Charles News

Solomons Maritime Festival Scheduled for May 5

Solomons Maritime Festival Scheduled for May 5

Celebrate Southern Maryland heritage on Saturday, May 5 at the Calvert Marine Museum’s 13th annual Solomons Maritime Festival. Antique boats and marine engines, master maritime carvers, crafts and cooking demonstrations, traditional music, and boat rides offer something for every member of the family from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission to the festival and...
Read More »

Maryland DogFest returns to Charles County Fairgrounds April 28-29

Maryland DogFest returns to Charles County Fairgrounds April 28-29

From entertainment to dog adoptions to quality, dog-related exhibitors, the 7th annual Maryland DogFest offers something for dog lovers of all ages. The two-day, family-friendly event will be held April 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Charles County Fairgrounds in La Plata. All leashed dogs are invited to attend with their...
Read More »

WARNING – Graphic Content: Police Arrest La Plata Woman for Prostitution and Assault

WARNING – Graphic Content: Police Arrest La Plata Woman for Prostitution and Assault

On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at approximately 2:00 p.m., police officers from the La Plata Police Department responded to the Deluxe Inn, in La Plata for the report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, police observed a white female and black male separated and yelling back and forth, police approached the male, who...
Read More »

Banquet Salisbury Steak Meals Recalled for Possible Bone Fragments

Banquet Salisbury Steak Meals Recalled for Possible Bone Fragments

Conagra Brands, Inc., a Russellville, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 135,159 pounds of Salisbury steak products (poultry, pork, and beef) that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically bone, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The family-style, heat treated, not shelf stable Salisbury steak and brown gravy...
Read More »

Wawa Giving Away Free Coffee for ‘Wawa Day’

Wawa Giving Away Free Coffee for ‘Wawa Day’

Wawa is celebrating its customers by giving away free coffee. On Thursday — Wawa Day — the convenience store chain will give away more than 2 million cups of coffee to its customers. Any size coffee will be given away free throughout the entire day at all stores. The company says “Wawa Day” is...
Read More »

Lucky Ducks: Here’s a little light reading after a long day

Lucky Ducks: Here’s a little light reading after a long day

The following is from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page: Officers Coulby, Mohler, and Figgins from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a man who observed a momma duck quacking fiercely near a drain grate. Her baby ducks (nine in all) had fallen deep into the hole and couldn’t...
Read More »

Pastor Charged with Indecent Exposure After Being Caught on Video Masturbating in Front of 12 Teen Girls

Pastor Charged with Indecent Exposure After Being Caught on Video Masturbating in Front of 12 Teen Girls

On Tuesday, March 27, 2018, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were investigating a report of indecent exposure involving a white male driving a black Honda Civic. The twelve victims, ages 15 to 17 were students of St. Charles High School and were on a school bus traveling in St. Mary’s County...
Read More »

Wednesday’s Pet is DANNY

Wednesday’s Pet is DANNY

Wednesdays Pet for 04/11/2018 DANNY Featured Pet: Danny Rescue Group: Doodle Dawgs and Fabulous Felines Breed: Basenji/Chihuahua and maybe Beagle Mix Sex: Male Size: Small (12 lbs) Vetted: Neutered and Up-to-date with routine shots Adoption Fee: $325.00 (See Procedures on Rescue’s site) http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/doodledawgs.html Danny is a beautiful 10-month old Basenji/Chihuahua/maybe Beagle Mix. He has...
Read More »

Southern Maryland Doctor Indicted For Health Care Fraud And Identity Theft

Southern Maryland Doctor Indicted For Health Care Fraud And Identity Theft

UPDATE: Sampson Sarpong is not a member of the Washington Adventist Hospital Medical Staff and has not been for 20 years. 4/10/2018: A federal grand jury has indicted Sampson Sarpong, age 61, of Bowie, on Monday, April 9, 2018, on charges related to a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs and aggravated identity theft....
Read More »

Bill Would Provide Internet Users in Md. With Privacy Protection and Net Neutrality

Bill Would Provide Internet Users in Md. With Privacy Protection and Net Neutrality

Maryland may soon join other states that are putting consumer protections in place to allow residents to determine which personal data Internet service providers may use, while ensuring they’re treated equally regardless of how they use the Internet. A bill sponsored by Del. Bill Frick, D-Montgomery, scheduled for a final House vote this week...
Read More »

Governor Larry Hogan Signs Comprehensive School Safety Bill Into Law

Governor Larry Hogan Signs Comprehensive School Safety Bill Into Law

Governor Larry Hogan was joined today by Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and Speaker of the House Michael Busch to sign 114 bills into law at a signing ceremony at the Maryland State House in Annapolis. The signing followed the conclusion of the 2018 session of the Maryland General Assembly on Monday, April...
Read More »

Speed Camera Locations for Charles County 4/9/2018 to 4/13/2018

Speed Camera Locations for Charles County 4/9/2018 to 4/13/2018

During the week of April 9, to April 13, 2018, automated speed enforcement cameras will be activated in the following school zones: Leonardtown Road at Thomas Stone High School Indian Head Highway at Smallwood Middle School Marshall Corner Road at James Craik Elementary School Poplar Hill Road at Malcolm Elementary School Cameras are activated...
Read More »

