Law Enforcement

Off-Duty Prince George’s County Officer Suspended Following Arrest

Off-Duty Prince George’s County Officer Suspended Following Arrest

A Prince George’s County Police officer is suspended without pay following her arrest on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department charged Police Officer Sierra Alston with unauthorized use of a vehicle and related charges. Police Officer Sierra Alston joined the department in 2023. She is currently assigned to the Bureau...
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Convicted Murderer in St. Mary’s County Detention Center Charged with Possession of a Homemade Wooden Knife

Convicted Murderer in St. Mary’s County Detention Center Charged with Possession of a Homemade Wooden Knife

Demetrius Puifory, 46, of California, Maryland, is a convicted murderer. Puifory now faces additional charges after authorities uncovered a homemade weapon at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. The incident occurred on September 30, 2024, when Correctional Officer B. Connelly, during a routine inspection of Puifory’s cell, found a suspicious object concealed...
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Two Teens Flown to Trauma Centers, One Transported to Hospital After Serious Single Vehicle Collision in Charles County

Two Teens Flown to Trauma Centers, One Transported to Hospital After Serious Single Vehicle Collision in Charles County

On Saturday, October 5, 2024, at approximately 11:30 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Billingsley Road and Bensville Road, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Police arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle into a utility pole, off the roadway, down an embankment and...
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Pickup Truck Overturns After Collision Involving Bus in Huntingtown

Pickup Truck Overturns After Collision Involving Bus in Huntingtown

On Monday, October 7, 2024, at approximately 5:45 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Route 4 and Ponds Woods Road in Huntingtown, for the serious motor vehicle collision with multiple vehicles involved and one overturned. Multiple 911 callers reported a bus (NOT a school bus) and an overturned pickup...
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Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal Celebrates 130th Anniversary as the Nation’s Oldest State Fire Marshal’s Office

Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal Celebrates 130th Anniversary as the Nation’s Oldest State Fire Marshal’s Office

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is proud to announce its 130th anniversary this month, marking a significant milestone as the oldest State Fire Marshal’s Office in the United States. Established in 1894, the Office is also recognized as the second oldest state public safety agency in Maryland, following only the Maryland...
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Wade Elementary School Student Stabs Another Student in Leg with Pencil, Assaults Second with Book

Wade Elementary School Student Stabs Another Student in Leg with Pencil, Assaults Second with Book

On Friday, October 4, 2024, a student at Wade Elementary School purposely jabbed one student in the leg with a pencil and struck another student in the head with a book. The student who was injured in the leg received a penetrating wound that required treatment. The student struck in the head was transported...
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Fall Wildlife Activity Increases Maryland Drivers’ Collision Risk

Fall Wildlife Activity Increases Maryland Drivers’ Collision Risk

Deer mating season is right around the corner, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds motorists to be vigilant. The shortening of day length, called the photo period, triggers white-tailed deer breeding season. During this time, these deer travel across roads in often unpredictable patterns at all times of the day in search of a mate. Most...
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Maryland U.S. Attorneys Office Reach Agreement with Maryland State Police to Resolve Allegations of Race, Gender Discrimination in Trooper Hiring Process

Maryland U.S. Attorneys Office Reach Agreement with Maryland State Police to Resolve Allegations of Race, Gender Discrimination in Trooper Hiring Process

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) to resolve the United States’ claims that MDSP’s hiring process for state troopers violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the United States alleges that MDSP...
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UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Mourns the Passing of Judge Michael J. Stamm, County Administrative Judge

UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Mourns the Passing of Judge Michael J. Stamm, County Administrative Judge

UPDATE 10/6/2024: Funeral services for the Honorable Michael J. Stamm will be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Solomons, beginning at 9 a.m. Drivers in the area may experience heavier-than-normal traffic on Route 4, especially near the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. Please allow extra...
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Woman with Suspended Nursing License Faces Theft of Drugs Charges at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home

Woman with Suspended Nursing License Faces Theft of Drugs Charges at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home

Stephanie Ann Murphy, 45, of Temple Hills, has been charged with theft of medication from the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, according to court documents filed in St. Mary’s County District Court. The alleged theft took place on March 17, 2024, and involves less than $100 worth of stolen medication. Murphy, a former registered nurse,...
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No Injuries Reported After Vehicle Strikes Parked Vehicles and Bollywood Masala Restaurant in California

No Injuries Reported After Vehicle Strikes Parked Vehicles and Bollywood Masala Restaurant in California

On Friday, October 4, 2024, at approximately 1:25 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Bollywood Masala restaurant located at 23418 Three Notch Road in California, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a structure. Crews arrived on the scene to find a white BMW SUV struck two parked vehicles, a...
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Shine a Light to Support Veterans with Operation Green Light 2024

Shine a Light to Support Veterans with Operation Green Light 2024

Calvert County invites all residents and businesses to show support for military veterans during the week of Nov. 4-11, 2024. Join us in lighting buildings and homes in green to raise awareness and express our profound thanks for the sacrifice and service of our veterans. Operation Green Light, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the...
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FBI Baltimore Makes 14 Arrests, Seizes Guns and Drugs in Multi-Jurisdictional Takedown

FBI Baltimore Makes 14 Arrests, Seizes Guns and Drugs in Multi-Jurisdictional Takedown

Fourteen people were arrested in a large-scale drug and gun bust throughout Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City. During the operation – which involved over 500 officers, agents and personnel from federal, state and local agencies – law enforcement seized distribution levels of narcotics including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone, one shotgun, three...
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Maryland State Police Participating In National Drug Take Back Day 2024

