Law Enforcement

Successful 20th Year of Shop with a Cop – St. Mary’s County Thanks to Volunteers, Sponsors, and Law Enforcement Partners

Successful 20th Year of Shop with a Cop – St. Mary’s County Thanks to Volunteers, Sponsors, and Law Enforcement Partners

The 20th annual Shop With a Cop event in St. Mary’s County, held on Saturday, December 9th, 2023, proved to be a heartwarming success, thanks to the dedication of volunteers, sponsors, and law enforcement partners. This cherished community tradition brought holiday joy to 104 children who were each provided with $225 to spend on...
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Fire Marshal Investigating Gazebo Fire in Waldorf

Fire Marshal Investigating Gazebo Fire in Waldorf

On December 17, 2023, at approximately 12:01 a.m., 6 firefighters from Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department responded to 9752 Amberg Court in Waldorf, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a Gazebo on fire to the rear of the residence with no extensions and no threat to the residences. The...
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Maryland Deer Hunters Conclude Successful Fall Firearm Season

Maryland Deer Hunters Conclude Successful Fall Firearm Season

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 28,236 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 25 through Dec. 9. The firearms season harvest was 3% lower than last year’s official count of 29,160 deer. “Firearm hunting for deer continues to be our most popular season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “The season enables...
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PG County Teen Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms Charges

PG County Teen Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms Charges

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Donald Fortune, Jr., age 19, of Greenbelt, Maryland, to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for federal charges of illegal possession of a machinegun, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a...
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Police Seeking Identity of Suspect Who Stole Cartons of Cigarettes

Police Seeking Identity of Suspect Who Stole Cartons of Cigarettes

Press release posted by SMCSO on December 15, 2023: On Thursday, October 12, 2023, at around 8:10 p.m., the person depicted in this photo entered the Wawa Convenience Store in Charlotte Hall, MD. Subsequently, the individual approached the counter, went behind it, took three cartons of cigarettes, and left the store. The suspect is...
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One Injured After Rollover Collision with Entrapment in Indian Head

One Injured After Rollover Collision with Entrapment in Indian Head

On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Indian Head Highway and Mt. Aventine Road, for a motor vehicle collision with one overturned and one trapped. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway and on its side...
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Waldorf Ford Mechanic Flown to Burn Center After Gasoline Fire

Waldorf Ford Mechanic Flown to Burn Center After Gasoline Fire

On Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10:04 a.m., fire and rescue personnel responded to the Waldorf Ford located at 2440 Crain Highway in Waldorf, for a burn victim. Crews arrived on the scene to find a mechanic was working on a vehicle when a gasoline fire occurred. Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 7 was...
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UPDATE: Southern Maryland Firefighters Respond to Virginia to Assist During Devastating Church Fire

UPDATE: Southern Maryland Firefighters Respond to Virginia to Assist During Devastating Church Fire

UPDATE: Additional photos added. 12/19/2023: On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at approximately 7:12 a.m., firefighters in multiple jurisdictions in Virginia responded to 2961 Kings Highway in Oak Grove, for the reported church on fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene within 3 minutes of dispatch to find fire showing from multiple sides of the structure....
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Student Found in Possession of Vape, Taser, and Pepper Spray at Thomas Stone High School

Student Found in Possession of Vape, Taser, and Pepper Spray at Thomas Stone High School

On December 18, 2023, at 9:50 a.m., students were observed vaping in a school bathroom at Thomas Stone High School. Administrators found a small group of students in possession of a vape. One of the students also had a Taser and pepper spray. The contraband was recovered by the school resource officer from the...
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Fire Marshal and Police Investigating Suspected Hate Crime and Arson at Cemetary

Fire Marshal and Police Investigating Suspected Hate Crime and Arson at Cemetary

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m., officers, along with an investigator from the Fire Marshal’s office, responded for an arson at the Saints Rest Cemetery located at 7310 Ridge Road in Hanover. The investigation revealed an unknown person or persons set fire to a sign on the cemetery property, causing damage...
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Preseason Trout Stocking Begins Early in Maryland Waters

Preseason Trout Stocking Begins Early in Maryland Waters

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun “preseason” stocking with the first of about 290,000 trout in Maryland waters statewide. This stocking will help coldwater hatcheries reduce overcrowded fish densities caused by record drought conditions this year. The first preseason stockings will be allocated to impoundments, special management, and delayed harvest streams...
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UPDATE: Annapolis “First Amendment Auditor” Sentenced to 90 Days for Criminal Trespassing at Calvert Health Department

UPDATE: Annapolis “First Amendment Auditor” Sentenced to 90 Days for Criminal Trespassing at Calvert Health Department

UPDATE 12/18/2023: On December 15, 2023, Terance Albert Tracy, received a sentence of 90 days incarceration from Judge Mark S. Chandlee of the Calvert County Circuit Court. Tracy was convicted in November of criminal trespass at the Calvert County Health Department. As a condition of supervised probation, Judge Chandlee ordered Tracy not to return...
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Nelson’s Face Additional Charges and Citations from Maryland Natural Resources Police

