The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2025 juvenile striped bass survey recorded a young-of-year index of 4.0. This is an improvement over recent years, but still well below the long-term survey average of 11. This marks the seventh consecutive year of low spawning success for striped bass. The annual survey tracks the reproductive...
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On October 8th, 2025, the Mount Vernon Police District in Fairfax County, VA, released the following information. They identified the suspect as Marko Puskas, 40, of no fixed address. Detectives from our Financial Crimes Unit uncovered a credit card skimming operation that targeted ATMs and payment devices inside stores across the Richmond Highway corridor,...
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State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced that Crosby Dawson, 42, of Leonardtown, Maryland, was sentenced to 65 years in prison with 35 years of active incarceration, ordered to lifetime sexual offender supervision, and required to register as a sex offender for life, for the sexual abuse and rape of a child. Following a multi-day jury...
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CCSO UPDATE 10/14/2025: The individual previously shown in this post has been identified. The image has been removed as the subject is a juvenile. The individual voluntarily contacted police after seeing the photo circulating on social media. We are continuing to investigate. We appreciate the public’s assistance in this matter. 10/14/2025: On October 11,...
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Jerome Anthony Warren, 64, of Waldorf, is currently facing criminal charges in four separate cases in Charles County District Court. The charges span from September 2024 through September 2025 and include multiple counts of assault, fraud, drug possession, trespassing, and theft. Charging documents reveal a pattern of alleged confrontations with law enforcement, correctional staff,...
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Glenn Rodney Battle, 39, of Lexington Park, has been charged with indecent exposure and malicious destruction of property after a reported incident on October 11, 2025, on Lawrence Avenue in Leonardtown, according to charging documents filed by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Rachael Roszell responded to the 22000 block of Lawrence Avenue...
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On October 10, 2025, Daniel Joseph Bliss, 42, of Waldorf, pleaded guilty in Calvert County Circuit Court to 3 counts of second degree rape and 1 count of sexual abuse of a minor. Judge Mark S. Chandlee sentenced Mr. Bliss to 65 years of active incarceration, followed by probation with the requirement of lifetime...
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On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at approximately 1:25 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Nick’s of Clinton located at 3953 St Charles Parkway in Waldorf, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving the structure. 911 callers reported a vehicle struck the side of the building resulting in damage inside, with...
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that squirrel, rabbit, fall turkey, and other small game seasons are either underway or set to open in the coming weeks. Some of these species offer generous seasons and bag limits and are abundant throughout Maryland. “Although many hunters turn their attention to deer during this time of year, small game...
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Thomas Emanuel Gross, 39, of Lexington Park, was ordered held without bond following his arrest on felony and misdemeanor drug charges stemming from a search warrant executed earlier this year, according to court documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County. Gross faces four charges: one felony count of possession with intent...
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UPDATE: Prior to publishing our recent article on transparency, SMNEWSNET.COM filed two formal complaints with the Maryland Office of the Public Access Ombudsman against the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for withholding public information. The Ombudsman reviewed our complaints and found them valid for mediation — a process designed to resolve disputes through open...
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Pursuit of Justice – Charles County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Files – Sterling Settle, Jr. On October 13, 1995, at approximately 4:00 p.m.,, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a logging road off Covington Road in Brandywine, for the report of a deceased male. Officers located the male, identified as Sterling...
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On Sunday, October 12, 2025, at approximately 7:15 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 4000 block of Doncaster Drive in Indian Head, for the reported pedestrian struck by a vehicle. The 911 caller — identified as an adult female — told dispatchers that she and her husband had been involved...
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On October 10, 2025, at approximately 9:23 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of the Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find a two vehicle rear-end style collision with the striking vehicle having fled the scene....
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Calvert County will participate in National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southern Community Center, located at 20 Appeal Lane in Lusby, and the Northeast Community Center, located at 4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave. in Chesapeake Beach. Residents are encouraged to safely dispose of unused...
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You’re on a walkway in a park. You can see trees, a road, a marsh and a coastline against a vibrant blue sky all around you. Then, you hear the toll of a bell. The marsh expands, the water edges up the grass. Another bell and the water creeps up to the base of...
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The Prince George’s County Police family is mourning the loss of Police Officer First Class Alex Belcher #4204. He passed away on October 8, 2025, after a hard-fought medical battle. POFC Belcher was a seven-year veteran of the agency. He spent his entire career serving as a patrol officer in District I – Hyattsville...
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On Sunday, October 12, 2025, at approximately 9:20 p.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Hollywood, Leonardtown, Seventh District, Hughesville, and Waldorf responded to the 38000 block of New Market Turner Road in Mechanicsville, for the structure on fire. 911 callers reported a garage was fully engulfed and threatening other structures. Crews quickly arrived on the scene...
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On Sunday, October 12, 2025, at approximately 6:25 p.m., firefighters from Bryans Road and surrounding fire departments responded to the 2600 block of Cannon Court in Bryans Road, for the reported garage on fire. 911 callers reported a fire started in the garage with the house being evacuated. Crews arrived on the scene to...
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UPDATE 10/10/2025: Maryland State Trooper Kelsey was driving in the area of the Elmer Brown Freedom Park, located at 21725 Tulagi Place, Lexington Park, MD when he observed an unconscious male laying in the street. The victim was found to have sustained an injury to the back of the head. Investigation revealed that De’aune...
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UPDATE 10/11/2025: Nearly a year after a young man was shot during a gathering in Hollywood, no one has been charged with firing the weapon. The case remains unresolved, and law enforcement has released no recent updates, even as gun violence continues to impact communities across St. Mary’s County. The shooting occurred on November...
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On Friday, October 10, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Myrtle Grove Gun Range in La Plata, for the reported shooting. 911 callers reported an adult male had shot himself in the hand, with Range workers providing First Aid to control the bleeding. Crews arrived on...
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Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office recovered a card skimming device found attached to a point-of-sale terminal at the Family Dollar Store on Merchants Lane in Leonardtown on Thursday, October 9th, 2025. This overlay skimmer was placed on top of a legitimate card reader and is designed to look identical to the...
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Tre Mathew Fear, 25, of Lexington Park, is facing multiple criminal charges in St. Mary’s County after being accused of animal cruelty earlier this year and later arrested in a separate drug-related incident during a traffic stop this week, according to court documents and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. Fear was initially charged...
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Patrol deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office recovered a loaded handgun following a traffic stop in Lexington Park on Wednesday night. At approximately 10:30 p.m. on October 8, deputies conducting proactive patrols along Great Mills Road observed a vehicle traveling with a passenger-side headlight out and attempted to initiate a traffic stop...
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