Charles County Crime Solvers

Waldorf Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Attempted Murder and Other Charges

Waldorf Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Attempted Murder and Other Charges

UPDATE 7/30/2022: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, July 28, 2022, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced William Anthony Smothers, 39, of Waldorf, to 30 years in prison for the Attempted Second-Degree Murder of James Rudd, Jr. and related charges. Smothers was also sentenced to 3...
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Police Investigating Head-on Collision in Newburg, One Flown to Trauma Center and One Transported to Area Hospital

Police Investigating Head-on Collision in Newburg, One Flown to Trauma Center and One Transported to Area Hospital

On Thursday, July 28, 2022, at approximately 7:25 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Budds Creek Road and Sarum Manor Road in Newburg, for the motor vehicle collision reported serious with multiple subjects trapped. Crews from Charles and St. Mary’s County responded and arrived on the scene to find...
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Charles County Detectives Arrest 22-Year-Old Waldorf Man for Drug Trafficking and Recover 5 Loaded Handguns – Released by Judge 24 Hours Later

Charles County Detectives Arrest 22-Year-Old Waldorf Man for Drug Trafficking and Recover 5 Loaded Handguns – Released by Judge 24 Hours Later

On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, members of the Narcotics Enforcement Section, along with CCSO’s Emergency Services Team, served a search warrant at a house in the 5400 block of Harvest Fish Place in Waldorf after receiving information about alleged drug dealing at the residence. During the search, over 600 grams of marijuana, a quantity...
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UPDATE: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Murder of 29-Year-Old Waldorf Woman

UPDATE: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Murder of 29-Year-Old  Waldorf Woman

UPDATE 7/25/2022: On July 24 at 10:22 p.m. Officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apartment complex in the area of October Place in Waldorf for the report of the sound of gunshots. When officers arrived, they found Tiesha Janae Johnson, 29, of Waldorf, with gunshot wounds; she was pronounced deceased...
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Charles County Crime Solvers Offering Reward in Armed Robbery Case

Charles County Crime Solvers Offering Reward in Armed Robbery Case

On July 16, 2022, at 11:17 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4500 block of Grebe Place in Waldorf for the report of a robbery. A preliminary investigation revealed a pizza delivery driver responded to an address to deliver food. The occupants exited the house and indicated they did...
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UPDATE: Police Investigating 13-Year-Old Male Shot in La Plata, Victim Flown to Trauma Center with Non-Life-Threatening Injuries

UPDATE: Police Investigating 13-Year-Old Male Shot in La Plata, Victim Flown to Trauma Center with Non-Life-Threatening Injuries

UPDATE – Charles County Sheriff’s Office Press Release: On July 18, 2022, at 11:53 p.m., officers from the La Plata Police Department and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Caroline Drive and Jennie Run Drive in La Plata for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located a...
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UPDATE: 46-Year-Old Waldorf Man Identified as Motorcyclist Killed in Motor Vehicle Collision

UPDATE: 46-Year-Old Waldorf Man Identified as Motorcyclist Killed in Motor Vehicle Collision

UPDATE 7/18/2022: On July 16 at 5:13 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Acton Lane and Western Parkway in Waldorf for the report of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle. A preliminary investigation revealed a passenger car was making a left turn from westbound Acton Lane onto southbound Western Parkway. A...
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Replica Firearm Recovered from Thomas Stone High School Student

Replica Firearm Recovered from Thomas Stone High School Student

On Thursday, July 14, 2022, at approximately 9:40 a.m., a concerned parent contacted Thomas Stone High School stating that she saw a male student with what she believed could be a weapon at the bus stop, and that the student got on the bus. School administration notified officers and the bus driver. Officers responded...
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Charles County Detectives Recover Crack Cocaine, Drug Distribution Materials, and Semi-Automatic Handgun After Search Warrant

Charles County Detectives Recover Crack Cocaine, Drug Distribution Materials, and Semi-Automatic Handgun After Search Warrant

On Thursday, July 7, 2022, members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Section, with assistance from the CCSO Emergency Services Team, Special Operations Division, and K9, served a search warrant at a house in the 9500 block of Kline Drive in La Plata. A resident of the home, James Leroy Brown, III,...
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Narcotics Detectives Recover Four “Ghost Guns,” an AR-15 Rifle, 16 Pounds of Marijuana, LSD, and Drug Distribution Paraphernalia

Narcotics Detectives Recover Four “Ghost Guns,” an AR-15 Rifle, 16 Pounds of Marijuana, LSD, and Drug Distribution Paraphernalia

On Friday, July 8, 2022, as a result of an ongoing investigation into drug distribution allegations, members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Section, with assistance from Emergency Services Teams from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, served a search warrant in the 5400 block of...
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Westlake High School Resource Officer Investigating Disruption of School Activities

Westlake High School Resource Officer Investigating Disruption of School Activities

On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at 9:58 a.m., a student attending a summer school program at Westlake High School lit a non-aerial firework in the main lobby of the school. As a result, officers and staff evacuated the building due to smoke. Once it was determined to be safe, students returned inside the building....
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UPDATE: Police Release Identity of Nanjemoy Man Killed in Single Vehicle Collision in Port Tobacco

UPDATE: Police Release Identity of Nanjemoy Man Killed in Single Vehicle Collision in Port Tobacco

UPDATE 7/5/2022: On July 2, at 6:17 p.m., officers responded to the area of Poorhouse Road and Glasgow Lane in Port Tobacco for the report of a single vehicle crash. When officers arrived, they found a vehicle that had crashed into several trees. The driver, John Walter Knott, 52, of Nanjemoy, was pronounced deceased...
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Police in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles County Investigating Anti-Semitism Propaganda