Nelson’s Face Additional Charges and Citations from Maryland Natural Resources Police

On December 15, 2023, Maryland Natural Resources Police issued citations and must appear citations to Robert Nelson Jr., age 41 and James Phillip Nelson, age 47. James was issued citations for the following. DID POSSESS 16% OR MORE UNCULLED OYSTERS (20%) NOT CULLING ON OYSTER BAR POSSESSING OYSTERS IN CONTAINERS (NOT OYSTER BASKETS) EXCEEDING OYSTER...
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Police Investigating Head-on Collision in Charlotte Hall That Injures Three

Police Investigating Head-on Collision in Charlotte Hall That Injures Three

On Friday, December 15, 2023, at approximately 11:38 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Travelled Lane in Charlotte Hall, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries and one vehicle on fire. Crews arrived on the scene within minutes of dispatch to find a head-on...
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No Injuries Reported After Single Vehicle Collision in California

No Injuries Reported After Single Vehicle Collision in California

On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at approximately 3:15 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of St. Andrews Church Road and FDR Boulevard in California, for a motor vehicle collision reported serious with one vehicle into the woods with two trapped. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single pickup truck...
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Firefighters Respond to “Controlled Burn” That Spread to Vacant 2-Story Residence in La Plata

Firefighters Respond to “Controlled Burn” That Spread to Vacant 2-Story Residence in La Plata

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, at approximately 12:30 p.m., firefighters responded to the area of Old Franklin Road and Mason Springs Road in La Plata, for the reported structure on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to advise a vacant 2-story residence was fully engulfed in flames which started from a controlled burn which...
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Waldorf Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in Losses

Waldorf Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in Losses

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Dementrous Von Smith, a/k/a “Meecho” and “El Meecho,” age 36, of Waldorf, Maryland, to 53 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in relation to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment...
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Maryland Forest Service Awards 52 Fire Departments with Assistance Grants for 2023

Maryland Forest Service Awards 52 Fire Departments with Assistance Grants for 2023

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants to 52 volunteer fire departments across the state to enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities. For 2023, the Maryland Forest Service awarded grant funds totaling $149,325 in match funding for $390,502 in total project costs. Generally the grants cover 50...
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Former Maryland Correctional Officer Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Civil Rights Violations

Former Maryland Correctional Officer Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Civil Rights Violations

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced former Correctional Officer Owen Nesmith, age 54, of Baltimore, Maryland, to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and to making a false statement, all related to his sexual contact with three...
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One Transported with Minor Injuries After Rollover Collision in California

One Transported with Minor Injuries After Rollover Collision in California

On Thursday, December 14, 2023, at approximately 12:33 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the intersection of FDR Boulevard and St. Andrews Church Road in California, for a serious motor vehicle collision with one overturned and one trapped. Crews arrived on the scene to find two vehicles involved with one SUV on...
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Police in Charles County Seeking Whereabouts of Suspect Wanted in Connection with Multiple Crimes

Police in Charles County Seeking Whereabouts of Suspect Wanted in Connection with Multiple Crimes

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force are requesting assistance with locating Brandon Gerald Jernigan, age 38, of Jackson, Mississippi, who has a warrant on file charging him with armed robbery, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony,...
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Police in Charles County Seeking Suspect in Connection With Violating Probation

Police in Charles County Seeking Suspect in Connection With Violating Probation

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force are requesting assistance with locating Robert Paxton Eakins, age 28. Eakins is wanted for violating his probation relating to an armed robbery. Eakins is 6’2”, 160 lbs., and has brown hair and brown eyes. He has...
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Police Seeking Identify of Theft Suspect Pictured at Leonardtown Family Dollar Store

Police Seeking Identify of Theft Suspect Pictured at Leonardtown Family Dollar Store

At approximately 1:50 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023, the individual pictured below reached over the counter at the checkout lane in the Family Dollar Store in Leonardtown, MD, and stole an employee’s wallet and its contents. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about the identity and whereabouts of this person....
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Police Arrest Lexington Park Man – Recover Drugs and Gun

Police Arrest Lexington Park Man – Recover Drugs and Gun

On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, Detectives from the Vice/Narcotics Unit, with support from the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Special Operations Division, and Patrol Division of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, executed search warrants on a residence in the 21600 block of Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. During the search, narcotics suspected to be...
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One Killed, Two Others Seriously Injured After Head-on Collision in Anne Arundel County

One Killed, Two Others Seriously Injured After Head-on Collision in Anne Arundel County

On December 13, 2023, at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash in the area of Solomons Island Road near Owensville Sudley Road in Harwood. The investigation would reveal that a 2019 Ford Escape was traveling southbound on Solomons Island Road when it crossed the centerline and struck a 2013 Ford Fiesta...
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