Southern Maryland News Net

CH-53K Program Enters Multi-Year Procurement Contract With GE Aerospace

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: A five-year, multi-year procurement (MYP) contract was signed on January 8 between the Department of War (DOW) and GE Aerospace for both new production and spare T-408 engines, along with associated sustainment services for the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter. The $1.4 billion contract covers five years, Lots 9-13, providing more than $174 million in savings over the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). The CH-53K program is critical to the Marine Corps’ strategic...
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UPDATE: Fourth Man Arrested in Armed Robbery and Weapons Case in St. Mary’s County

UPDATE 1/13/2026: On Monday, January 12, 2026, an arrest warrant was executed on a fourth suspect, Terrone Donte Milburn, 18, of Lexington Park, for the armed robbery that took place on Redwood Lane in California, Maryland, on on January 11, 2026. Milburn was charged with 10 counts, including Armed robbery Assault first-degree Assault second-degree Use of a firearm during the commission of a felony/violent crime Possession of a firearm by a minor Loaded handgun in vehicle Handgun in vehicle Loaded...
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UPDATE: Waldorf Man Dead, Sister in Custody After Domestic-Related Altercation and Shooting

UPDATE 1/12/2026: On January 11 at 3:30 a.m., officers responded to the 3400 block of Williamsburg Drive in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. A preliminary investigation revealed there was a physical altercation between siblings involving a male, age 38, and a female, age 29. During the altercation, the male was shot by the female. Medical aid was rendered; however, the male was pronounced deceased. He has been identified as Jerome Christian Edward Benoit, age 38, of Waldorf....
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Indian Head Woman Succumbs to Injuries Sustained from Christmas Day Motor Vehicle Collision

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal three-vehicle collision that occurred in December of 2025 in Accokeek. The deceased passenger of one of the involved vehicles is 75-year-old Linda Howell of Indian Head. She died of her injuries on December 26th, 2025. On December 25, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM, officers responded to a collision in the 14000 block of Indian Head Highway. The preliminary investigation revealed the collision occurred in...
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Police Make Quick Arrests After Reported Armed Robbery of Citizen in California

On Sunday, January 11, 2026, at approximately 6:10 p.m., police responded to the 44000 block of Redwood Lane in California, for the reported armed robbery. The 911 caller reported at least two suspects armed with firearms robbed them of personal belongings before fleeing in a Grey sedan. Police responded to the area and obtained suspect and vehicle description. Upon searching the area, Deputies quickly located a vehicle matching the victims description which lead to the recover at least one...
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Waldorf Man Arrested After Fleeing in Stolen Camaro; Loaded Stolen Handgun Recovered

Khobe Manuel Prospere David, 24, of White Plains, was arrested on January 6, 2026, after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop in a stolen vehicle and crashing in Waldorf. Court documents indicate that David faces multiple charges, including felony motor vehicle theft, weapons violations, and several traffic offenses. According to charging documents, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the rear of a residence on St. Luke Drive in White Plains at approximately 7:26 a.m. to...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After Serious Single Vehicle Rollover in Park Hall

On Friday, January 9, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Point Lookout Road and Tripple E Farm Way in Park Hall, for the serious motor vehicle collision with entrapment and rollover. 911 callers reported a single vehicle into a tree with the vehicle on its side with the operator trapped. Crews from Ridge and Bay District Volunteer Fire Departments responded with crews quickly arriving on the scene to confirm...
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UPDATE: Firefighters Home Destroyed, Three Pets Killed in Early Morning Fire in Leonardtown, Fire Marshal Investigating Cause

UPDATE 1/8/2026: Bell and his family of firefighters have selflessly supported our communities and dedicated countless years to our local fire departments. This assistance link is setup through TheYardFoundation, by his IAFF Local 1619 in Prince George’s County with the following message. Click here to support, please share if you can’t. “Every firefighter knows the risk. But no one expects to be on the other side of the 911 call. Early this morning, Brother Chris Bell (IAFF Local 1619)...
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Driver Flown to Trauma Center with Life-Threatening Injuries After Tesla Is Crushed Between Two Commercial Vehicles in Calvert County

On January 7, 2026, at approximately 10:44 a.m., deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau responded to the intersection of South Solomons Island Road (Route 4) and Ball Road in St. Leonard, for the report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Due to the severity of the crash, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team was requested and assumed the investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2019 Freightliner truck, operated by Erbert Locklear Jr., 64,...
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Lexington Park Man Charged With DUI, Handgun Violation After Alleged Hit-and-Run

