Charles News

Third and Final Defendant Sentenced in Waldorf Home Invasion Where a Woman was Beaten Unconscious and Doused with Gasoline

Third and Final Defendant Sentenced in Waldorf Home Invasion Where a Woman was Beaten Unconscious and Doused with Gasoline

UPDATE: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, April 29, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Ijaaz Butler, 26, to 12 years in prison for Home Invasion and Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion. The sentence imposed today in Charles County Circuit Court will run consecutive to...
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Police in Charles Investigating 83-Year-Old Pedestrian Killed in Port Tobacco

Police in Charles Investigating 83-Year-Old Pedestrian Killed in Port Tobacco

On April 28, 2019, at approximately 8:20 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 7400 block of Shirley Boulevard in Port Tobacco for the report of an accident involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Francis Irby Bailey, 83, of Port Tobacco, with life-threatening injuries. Bailey was flown...
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Motor Vehicle Accident in Charles County Involving a Dump Truck

Motor Vehicle Accident in Charles County Involving a Dump Truck

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, at approximately 10:45 a.m., police fire, and rescue personnel responded to Indian Head Highway in the area of Livingston Road, for the motor vehicle accident involving a dump truck. Crews arrived on scene to find a dump truck and a single pick-up truck in the roadway. Firefighters confirmed no...
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Forrestville Man Charged with 3 Counts of Attempted Murder After Detonating an Explosive Device at Waldorf Home

Forrestville Man Charged with 3 Counts of Attempted Murder After Detonating an Explosive Device at Waldorf Home

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM); in conjunction with the Maryland State Police S.T.A.T.E. (SWAT) Team, the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Fire Investigations...
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UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Multiple Store Robberies

UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Multiple Store Robberies

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, April 25, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Ja’ron Anthony Bowen, 20 of Indian Head, to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised probation for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, 3 counts of Robbery, and Theft Less...
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St. Leonard Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Home Invasion in Lusby

St. Leonard Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Home Invasion in Lusby

UPDATE: Ijaaz Butler, 26 of St. Leonard, appeared in Calvert County Circuit Court on April 22, 2019, and was sentenced by Judge Chandlee to 25 years in prison with all but 12 years suspended. On March 16, 2018 officers responded to a home in Lusby where it was reported that Butler had kicked in...
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Citizens Reminded of the Importance of Having Fire Extinguishers in their Homes

Citizens Reminded of the Importance of Having Fire Extinguishers in their Homes

On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at approximately 1:50 p.m., firefighters from Bay District Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a residence on Nicholas Court, in California for the report of a fire. A photographer for SMNEWSNET.COM was a block away when the fire was dispatched and arrived at the residence prior to the arrival...
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Second Time’s the Charm for Charles County Powerball Player

Second Time’s the Charm for Charles County Powerball Player

Lawrence “Gene” Shontere, Jr. is a very lucky Maryland Lottery player. The Indian Head resident, who just claimed a $50,000 Powerball prize, won big with the second Lottery ticket he’s ever bought. A $10 quick-pick ticket for the March 13 drawing delivered the game’s third-tier prize. A member of Hawthorne Country Club in La...
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Governor Hogan Signs Important Crime and Public Safety Measures Into Law

Governor Hogan Signs Important Crime and Public Safety Measures Into Law

Governor Larry Hogan signed into law several important measures to improve public safety. These are among 195 bills the governor signed today alongside Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne Jones. “We are very proud to enact these critical public safety measures to continue to make our state safer,” said...
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Two Waldorf Men Arrested for Armed Robbery of Delivery Truck Driver

Two Waldorf Men Arrested for Armed Robbery of Delivery Truck Driver

On Thursday, April 4, 2019, at approximately 2:45 p.m., a delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint by two masked males in the 11800 block of Edmont Place in Waldorf. The males stole packages from the delivery truck and fled on foot. Officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office established a perimeter and K9 officer...
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Suitland Man Arrested for Armed Robbery of Subway in Bryan’s Road

Suitland Man Arrested for Armed Robbery of Subway in Bryan’s Road

On April 9, 2019, at 9:30 p.m., a lone male suspect entered the Subway in Bryan’s Road, implied he had a gun and demanded money. The suspect stole money and fled on foot. An investigation revealed the suspect had previously committed two armed robberies at convenience stores in King George County, VA in March....
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Board of Charles County Commissioners Recognize Volunteer Top Responders

Board of Charles County Commissioners Recognize Volunteer Top Responders

This past week was “National Volunteer Week” and to honor our volunteer fire and EMS members the Charles County Commissioners offered a proclamation and individual “certificates of appreciation” to our “top responders” for both fire and EMS. Pictured are the 1st Place Responders from each station receiving their certificates and the presentation of the...
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Motorists and Farmers Urged to Share the Road During Planting Season