Maryland State Police Participating In National Drug Take Back Day 2024

The Maryland State Police are participating in the 27th National Drug Take Back Day as part of the ongoing fight against opioid addiction. Police urge people to drop off unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, at any of the 23 state police barracks—no questions asked. All Maryland State...
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Police in Charles County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 64-Year-Old Bel Alton

Police in Charles County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 64-Year-Old Bel Alton

On October 4, 2024, at 12:17 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash near Chapel Point Road and Brooks Farm Road in La Plata. Upon arrival, officers and EMS discovered a Chevy Tahoe that had veered off the road, struck a tree, and come to rest back on...
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All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in Calvert County 9/27/2024 to 10/3/2024

All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in Calvert County 9/27/2024 to 10/3/2024

Each week, SMNEWSNET.COM will provide a list of all arrests and criminal summonses issued in Calvert County. In the spirit of transparency, we are committed to keeping our community informed about local law enforcement activities. This list includes arrests made by both the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police, providing a...
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All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in Charles County 9/27/2024 to 10/3/2024

All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in Charles County 9/27/2024 to 10/3/2024

Each week, SMNEWSNET.COM will provide a list of all arrests and criminal summonses issued in Charles County. In the spirit of transparency, we are committed to keeping our community informed about local law enforcement activities. This list includes arrests made by both the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police, providing a...
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UPDATE: Calvert County Public Schools Superintendent Email – Community Seeking Answers After 12 Middle School Students Abandoned by School Bus Driver in Rain at Wrong Location

UPDATE: Calvert County Public Schools Superintendent Email – Community Seeking Answers After 12 Middle School Students Abandoned by School Bus Driver in Rain at Wrong Location

UPDATE 10/4/2024: An email send out to parents reads the following. Dear Calvert County Public Schools Community, I am writing to address the recent incident involving bus transportation on October 1, 2024, which has understandably raised concerns among our families and community. I want to express my sincere apologies to the students and parents...
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All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in St. Mary’s County 9/24/2024 to 10/3/2024

All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in St. Mary’s County 9/24/2024 to 10/3/2024

On August 4, 2024, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office discontinued providing the citizens of Southern Maryland and media with its weekly “Notable Arrests/DUIs/Summonses/Warrants” list. We at SMNEWSNET.COM find this decision deeply disappointing. In an era when transparency should be the cornerstone of all law enforcement agencies, taking steps backward in sharing public information...
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Waldorf Man Charged with Choking Girlfriend in Domestic Dispute

Waldorf Man Charged with Choking Girlfriend in Domestic Dispute

Keanu Destine Grissett, age 23, of Waldorf, is facing charges of first- and second-degree assault after an alleged domestic altercation on September 26, 2024. According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to a distress call at Amber Leaf Apartments in Waldorf, where they encountered a female victim who reported being physically assaulted...
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Tyquan Samuel Wills, 25, of Lexington Park – A History of Criminal Activity in St. Mary’s County

Tyquan Samuel Wills, 25, of Lexington Park – A History of Criminal Activity in St. Mary’s County

Tyquan Samuel Wills, 25, of Lexington Park, has been involved in a series of criminal incidents since 2020, leading to multiple convictions and prison sentences. His offenses primarily include drug trafficking, firearms violations, and resisting arrest. Here is a detailed account of his criminal activities and the subsequent legal outcomes. 2020: October 7 Incident...
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UPDATE – DETAILS RELEASED: High-Speed Chase in St. Mary’s County Leads to Multiple Arrests, Including Attempted Murder Suspect

UPDATE – DETAILS RELEASED: High-Speed Chase in St. Mary’s County Leads to Multiple Arrests, Including Attempted Murder Suspect

UPDATE 10/3/2024 @ 4:30 pm: On October 2, 2024, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrested three individuals following a vehicle pursuit and subsequent search. Among the arrested were Davione Syheme Mason, 23, of Lexington Park, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for attempted second-degree murder and other serious charges, and...
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Waldorf Man Convicted of 5 Counts of Sexual Abuse of A Minor Involving Three Young Children

Waldorf Man Convicted of 5 Counts of Sexual Abuse of A Minor Involving Three Young Children

UPDATE 10/3/2024: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 3-day trial, convicted Katravien Tyrieus Vercher, 25, of Waldorf, of five counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Third-Degree Sexual Offense. On March 22, 2023, officers with the...
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St. Mary’s County Woman Arrested for Stealing Crab Meat in Two Separate Incidents at Weis Market in Lexington Park

St. Mary’s County Woman Arrested for Stealing Crab Meat in Two Separate Incidents at Weis Market in Lexington Park

Ashley Renee Harvey, 30, of Lexington Park, is facing charges of theft and trespassing after two incidents at Weis Markets on Great Mills Road, in Lexington Park, in September 2024. According to court documents, Harvey stole seafood valued at $146.96 across two visits to the store between September 18 and September 25, 2024. According...
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Courtroom Chaos: Mechanicsville Man Tackled After Attempted Escape During Court Hearing

Courtroom Chaos: Mechanicsville Man Tackled After Attempted Escape During Court Hearing

Devin E. Webb, 38, of Mechanicsville, was arrested on October 1, 2024, after an alleged attempt to escape from custody during a court appearance at the St. Mary’s County District Court in Leonardtown. Webb was in court for an unrelated matter when the incident occurred. According to the statement of charges, Webb was brought...
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