Joseph Marcel Vigneault, 54, of Lexington Park, has been charged with multiple offenses following a reported hit-and-run crash and subsequent investigation that revealed alcohol consumption and the presence of a loaded handgun in his vehicle. According to court documents filed in St. Mary’s County District Court, on January 4, 2026, the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received several calls from community members regarding a dark-colored truck that had crossed over the center median at the intersection of Chancellors Run Road...
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Charles County Home Destroyed in Fire, One Dog Killed

UPDATE 1/6/2026: A structure fire on Rufus Madeline Place in Marbury, Charles County, resulted in a total loss of a single-family home on January 5, 2026, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire caused an estimated $125,000 in damage to the structure and $50,000 in lost contents. The blaze, discovered around 1:52 p.m. by a family member, prompted a response from the Tenth District Volunteer Fire Department. Approximately 50 firefighters responded to the scene, where...
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Suspect Captured in Virginia After Triple Fatal Shooting Leaves Waldorf Man and Two D.C. Men Dead

A suspect is in custody in Virginia in connection with a fatal shooting early Saturday morning outside of a banquet hall in Temple Hills. The suspect is 39-year-old Antonio Lancaster of the Landover area. He faces multiple charges, to include murder, for fatally shooting 27-year-old Ronez Proctor of Waldorf. Two other adult males were also shot and killed during this incident. They are identified as 33-year-old Pierre Davis and 26-year-old Kevon Medley Williams, both of Washington, DC. The preliminary...
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Bowie Woman Charged With Drug Possession, False Identity, and Other Offenses Following January Arrest in Calvert County

Jamie Lee Lynn Prisk, 35, of Bowie, has been charged with eight charges after an arrest in Prince Frederick on January 1, 2026. The charges stem from an incident where deputies say she falsely identified herself to avoid arrest, and was later found in possession of suspected heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and contraband both during the traffic stop and while in custody. According to charging documents filed by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed a...
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VIDEO: One Arrested, Minor Injuries Reported After Suspect Fleeing Police Causes Car Crash in Lexington Park

UPDATE – Sheriff’s Office Press Release – 1/6/2025: On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, while conducting proactive patrol operations in Lexington Park, a deputy with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office observed a gray Ford Fusion fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Fox Ridge Road and Spring Valley Road. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. Deputies did not pursue the Ford Fusion. While fleeing, the Ford Fusion was struck...
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My Sister’s Closet Launches in Southern Maryland to Support Women With Free Professional Attire and Fresh Start Opportunities!

A new community-driven initiative aimed at supporting women across Southern Maryland is officially taking shape. My Sister’s Closet has launched with a simple but powerful mission: women supporting women through dignity, opportunity, and community. Created to help women build confidence during career transitions, interviews, and fresh starts, My Sister’s Closet will provide free professional and business attire to women in need. The initiative is currently in its early stages, with organizers hoping to host their first free clothing event...
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Two Injured, One Transported to Trauma Center After Single Vehicle Collision in California

On Saturday, January 11, 2026, at approximately 2:12 p.m., while Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Members were responding to a call of service, they came across a single vehicle collision at Three Notch Road and MacArthur Boulevard in California and reported one patient unconscious. Firefighters and additional emergency medical services responded to the scene,...
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Maryland Natural Resources Police Reports in St. Mary’s County

The Maryland Natural Resources Police took action related to alleged violations of criminal and natural resource laws from September through November of 2025. During the fall months, individuals were charged for violations including spotlighting, hunting out of season, weapons charges, oyster and crabbing violations, illegally baiting wildlife, and other crimes. Silver Spring Gillnetters Found...
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Hoyer Announces Decision to Not Seek Re-Election After Decades in Office

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks on the House Floor on his decision to retire at the end of the 119th Congress. Below is a full transcript and video of his remarks: “Mr. Speaker, my dear and close friend Steve Womack, Madam Speaker, thank you for being here. My colleagues, my dear friend...
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Maryland Takes Action to Protect Yellow Perch Following Low Recruitment

In response to six years of low recruitment, Maryland recreational anglers who fish this year for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in tidal waters, and freshwater streams and rivers will be allowed to keep five yellow perch per person per day. The minimum size for recreational anglers remains 9 inches. The Maryland Department of Natural...
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Maryland Car Rally Task Force Dismantles Four Car Rallies, Prevents Four Others and Make Five Arrests, Loaded Firearms Recovered

