After serving the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the citizens of Maryland for just over eight years, Acceleration Detection Canine Zorro retired on December 31, 2024. During his career, K-9 Zorro and his handler, Deputy Chief Fire Marshal and OSFM K9 Commander John Nelson, have responded to and assisted investigators on countless...
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UPDATE 1/2/2024: Timothy Ignatius Gatton, 22, of Lexington Park, was arrested on January 1, 2025, for domestic assault, child abuse, and firearm-related violations. According to the police report, a deputy from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Oxford Court in Lexington Park after receiving a report of an assault...
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On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at approximately 3:19 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Three Notch Road and Pegg Road, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Ambulance 389 located the collision, and requested the Motor Vehicle Collision assignment. Firefighters arrived on...
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Robert Corey Lentz, 38, of Callaway, was arrested on December 23, 2024, following allegations of physical assault and neglect against his an elderly male, for whom he served as a caretaker. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident at a residence on Take It Easy Ranch Road. Lentz has been charged...
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Daniel Earl Garner, 48, of Leonardtown, was arrested on December 28, 2024, and now faces a series of charges following a traffic stop conducted by Senior Trooper Allison Oyler of the Maryland State Police leonardtown Barrack (MSP). The incident took place during a DUI saturation patrol on southbound Maryland Route 235 near Pegg Road...
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The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office invites the community to a town hall to gain firsthand, fact-based insights into gun violence in our area. The event will take place at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department’s Braddock Hall, 46900 S. Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park, at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 27, 2025. The...
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Mark your calendars and polish your dancing shoes! St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) is thrilled to announce that registration for the 2025 Mother Son Dance is now open. Open to boys ages 4 and up, this semi-formal dance is set for Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 7 p.m. –...
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When the U.S. Coast Guard was unable to procure a wiring system part that affected its entire fleet of MH-60T helicopters in late November, they turned to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Additive Manufacturing (AM) Team. Thanks to a collaborative workplace culture between services and a recognition for urgent solutions at the time...
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Governor Wes Moore announced appointments to the District 12 Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission for Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. John (Jay) Erly will serve as chair. “Our Judicial Nominating Commissions are critical to our justice system,” said Gov. Moore. “I thank each of our appointees for raising their hands to serve and for helping...
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UPDATE 12/31/2024: On December 30, 2024, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrested Donnie Richardson, 49, of Lexington Park, in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on Valley Estates Drive. The arrest followed an early morning response to reports of gunfire in the area, leading to a detailed investigation. According to...
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UPDATE: The spirit of giving reached new heights during “Bubby’s Christmas Farewell,” thanks to the incredible efforts and generosity of The Knott Family. The beloved local family not only led the fundraising effort, helping to collect an impressive $120,291.13 from the community, but also made an extraordinary donation of $200,000—well beyond their pledge to...
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On December 29th, 2024, the sudden surprising announcement regarding the closure of Ye Olde Towne Cafe was made on Facebook. The post can be read below. “I would like to wish everyone the greatest of happiest in the holiday season. May your joys carry you through the New Year of 2025. I do need...
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Robert Matthew Duke, 37, of Lexington Park, has been charged in two separate cases filed in St. Mary’s County District Court. The cases involve allegations of violating a peace order and an incident of alleged peeping tom behavior. Court records indicate that Duke is charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly engaging in “visual surveillance...
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Ellis Eugene Tolbert, 66, of Hollywood, Maryland, has been indicted on nine counts of possession of child pornography. This follows an extensive investigation by Maryland State Police and the use of CyberTips provided by a national organization monitoring online child exploitation. The charges were filed on October 7, 2024, in the Circuit Court for...
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On Friday, December 27, 2024, at approximately 5:21 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Willows Road and South Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Crews arrived on the scene within minutes of dispatch to find a white Dodge Charger had...
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NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD: The U.S. Navy announced that it has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $3.5 billion contract to conduct the mission-systems integration for the E-130J, which will be the successor to the E-6B Mercury for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman of Melbourne,...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a Charlotte Hall location for an alarm call at a business that sells guns at approximately 11:53 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2024. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the front window of GLR Enterprise shattered. A search of the premises determined no suspects were inside the store....
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Terry Jeffrey Harris Jr., 35, of Lexington Park, is facing multiple criminal charges after two separate incidents resulted in his arrest on December 24 and December 25, 2024. The charges, filed in the District Court of St. Mary’s County, include second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. According to court documents, the first incident occurred on...
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On the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2024, at 10:13, Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Engine 71 was placed In-Service, ready to serve St. Mary’s County! The designation “Engine 71” has been taken out of retirement, and bestowed upon our newest engine as a dedication to our Charter Members. Two of our operational Charter...
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UPDATE 12/27/2024: A fourth individual, identified as Deondre Maceo Straughn, 18, of Saint Inigoes, has been arrested following an incident on November 28, 2024, involving multiple firearms violations and a high-speed police chase that ended in a crash. Deondre Maceo Straughn joins his brothers, Tireke Allen Straughn, 21, Tywon Deontae Straughn, 23, both of...
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UPDATE 12/27/2024: The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD), along with surrounding companies, responded to a devastating structure fire in their first-due response area on Monday, December 23rd. This tragedy struck the home of their Past Fire Chief and current Board of Director Bobby Johnson. The fire not only displaced the family during the holiday...
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UPDATE 12/27/2024: Four individuals have been charged, and four local businesses have been cited for underage sales violations as part of a recent enforcement operation in St. Mary’s County. These cases, which arose from sales made on November 26, 2024, were officially filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County on December 26,...
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UPDATE 12/27/2024: Police in St. Mary’s County have charged Thomas Campbell Bowling Von-Goetz, 56, of Avenue, in connection with two incidents at local churches during the Christmas holiday. Court documents describe a series of disruptive and threatening actions that allegedly endangered parishioners and interrupted religious services at Holy Angels Church and St. Francis Xavier Church....
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On December 20, 2024, Sheriff Ricky Cox and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office welcomed four new deputies following the final inspection and graduation exercises from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy (SMCJA) Police Entrance Level Training Program Session 54 at Chopticon High School in Morganza, MD. The deputies were among a total of 17...
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Angela Marie Hanson, 52, of California, Maryland, has been indicted on charges of embezzlement and theft following allegations of financial misconduct during her tenure as Finance Manager for Historic Sotterley, Inc. According to court documents, Hanson is accused of stealing nearly $15,000 over a five-month period from October 31, 2023, to April 15, 2024....
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