Charles News

October 2025 Events at CSM

October 2025 Events at CSM

Emily Creswick Writer’s Process Series: Chris Ankney (Poet) – October 7, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Learning Resource Center (LR Building), Writing Center (Room 211), La Plata Campus at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata. This month, CSM welcomes poet Chris Ankney, a tenured English professor at the college and award-winning writer whose work explores a...
Read More »

Early Muzzleloader Deer Season Opens October 16th throughout Maryland

Early Muzzleloader Deer Season Opens October 16th throughout Maryland

The first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season will be open Oct. 16-18 statewide. Hunters in Region B — the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions — can also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 20-25 for antlerless deer only.  “The early muzzleloader season is a great opportunity enjoy the colors of autumn while putting venison in the freezer,” Maryland...
Read More »

UPDATE: Waldorf Teen Charged with First-Degree Murder After Admitting to Fatally Stabbing Stepfather

UPDATE: Waldorf Teen Charged with First-Degree Murder After Admitting to Fatally Stabbing Stepfather

UPDATE 10/6/2025: Sean Michael Smith, 18, of Waldorf, has been charged with first-degree murder and multiple related offenses following the fatal stabbing of his stepfather during a domestic dispute at their home on October 3, 2025. According to court documents filed in Charles County District Court, deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded...
Read More »

Child and Adult Transported to Trauma Centers After Being Run Over at Bensville Park in Charles County

Child and Adult Transported to Trauma Centers After Being Run Over at Bensville Park in Charles County

On Sunday, October 5, 2025, at approximately 4:40 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Bensville Park located at 6980 Bensville Road in White Plains, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving multiple pedestrians. 911 callers reported a vehicle had run over at least two pedestrians by the turf field. One...
Read More »

Deer, Other Wildlife Activity in the Fall Increases Maryland Drivers’ Collision Risk

Deer, Other Wildlife Activity in the Fall Increases Maryland Drivers’ Collision Risk

Deer mating season is right around the corner, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds motorists to be vigilant. The shortening of daylight hours, called the photo period, triggers white-tailed deer breeding season. During this time, deer travel across roads in often unpredictable patterns at all times of the day and night in search of a mate....
Read More »

Serious Crash in La Plata Sends Two to Trauma Center, Police Investigating

Serious Crash in La Plata Sends Two to Trauma Center, Police Investigating

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, at approximately 4:16 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of 6985 Mason Springs Road in La Plata, for the serious motor vehicle collision with entrapment and a vehicle overturned. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway, into a...
Read More »

La Plata Nursing Home Resident Transported to Hospital After Causing Fire

La Plata Nursing Home Resident Transported to Hospital After Causing Fire

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, at approximately 12:24 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Complete Care Nursing Facility located at 1 Magnolia Drive in La Plata, for the reported structure fire with injuries. 911 callers reported a resident had set curtains in the room on fire after smoking a cigarette...
Read More »

Waldorf Man Arrested in Charles County with Loaded Gun, PCP, Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Cannabis During Arrest

Waldorf Man Arrested in Charles County with Loaded Gun, PCP, Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Cannabis During Arrest

Trevon Deshawn Chisley, 30, of Waldorf, has been arrested and charged with more than 20 criminal counts related to drug trafficking and firearms possession after detectives with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on September 24, 2025. According to court documents, investigators with the Narcotics Enforcement Section had been conducting an...
Read More »

14-Month-Old Transported to Children’s Center with Serious Burns

14-Month-Old Transported to Children’s Center with Serious Burns

On Friday, October 3, 2025, at approximately 5:20 p.m., emergency medical services responded to the 4000 block of Clayton Road in Waldorf, for the reported burns. 911 callers reported a 14-month old was suffering from serious burns caused by hot coffee. EMS arrived on the scene to find the victim suffering from burns to...
Read More »

70-Year-Old Port Tobacco Man Indicted and Charged with Over 100 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography

70-Year-Old Port Tobacco Man Indicted and Charged with Over 100 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography

Late last year, detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division received a notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a cyber tip that indicated someone in Charles County was downloading child pornography. Detectives initiated an investigation and subsequently identified a suspect, Jack Eugene Fullerton, 70, of Port Tobacco. A search warrant...
Read More »

UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 4 Years After Killing 22-Year-Old While Impaired, Doing Double The Speed Limit

UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 4 Years After Killing 22-Year-Old While Impaired, Doing Double The Speed Limit

UPDATE 10/02/2025: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, September 26, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Nijale Zaki Mikal-Brown, 22, of Waldorf, to 4 years in prison for the Gross Negligent Manslaughter of Ja’Juan Malik Cobb. Upon release, Mikal-Brown will be on supervised probation for a...
Read More »

GoFundMe Started for Next Step Produce After Accidental Fire Causes Over $1 Million in Damages

GoFundMe Started for Next Step Produce After Accidental Fire Causes Over $1 Million in Damages

UPDATE 10/02/2025: On October 1, 2025, at approximately 10:18 P.M., firefighters from Maryland and Virginia responded to 10615 Benton Road in Newburg,for the reported structure on fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a 100′ x 75′ Produce Barn fully engulfed in flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and no animals were harmed....
Read More »

UPDATE: Owner of JNJ Towing Arrested After “Peeping Tom” Incident in Waldorf

UPDATE: Owner of JNJ Towing Arrested After “Peeping Tom” Incident in Waldorf

UPDATE 10/01/2025: Court documents added – A man, who was later identified as Emanuel Jermaine Simmons, of Hughesville, was caught on camera engaging in lewd behavior outside a woman’s bedroom window in Waldorf. The incident occurred on the morning of September 2, 2025, when a neighbor showed the adult female victim a video of...
Read More »

