Charles News

Shining a Spotlight on the Incredible Women of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

Shining a Spotlight on the Incredible Women of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

During Women’s History Month, we are proud to highlight the dedication and excellence of the women representing the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. This week, some of our employees had the unique opportunity to attend the inaugural Women’s Conference hosted by the Washington Metropolitan Police Dept. where they showcased their commitment to superior service and...
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Celebrating Women’s History Month Spotlight: Susan Scott

Celebrating Women’s History Month Spotlight: Susan Scott

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are shining a spotlight on an incredible woman who has dedicated her career to serving our community with professionalism, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Meet Susan Scott, Judicial Specialist III with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office‼ Since joining the CCSO in 1999 as...
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Charles County Public Schools Announce New Director of Student Services, Appointment Effective July 1, 2024

Charles County Public Schools Announce New Director of Student Services, Appointment Effective July 1, 2024

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) today announces the administrative appointment of Michael Blanchard, Psy.D., as the new Director of Student Services. The Board of Education of Charles County at its March 12 meeting approved the appointment of Blanchard to the role effective July 1. Blanchard currently serves as the Supervising School Psychologist for CCPS...
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Maryland State Police to Bolster Patrol Over St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

Maryland State Police to Bolster Patrol Over St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

Maryland State Police beginning Friday will increase patrols and enforcement efforts on impaired, aggressive and distracted driving through St. Patrick’s Day weekend. State troopers from all 23 barracks will conduct saturation patrols on roads with high DUI incidents from Friday through Sunday. Enforcement efforts are bolstered by funds from the Maryland Department of Transportation...
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UPDATE: Police Arrest Man in Connection to Eight “Jaws of Life” ATM Robberies

UPDATE: Police Arrest Man in Connection to Eight “Jaws of Life” ATM Robberies

UPDATE 3/14/2024: The Prince George’s County Police arrested a suspect wanted in connection with multiple robberies as part of the “Jaws of Life” ATM string. The suspect is 31-year-old Stefon Janey of Upper Marlboro. He was taken into custody Wednesday evening after leading detectives, patrol officers and the Aviation Section on a pursuit in...
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Waldorf Woman Arrested After Road Rage Shooting in Anne Arundel County

Waldorf Woman Arrested After Road Rage Shooting in Anne Arundel County

On Friday, March 8, 2024, at approximately 6:40 p.m., officers responded to a road rage incident and non-contact shooting on the ramp from Route 32 East onto the Baltimore Washington Parkway South. A female suspect and female victim, who are known to each other, were engaged in a road rage incident in the area...
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Police in Charles County Recover Over Six Pounds of cannabis and a Loaded Handgun / Suspect Wearing Ankle Monitor When Arrested

Police in Charles County Recover Over Six Pounds of cannabis and a Loaded Handgun / Suspect Wearing Ankle Monitor When Arrested

On March 8, 2024, members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Firearms Investigations Unit, along with detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, Southern Maryland Information Center, and Emergency Services Team served a search warrant in the 3100 block of Heathcote Road in Waldorf relating to an ongoing investigation into firearms violations and drug...
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Sports Wagering Contributes $4.2 Million to the State of Maryland During February 2024

Sports Wagering Contributes $4.2 Million to the State of Maryland During February 2024

Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $4,210,511 in contributions to the state from a handle of $442,557,658 during February 2024. Sports wagering contributions go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs. The $4.2 million contribution to the state last month was a 50.5% increase compared to the $2.8 million total...
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One Flown to Trauma Center After Truck Strikes School Bus Head-on in Indian Head

One Flown to Trauma Center After Truck Strikes School Bus Head-on in Indian Head

On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at approximately 7:15 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the 5000 block of Mason Springs Road in Indian Head, for the serious motor vehicle collision with entrapment involving a county school bus. Crews arrived on the scene to find a pickup truck struck an unoccupied school bus...
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Maryland Catfish Tournaments Offer Invasive Species Angling

Maryland Catfish Tournaments Offer Invasive Species Angling

With record catches around the country tipping the scales at more than a hundred pounds, blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) have become quite the draw for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay. Introduced in the 1970s as a recreational fishing target species in Virginia, invasive blue catfish populations have grown rapidly in Maryland waters. As commercial...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Implements NextRequest Application for Streamlined Access to Police Records and PIA Requests

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Implements NextRequest Application for Streamlined Access to Police Records and PIA Requests

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the implementation of the NextRequest application, a solution designed to enhance and expedite the process of obtaining police records and Maryland’s Public Information Act (PIA) requests. This progressive move represents the Agency’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and improved public access to law enforcement information. Key...
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Maryland’s Oyster Restoration Sanctuaries Show Promising Signs for Shellfish Recovery

Maryland’s Oyster Restoration Sanctuaries Show Promising Signs for Shellfish Recovery

At first, oyster biologists were concerned. Monitoring efforts at some restoration sanctuary reefs in 2022 weren’t pulling up many oysters, even though the sites had previously been performing well. So divers with the Oyster Recovery Partnership went into the water to investigate. What they found there wasn’t a shortage of oysters, but such a...
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La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Seeking Property to Hold Water Supply Training Operations

La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Seeking Property to Hold Water Supply Training Operations