Social Media Threat Against School Had Nothing to do With Maryland, Police Say

Social Media Threat Against School Had Nothing to do With Maryland, Police Say

A message was originally posted to Snapchat and featured a young man apparently holding a rifle, with the caption “F— CHS I’m going out with a bang” and “don’t go to school tmrw.” Some people interpreted it “CHS” to mean Chesapeake High School in Essex. Others feared it might reference Chesapeake High School in...
Read More »

UPDATE: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Murder/Suicide in Indian Head

UPDATE: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Murder/Suicide in Indian Head

UPDATE 4/6/2018 @ 12:15 p.m.: On April 5, 32018, at 8:07 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 5000 block of Fallen Timber Way in Indian Head for the report of a shooting. A preliminary investigation revealed a husband and wife were involved in an argument inside their house when...
Read More »

Seven Arrested in Waldorf for Breaking Into Cars

Seven Arrested in Waldorf for Breaking Into Cars

On March 31, 2018. at approximately 1:30 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls about several subjects breaking into cars in Waldorf neighborhoods. A witness provided a vehicle lookout, which responding officers observed as they arrived. Officers stopped an SUV, which was occupied by five juveniles and two young adults,...
Read More »

Police in Charles County Investigating Two Seperate Deaths in Port Tobacco and Waldorf

Police in Charles County Investigating Two Seperate Deaths in Port Tobacco and Waldorf

On April 3, 2018, at approximately 3:25 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 7400 block of Shirley Boulevard in Port Tobacco for the report of a missing person who possibly drowned. When officers arrived, they met with EMS who had arrived on the scene minutes before. A preliminary investigation...
Read More »

Former Police Officer sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Former Police Officer sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor

UPDATE: On Thursday, April 5, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced former District Heights Police Officer Clyde Douglas Parks, Jr., 48 of Waldorf, to 11 years in prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor. On May 24, 2017, the Charles County Department of Social Services received a mandatory report...
Read More »

Hughesville Man Arrested for Kidnapping, Assault and Car Theft

Hughesville Man Arrested for Kidnapping, Assault and Car Theft

On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, a deputy from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of St. Paul’s Drive, in Waldorf, after numerous citizens had called 911 and said that a male was forcing a female into a vehicle against her will. Callers said the female was yelling, screaming and struggling with...
Read More »

REMINDER: Wireless Emergency Alert Test to be Sent Out

REMINDER: Wireless Emergency Alert Test to be Sent Out

This morning, April 5, 2018, between 10 and 11 a.m., there will be a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) TEST that will be sent out in and near the Washington, D.C. and National Capital Region. This is ONLY A TEST and there is no action required for those that receive it.
Read More »

Waldorf Man Charged with Murder

Waldorf Man Charged with Murder

The Prince George’s County Police Department Homicide Unit arrested a suspect in connection with a homicide in Oxon Hill on Sunday. The suspect is 21-year-old Rickey Penn of the 2300 block of Avalon Court in Waldorf. He’s charged with fatally shooting 26-year-old Stephon Mathis of Linwood Drive in Oxon Hill. On April 1st, at approximately 6:00 pm, patrol officers responded...
Read More »

Wednesday’s Pet is ELVIS

Wednesday’s Pet is ELVIS

Wednesday’s Pet for 4/4/18 ELVIS Featured Pet: ELVIS Rescue Group: Calvert Animal Welfare League (CAWL) Breed: Hound Mix Sex: Male Size: Medium Vetted: Neutered and Up-to-date with routine shots Adoption Fee: $250.00 Elvis is a handsome, playful and friendly fellow. He is great with other dogs and children. Elvis found himself as an unclaimed...
Read More »

Recreational Crabbing Season Opened April 1st

Recreational Crabbing Season Opened April 1st

It’s crabbing season in Maryland! Recreational fishing for the state’s most iconic aquatic species begins April 1 in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries as well as in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays and their tributaries, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “We are pleased to offer multiple opportunities for anglers of all...
Read More »

Governor Hogan’s Statement on the Maryland Natural Resources Police Anniversary

Governor Hogan’s Statement on the Maryland Natural Resources Police Anniversary

I’m proud to help commemorate an important milestone in Maryland history—150 years since the founding of the Maryland Natural Resources Police. The department is our first state law enforcement agency, predating the Maryland State Police by almost a half-century, and is also one of the oldest conservation law enforcement organizations in the nation. On...
Read More »

Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to rise; Increase Fueled by Synthetic Opioids

Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to rise; Increase Fueled by Synthetic Opioids

An in-depth analysis of 2016 U.S. drug overdose data shows that America’s overdose epidemic is spreading geographically and increasing across demographic groups. The report, from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), appears in today’s issue of MMWR. Drug overdoses killed 63,632 Americans in 2016. Nearly two-thirds of these deaths (66%)...
Read More »

Possible Relief for Motorists with Huge E-Z Pass Fines Passes Senate

Possible Relief for Motorists with Huge E-Z Pass Fines Passes Senate

A bill bringing possible relief to Maryland motorists who face thousands of dollars in fines from unpaid E-ZPass tolls passed the Senate unanimously last Thursday and gets a hearing in a House committee next week. Bill sponsor, Sen. Roger Manno, D-Montgomery, made fixes to his bill that died last year in committee, conforming it...
Read More »