Police in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles County Investigating Anti-Semitism Propaganda

On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to Persimmon Creek Road in Mechanicsville, after a resident found anti-Semitism items in their mailbox. A resident in Charles County posted the following photo below, stating they found it in their yard on Sunday morning. Numerous SMNEWSNET readers have contacted...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Address Complaints of Off-Road Vehicles Being Operated Recklessly on Roadways

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Address Complaints of Off-Road Vehicles Being Operated Recklessly on Roadways

In response to numerous citizen complaints regarding off-road vehicles (ATVs & dirt bikes) operating recklessly in the roadways, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Unit conducted a special enforcement effort on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in Waldorf. Officers were made aware that off-road vehicles were being operated recklessly in the area of St. Thomas...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Burglary and Property Destruction in Waldorf, Over $30,000.00 in Damage and Stolen Property

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Burglary and Property Destruction in Waldorf, Over $30,000.00 in Damage and Stolen Property

On Monday, June 27, 2022, at approximately 1:31 p.m., officers responded to the 10900 block of Sam’s Place in Waldorf for the report of a burglary. Upon arrival, officers learned that the victim returned home to find his residence had been broken in to and vandalized. Walls, furniture, cabinets, fixtures, and personal items were...
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Charles County Officers Locate and Arrest Two Suspects After Home Invasion, Assault and Armed Robbery in Bryantown

Charles County Officers Locate and Arrest Two Suspects After Home Invasion, Assault and Armed Robbery in Bryantown

On Friday, June 24, 2022, at approximately 5:05 a.m., officers responded to the 5600 block of Ted Bowling Road in Bryantown for the report of a home invasion. An initial investigation revealed two men forced entry into the residence. Once inside, they threatened the victims with a handgun and demanded cash. The men then...
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Brass Knuckles with Blade Recovered from McDonough High School Student

Brass Knuckles with Blade Recovered from McDonough High School Student

On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at approximately 8:15 a.m., a student from McDonough High School, who was previously suspended, showed up at the school and was asked to leave. He complied; however, he walked to Robert D. Stethem Educational Center where he was observed inside the gymnasium playing basketball. An administrator approached the student...
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Charles County Police Investigating Woman’s Death After Being Found in Waldorf Parking Lot

Charles County Police Investigating Woman’s Death After Being Found in Waldorf Parking Lot

On Sunday, June 12, 2022, at approximately 6:40 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of the Hooters located at 3600 Crain Highway in Waldorf, for the check the welfare/unknown medical call. The 911 caller was a passerby and reported a female was laying between the Hooters / Super 8 Motel parking...
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Police Recover Knife and Stun Gun from Thomas Stone High School Student

Police Recover Knife and Stun Gun from Thomas Stone High School Student

On Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., a school administrator at Thomas Stone High School was advised that a student was in possession of a knife and a stun gun, which were recovered. The school resource officer is conducting an investigation and, upon completion, will review the case with the State’s Attorney’s Office...
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UPDATE: Police Investigating Assault, Altercation Inside Thomas Stone High School That Resulted in Teacher Being Flown to Trauma Center

UPDATE: Police Investigating Assault, Altercation Inside Thomas Stone High School That Resulted in Teacher Being Flown to Trauma Center

UPDATE 6/8/2022: On June 7, 2022, at 1:25 p.m., a school resource officer and administrators at Thomas Stone High School were notified of a student who was struck in the head by a book that was thrown by another student while inside a classroom. A group of students arrived to confront the person who...
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Charles County Police Investigating Threat of Mass Violence at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center

Charles County Police Investigating Threat of Mass Violence at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center

On June 1, 2022, after students at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center were dismissed for the day, a student told a parent that they heard about another student who made a threat to commit mass violence at the Center. The parent contacted school administrators who notified a school resource officer (SRO). The SRO initiated...
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Replica Firearm Recovered from St. Charles High School Student

Replica Firearm Recovered from St. Charles High School Student

On June 1, 2022, at approximately 1:40 p.m., a student at St. Charles High School reported to a school administrator that another student was in possession of a handgun. The student was located and a replica handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun, was recovered from the student’s backpack. The Charles County...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Person/Incident at Waldorf Bus Stop

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Person/Incident at Waldorf Bus Stop

This morning, officers were made aware of a possible suspicious person at a school bus stop in the Millbrook neighborhood of Waldorf. Several young students from C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School who were at a bus stop said they observed a male, possibly white, in his teens, wearing black clothing and a black mask...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Locate Lexington Park Sex Offender Who Made Multiple Threats of Mass Violence

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Locate Lexington Park Sex Offender Who Made Multiple Threats of Mass Violence

UPDATE 5/25/2022: Officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office located Earl Benjamin Washington, Jr., 46, in St. Mary’s County today. Emergency medical personnel responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Town Creek Drive in California, for the reported male suspect being unresponsive and vomiting blood. As medical personnel were responding to the...
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Police Recover Replica Handgun from Thomas Stone High School Student

Police Recover Replica Handgun from Thomas Stone High School Student

On Friday, May 20, 2022, at 8:53 a.m., school administrators at Thomas Stone High School were made aware that a student was possibly in possession of what appeared to be a handgun. The school resource officer located the student and found a replica 9mm airsoft gun, which resembles a semi-automatic firearm. The gun was...
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