are Flown to Trauma Centers

VIDEO: Police Investigating Assault in Mechanicsville in Which Two Victims and Two Suspects Are Flown to Trauma Centers

UPDATE 7/13/2021: On July 11, 2021, at approximately 8:03 p.m. deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 40400 block of Kavanagh Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported hit-and-run collision involving injury. Preliminary investigation determined numerous suspects blocked a roadway and assaulted five victims who were in two separate vehicles, with baseball...
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