College of Southern Maryland Celebrates Reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center

College of Southern Maryland Celebrates Reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center

Nearly 100 faculty, staff, and community members gathered at the College of Southern Maryland’s Dr. Elaine Ryan Library in the Learning Resource Building on the La Plata Campus on September 17, 2025, to celebrate the reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center, a resource dedicated to preserving and sharing the region’s history. The day’s...
Read More »

Sterling-Backed Legislation Creating a New Felony Crime for Concealment of Death and Dismemberment Becomes Law

Sterling-Backed Legislation Creating a New Felony Crime for Concealment of Death and Dismemberment Becomes Law

Legislation strongly supported and championed by St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling, House Bill 674 / Senate Bill 394, Criminal Law – Concealment of Death and Disturbing and Dismembering Human Remains, is enacted into law today, October 1st, 2025. This new statute is a criminal felony punishable by up to five years in...
Read More »

Governor Moore Announces Resources for Federal Workers as Team Maryland Stands United in Response to Federal Government Shutdown

Governor Moore Announces Resources for Federal Workers as Team Maryland Stands United in Response to Federal Government Shutdown

Governor Wes Moore today announced support and resources available to help meet the needs of federal workers who live in Maryland and are impacted by the federal government shutdown. The renewed surge of resources and support comes as President Trump and Congressional Republicans have failed to reach an agreement to keep the government open, continuing...
Read More »

Maryland Department of Natural Resources to Begin Fall Trout Stocking for 2025

Maryland Department of Natural Resources to Begin Fall Trout Stocking for 2025

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin its annual fall trout stocking program the first full week in October. The program will bring thousands of hatchery-raised rainbow, brown, and golden rainbow trout to streams and impoundments across the state. This initiative provides recreational fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill...
Read More »

Waldorf Man Driving Impaired With 7-Year-Old Child Crashes Into Loaded School Bus Transporting Football Team in Charles County

Waldorf Man Driving Impaired With 7-Year-Old Child Crashes Into Loaded School Bus Transporting Football Team in Charles County

On Monday, September 29th, 2025, at approximately 8:12 p.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a school bus in the 3700 block of Leonardtown Road in Waldorf. The investigation revealed that the driver of a Camaro, traveling southbound on Leonardtown Road, struck the rear of a school bus carrying members of the...
Read More »

Hyattsville Man Indicted in Charles County Gun Store Burglary Case – Accused of Stealing Firearms, Suppressors from

Hyattsville Man Indicted in Charles County Gun Store Burglary Case – Accused of Stealing Firearms, Suppressors from

Malcolm Olatokunbo Oshin, 24, of Hyattsville, has been indicted in the Circuit Court for Charles County on multiple charges related to the alleged burglary of a firearms store and the theft of weapons valued at tens of thousands of dollars. According to the indictment, on November 20, 2024, Oshin allegedly broke into Gun Monkey’s...
Read More »

First Responders in Charles, and Prince George’s County Awarded Grants for New Equipment

First Responders in Charles, and Prince George’s County Awarded Grants for New Equipment

During the September 25th, 2025, Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue meeting, the Charles County Dive Team presented grant details that will provide them new technology with an underwater drone for search and rescue missions. CCDR received the $15,000 grant from the DC Fire and EMS Foundation, Legacy on Ice, to help offset...
Read More »

Matthew Norris Officially Appointed La Plata Police Department Chief

Matthew Norris Officially Appointed La Plata Police Department Chief

The Town of La Plata has named Matthew J. Norris as the new Police Chief to lead its Police Department. Serving as the Acting Police Chief since March of 2025, Chief Norris has been a key member of the La Plata Police Department (LPPD) for the last 16 years. “Throughout his time in the...
Read More »

Maryland’s Black Bears More Active in Fall

Maryland’s Black Bears More Active in Fall

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. As the leaves change and the weather cools, bears will travel across roads more frequently. They also can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which...
Read More »

Police Seeking Whereabouts of Waldorf Man After He Violates Protective Order, Points Gun at Victim

Police Seeking Whereabouts of Waldorf Man After He Violates Protective Order, Points Gun at Victim

Charles County Sheriff’s Officers are seeking the whereabouts of Marc Aaron Thompson, 36, of Waldorf, MD. Thompson has an active warrant for first- and second-degree assault, and handgun on person. On September 1st, Thompson violated a Protective Order. During a heated verbal argument, he pointed a black handgun at the victim. An arrest warrant...
Read More »

Prince George’s Man Charged After Stealing Ambulance from Charles County Hospital

Prince George’s Man Charged After Stealing Ambulance from Charles County Hospital

Kevin Lewis Miller, 43, of Upper Marlboro, has been charged with felony theft and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle after allegedly stealing a ambulance valued at approximately $250,000 from the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center on the night of September 13, 2025. According to court documents, the Charles County Department of...
Read More »

Port Tobacco Man Indicted on 101 Child Pornography Counts in Charles County

Port Tobacco Man Indicted on 101 Child Pornography Counts in Charles County

UPDATE: Judicial Services received the indictment and began looking for the suspect, who had since moved to Mechanicsville. On October 1, members of the CCSO’s Warrant Unit located Fullerton and arrested him. He was transported to the Charles County Detention Center. Less than 24 hours later on October 2nd, 2025, a judge ordered that...
Read More »