Community members, we are looking for a property to hold a water supply drill on Sunday, May 5, 2024. These drills help us perfect the skill of moving water more proficiently for more effective fire suppression. Water supply is a critical component in all fire incidents and our goal, as always, is to provide...
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UPDATE: 18-Year-Old Robbed and Shot in Waldorf for Jacket

UPDATE: 18-Year-Old Robbed and Shot in Waldorf for Jacket

UPDATE 3/12/2024: On March 11 at 2:28 p.m., the victim, an 18-year-old male, was walking in the area of Ryon Court in Waldorf when he observed several males wearing ski masks approaching him. The victim fled into the lobby of a nearby office building located in the 3600 block of Leonardtown Road and removed...
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Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Life Member Robert Dofflemyer

Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Life Member Robert Dofflemyer

The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department is saddened to announce the passing of Life Member Robert L. Dofflemyer (Bob). Bob had been an active member of the department for 59 years and during his tenure, held offices which included Chairman of the Board, President, and Assistant Fire Chief. Additionally, Bob was a longtime instructor with...
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Victim Transported to Trauma Center and Suspect in Custody After Stabbing in Waldorf

Victim Transported to Trauma Center and Suspect in Custody After Stabbing in Waldorf

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, at approximately 10:25 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the 3000 block of October Place in Waldorf, for the reported stabbing. The 911 caller reported the victim was stabbed and losing a large amount of blood, no other information was given. First Responders arrived on the scene...
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Police Arrest Waldorf Man and Recover Drugs After Traffic Stop and Foot Chase

Police Arrest Waldorf Man and Recover Drugs After Traffic Stop and Foot Chase

On Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 8:09 p.m., an officer assigned to the Neighborhood Enforcement Team initiated a traffic stop at St. Charles Parkway and St. Thomas Drive after observing several traffic violations, including expired tags and inoperable lights. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer observed suspected cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The driver exited...
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Piccowaxen Middle School SRO Investigating Assault on School Bus Where Student Uses Steel Bottle as Weapon

Piccowaxen Middle School SRO Investigating Assault on School Bus Where Student Uses Steel Bottle as Weapon

On Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 2:45 p.m., a student from Piccowaxen Middle School was on the school bus heading home when another student struck them over the head several times with a steel water bottle. The bus driver called for assistance and drove back to the school where the injured student was seen...
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Governor Moore Announces $13.5 Million in Grants to Improve Behavioral Health Crisis Services Across the State

Governor Moore Announces $13.5 Million in Grants to Improve Behavioral Health Crisis Services Across the State

Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Department of Health awarded $13.5 million in grants to 19 jurisdictions across the state to help promote health equity and improve access to behavioral health crisis services for Marylanders. The grants will fund pilot programs to expand and improve mobile crisis team services and establish behavioral health...
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Hoyer Secures Over $11 Million in Funding for Fifth District Priorities in FY2024 Appropriations Bill

Hoyer Secures Over $11 Million in Funding for Fifth District Priorities in FY2024 Appropriations Bill

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement after he helped pass the 2024 Fiscal Year legislation, announcing over $11,304,279 in Community Project Funding for Fifth District priorities. This total is in addition to the more than $16,000,000 that Congressman Hoyer secured for projects in the Fifth District in the FY23 Omnibus. The Senate...
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UPDATE: Waldorf Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Abuse Against 3-Year-Old and 5-Year-Old

UPDATE: Waldorf Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Abuse Against 3-Year-Old and 5-Year-Old

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, March 7, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced Janae Elizabeth Bishop, 32, of Waldorf, to 30 years in prison with all but 10 years suspended for two counts of Second-Degree Child Abuse. On August 30, 2023, Bishop entered a...
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UPDATE: Second Suspect Charged for Murder of 17-Year-Old is Sentenced to Just 8 Years in Prison

UPDATE: Second Suspect Charged for Murder of 17-Year-Old is Sentenced to Just 8 Years in Prison

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, March 7, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced Tyliek Anthony Spence, 22, of Waldorf, to Life in prison with all but 8 years suspended for First-Degree Murder. Upon release, Spence will be on supervised probation for five years. On...
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UPDATE: Police Investigating Assault and Armed Robbery at St. Charles High School, Police Seeking Teens Stolen Vehicle

UPDATE: Police Investigating Assault and Armed Robbery at St. Charles High School, Police Seeking Teens Stolen Vehicle

SHERIFF’S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE: On March 6, 2024, at 11:10 a.m., a student from St. Charles High School was leaving school for the day when he was approached in the parking lot by several suspects and struck in the head with what appeared to be a handgun. The victim dropped his keys, and the...
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Maryland Spring 2024 Trout Fishing Season Opens March 30, 2024

Maryland Spring 2024 Trout Fishing Season Opens March 30, 2024

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is set to release thousands of hatchery-raised brown, golden, and rainbow trout across the state in areas temporarily closed to fishing in preparation for opening day on March 30. This year, the start time for fishing in all Closure 1 and Closure 2 areas is 6:30 a.m “Closing dozens of popular...
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Washington D.C. Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving, Police Recover Suspected Cocaine and Brass Knuckles

Washington D.C. Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving, Police Recover Suspected Cocaine and Brass Knuckles

On March 3, 2024, at approximately 7:05 a.m., a LPPD officer was working speed enforcement on Crain Highway northbound in the area of Glen Albin Road when a vehicle entered the RADAR beam at 108 mph. The officer stopped the vehicle and upon interviewing the driver, noticed an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from...
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