Multiple large-scale illegal car rallies were dismantled by the Maryland Car Rally Task Force and partner law enforcement agencies on Saturday in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Prince George’s counties leading to the arrest of five people and the recovery of five firearms. Maryland State Police arrested and charged a 16-year-old male and 17-year-old...
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Woman Arrested in St. Mary’s County Allegedly Makes Racial Comments & Escapes Police Car Following Drunk Driving Arrest

Kimberly Vanessa Higgs, 61, of Chevy Chase, is facing eleven charges following an alleged road rage incident and suspected DUI that unfolded in the parking lot of a Starbucks on January 1, 2026, in California, Maryland, according to court documents filed by the Maryland State Police. The incident began around 5:12 p.m. when Trooper...
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Lexington Park Woman Indicted on Six Charges in Ongoing Child Neglect Case

Darlisha Rochelle Mackall, 38, of Lexington Park, has been formally indicted in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court on six misdemeanor charges, including three counts of child neglect and three counts of desertion of a minor child. The indictment, filed on January 12, 2026, follows an incident reported on November 7, 2025, at a hotel...
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Lexington Park Man Accused of Drug Distribution and DUI After Traffic Stop on Route 235

Paul Dewayne Dorsey, 46, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with multiple drug and traffic offenses following a traffic stop in the early hours of January 11, 2026. The incident occurred near the intersection of Maryland Route 235 and Exploration Drive in St. Mary’s County, according to charging documents filed in the District...
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St. Mary’s County Teen Charged with Stealing Gas Pump Parts From Wawa and Then Posted About It on Snapchat

Thomas Newton Ferrall V, 18, of Hollywood, has been formally charged with one count of theft under $100 in connection with the removal of gas pump parts from a Wawa in Mechanicsville. The charge, a misdemeanor under Maryland Criminal Law, stems from an incident that took place on December 18, 2025. According to charging...
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Man Transported with Non-Life-Threatening Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle in Indian Head

On Sunday, January 11, 2026, at approximately 12:53 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 4400 block of Livingston Road in Indian Head, for the reported pedestrian struck by a vehicle during a disturbance. 911 callers reported as a vehicle was leaving, they struck the victim with their vehicle with a...
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Police in Charles County Recover Stolen Car, Arrest Hyattsville Man in Widespread HVAC Theft Investigation

Thomas Clay Guinyard, 30, of Hyattsville, was arrested on December 31, 2025, in connection with a string of thefts and property destruction involving heating and air conditioning units across multiple counties. According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Guinyard had active arrest warrants and was wanted in a case impacting more than ten businesses,...
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Lexington Park Man Charged with Trespassing at Target Despite Prior Ban

Craig Andrew Kennedy, 61, of Lexington Park, has been charged with trespassing on private property after allegedly entering a Target store in California, Maryland, in violation of a prior ban. The charge, a misdemeanor, was filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County following an incident on January 6, 2026. According to court...
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Leonardtown Man Charged with Violating Protective Order, Drug Possession, and Introducing Contraband into Jail

James Allen Michael Schaeffer, 42, of Sykesville, has been formally charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses following his arrest on January 6, 2026. According to court documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County, the charges stem from allegations of violating a protective order and being in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia....
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Mechanicsville Man Facing Multiple Charges in Series of Drug and Property Crimes Across St. Mary’s County

Adam James Mantz, 44, of Mechanicsville, is facing a string of criminal charges stemming from multiple incidents in St. Mary’s County, including drug possession, theft, and destruction of property. Court records show a pattern of alleged offenses dating back to September 2025, with charges filed in several separate cases across Lexington Park and Mechanicsville....
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Charles County Warns Residents of Fraudulent Payment Scam Impersonating Planning Department

Charles County Government is warning residents and businesses about a scam involving fraudulent emails falsely claiming to be from the Department of Planning and Growth Management. According to county officials, the emails instruct recipients to submit payments through wire transfer for supposed fees or outstanding invoices. Officials emphasized that Charles County Government never requests...
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Governor Moore Announces Record Funding to Support Law Enforcement in Proposed FY 2027 Budget Amid Historic Drops in Violent Crime Statewide

Governor Wes Moore this morning announced a record $124.1 million in funding to support law enforcement in the governor’s proposed FY 2027 budget. Administered through the State Aid for Police Protection Program, the funding represents the Moore-Miller Administration’s continued commitment to making Maryland safer, as the state continues to see historic drops in violent crime....
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January is Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month

January is recognized nationally as Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, a time to raise awareness about the effectiveness of treatment and the importance of reducing stigma surrounding substance use disorders. Substance use disorder is a treatable health condition, and recovery is possible with the right support. Treatment can help individuals regain stability, improve overall...
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