Motorists and Farmers Urged to Share the Road During Planting Season

Spring is here and the planting season is underway throughout much of Maryland. That means motorists traveling Maryland highways and rural roads may find themselves sharing the road with the large, slow-moving farm equipment from one of Maryland’s 12,300 farms. Planting season usually extends from early April through May. “Farmers are legally allowed to...
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Maryland Striped Bass Trophy Season Set to Open April 20

Maryland Striped Bass Trophy Season Set to Open April 20

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the state’s trophy striped bass season will begin April 20 and last through May 15. Anglers may catch one striped bass per day, with a minimum size of 35 inches, in the Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Virginia state line.   Maryland is part of a...
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Two Students Arrested at Thomas Stone High School

Two Students Arrested at Thomas Stone High School

On Friday, April 12, 2019, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a school resource officer assigned to Thomas Stone High School was advised of an altercation between two students inside a classroom. When the officer entered the room, he observed a male student being restrained by a teacher and several students, while another male student was...
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17-Year-Old La Plata High School Student Charged with Disruption of School Activities

17-Year-Old La Plata High School Student Charged with Disruption of School Activities

On April 11, 2019, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a social media post relating to a possible school shooting that was going to happen on the next day on April 12. Officers identified the person who initiated the post as a student at La Plata High School. Contact was made...
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UPDATE: 36-Year-Old Upper Marlboro Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident in Waldorf

UPDATE: 36-Year-Old Upper Marlboro Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident in Waldorf

UPDATE: On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Troopers from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded for a report of a motor vehicle collision involving two vehicles on northbound Route 301 in the area of Central Avenue in Waldorf. A preliminary investigation conducted by Troopers indicates a 2014 Suzuki Hayabusa...
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14-Year-Old Student Arrested with Loaded Handgun at La Plata High School

14-Year-Old Student Arrested with Loaded Handgun at La Plata High School

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at approximately 10:40 a.m., it was brought to a La Plata High School administrator’s attention that a student had revealed he had a bullet in his possession. The administrator brought the student to the office and found him to be in possession of a handgun and bullets. A school...
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UPDATE: Victims of Fatal Fire in Chesapeake Beach Identified

UPDATE: Victims of Fatal Fire in Chesapeake Beach Identified

UPDATE 4/8/2019 @ 11:15 a.m.: The two victims killed in the townhouse fire on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, in Chesapeake Beach have been identified by friends and family members as Wendy Welch, 52, and Stephanie Link, 13. Welch and Link were grandmother and granddaughter. No official ruling has been given for the fire, but...
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House Fire in Indian Head with Severe Hoarding Conditions Caused by Improperly Discarded Smoking Materials

House Fire in Indian Head with Severe Hoarding Conditions Caused by Improperly Discarded Smoking Materials

On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at approximately 12:50 p.m., firefighters from Indian Head, and surrounding departments responded to 11 Helen Court in Indian Head, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on scene to find a 2-story house with fire showing. Firefighters encountered severe hoarding conditions in the house. More than 60 firefighters responded...
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Maryland State Police Arrest Charles County Man On Child Pornography Charges

Maryland State Police Arrest Charles County Man On Child Pornography Charges

A Charles County man was arrested and charged early this morning after a Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation developed evidence supporting charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. Anthony Robinson 39, of Waldorf, was charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of distribution...
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Deputies in Charles County Investigating Stabbing in Waldorf

Deputies in Charles County Investigating Stabbing in Waldorf

On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at approximately 1:30 p.m., police and rescue personnel responded to the 2300 block of Acton Lane and Tawny Drive in Waldorf, for the reported stabbing. Crews arrived on scene to find a female in her 20’s suffering from a stab wound to the neck. The victim was conscious, alert,...
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One Patient Flown to Area Trauma Center After Motor Vehicle Accident in Charlotte Hall

One Patient Flown  to Area Trauma Center After Motor Vehicle Accident in Charlotte Hall

On Monday, April 1, 2019, at approximately 3:40 p.m., police fire, and rescue personnel responded to the area of Charles Street and Keech Road in Charlotte Hall, for the motor vehicle accident reported serious with one patient trapped. Crews arrived on scene to find three vehicles in the roadway with one patient confirmed trapped....
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PARK THE PHONE – April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

PARK THE PHONE – April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Each year, distracted driving results in more than 28,000 injuries on Maryland roads. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office is working with State and local law enforcement to encourage motorists to Park the Phone before they drive. “Distracted driving is...
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Charles County Department of Health Releases 2019 Food Facility Inspections

Charles County Department of Health Releases 2019 Food Facility Inspections

The Charles County Department of Health (CCDOH) has released an inspection list that identifies which facilities that have been inspected in 2019. The list provides increased transparency into the inspection process and departmental progress in the completion of routine inspections. This inspection database will be updated on a monthly basis to better inform consumers....
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