Southern Maryland News Net

UPDATE: Grand Jury Indicts Calvert County Attorney in Road Rage Gun Case

UPDATE 3/19/2026: Liza Sue Castles, 59, of Huntingtown, has been formally indicted by a Calvert County grand jury on charges of first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and second-degree assault in connection with the previously reported road rage incident on January 21, 2026, according to court records. The indictment, filed on March 16, 2026, moves the case from District Court to the Circuit Court for Calvert County following review by the State’s...
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U.S. Navy Master-at-Arms Held Without Bond as Fugitive in Child Assault Case

Miguel Jesus Trussel, 19, of Splendora, Texas, faces a fugitive from justice charge in St. Mary’s County after authorities allege he is wanted in Texas in connection with a case involving Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, according to court documents. Court records list Trussel’s occupation as working for the U.S. Navy at NAS Patuxent River as a master-at-arms. Documents also list his home address as Splendora, Texas. According to District Court records, the charge filed in Maryland is...
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Police Investigating Armed Robbery and High Speed Pursuit That Ends in Virginia After Crash

On Thursday, March 19, 2026, at approximately 2:45 a.m., a deputy attempted to pull over a red vehicle after they passed him doing over 100 mph on Southbound Crain Highway at Smallwood Drive in Waldorf. A high speed pursuit was started, however, deputies ended the pursuit after losing sight of the vehicle with speeds reportedly over 112 mph. A short time later, at approximately 2:52 a.m., police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven located at 11575 Berry Road in Waldorf,...
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Questions Raised About Reporting of School Incidents in St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Releases

A review of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office public news release archive is raising questions about how often incidents occurring at local schools are publicly reported. According to the Sheriff’s Office website, the department has published 418 press releases in its online archive. Those releases cover a wide range of incidents across the county, including drug arrests, theft investigations, search warrants, warrant services, traffic stops, and other law enforcement activity. However, only a small number of those releases...
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Police Investigating Bicyclist Found With Life-Threatening Injuries

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Pisgah Marbury Road and Toyer Place in Marbury, for the reported bicyclist struck. Multiple 911 callers reported finding a bicyclist laying under a guardrail with unknown breathing status. Crews arrived on the scene to confirm an unknown aged adult male laying near a guardrail with serious injuries to the head and requested a helicopter to land nearby. Maryland State...
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UPDATE: Charlotte Hall Man and His Passenger Killed After Running Red Light in Hollywood; Two Others Injured

UPDATE 3/16/2026: On Sunday, March 15, at 4:35 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Three Notch Road and Hollywood Road for a motor vehicle collision. The investigation determined that a 2016 GMC Sierra, operated by Austin Schultz of Leonardtown, was making a left turn from northbound Three Notch Road onto Hollywood Road at the traffic signal when a 2013 Toyota Camry, operated by 42-year-old Keith Mersing II of Charlotte Hall and...
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Police in Calvert County Arrest Columbia Man for Felony Theft of Over $190,000 in Gold Bullion Scam

Jatin Talwar, 46, of Columbia, is facing felony charges of theft of $100,000 or more and theft scheme of $100,000 or more following a March 11, 2026 arrest in Dunkirk, according to court documents filed in the District Court for Calvert County. Talwar was arrested by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and is currently being held without bond. A bail review hearing was held March 12, 2026 before Judge Andrea R. S. Watkins. According to court records, deputies began...
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UPDATE: Man Found Guilty in Murder of 62-Year-Old Timothy Louis Portzen in Waldorf

UPDATE 3/15/2026: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, March 9, 2026, a Charles County jury found Scott Anthony Goldsmith, 55, guilty of the Second-Degree Murder of Timothy Louis Portzen and the First-Degree Assault of a second victim. On October 3, 2023, officers with Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Waldorf residence for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the surviving victim, who reported that she had been stabbed...
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Three Transported to Trauma Center After Motor Vehicle Collision in Waldorf

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, at approximately 9:55 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Crain Highway and Smallwood Drive in Waldorf, for the motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find no entrapment, one vehicle into a pole and three patients for evaluation. EMS requested a helicopter to land nearby for a 42-year-old male. Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 2 landed nearby and transported the male to the...
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One Transported to Trauma Center After T-Bone Collision in Lexington Park

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, at approximately 5:10 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Pegg Road and Lexington Drive in Great Mills, for the serious motor vehicle collision with entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to find two vehicles in a T-bone style collision with the operator of the Toyota sedan trapped, and three patients for evaluation. Firefighters from Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 and 9 responded with 13 personnel and...
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One Flown to Trauma Center After T-Bone Collision in Mechanicsville

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, at approximately 4:32 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Point Lookout Road and Morganza Turner Road in Mechanicsville, for the motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find two vehicles in a T-bone style collision with no entrapment, and both drivers having injuries. The operator of the pickup truck was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. EMS requested a helicopter to land...
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Lexington Park Man Gets Jail Time, Probation in Animal Cruelty Case

Darius Paul Chew, 22, of Lexington Park, pleaded guilty in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of failing to provide necessary care for an animal in a case that began with his August 2025 arrest and later moved from District Court to Circuit Court. Court records show the case was first filed in District Court on August 27, 2025, then transferred to Circuit Court on September 8, 2025. According to charging...
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Early Morning Trailer Fire in Mechanicsville Leaves Two Displaced, Fire Under Investigation

On Friday, March 13, 2026, at approximately 2:41 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Seventh District, Hughesville, Hollywood and Charles County responded to the 39000 block of Harper’s Corner Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported structure fire. 911 callers reported a fire in the bathroom. Firefighters arrived on scene to find fire showing from the 1-story trailer with a second nearby mobile home being threatened. Crews made entry with multiple attack lines and found hoarding conditions within the residence which slowed...
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Police Investigating Murder Case on Davis Road in Waldorf

UPDATE 3/12/2026 @ 2:00 pm: On March 11 at approximately 6:46 p.m., officers responded to the 2200 block of Davis Road for the report of a shooting. A preliminary investigation showed that the victim was standing outside a residence when an unknown suspect drove up in a dark colored SUV and fired multiple shots, striking the victim. Fire/EMS personnel arrived and initiated aide; however, the victim was pronounced deceased on the scene. The victim was later identified as Jakale...
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No Injuries Reported After Plane Crash at St. Mary’s County Airport

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 4:10 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the St. Mary’s County Airport located at 44200 Airport Road in Hollywood, Maryland, for the reported plane crash. 911 callers reported a single engine plane crashed at the end of the runway with unknown occupants and unknown injuries. Crews quickly arrived on the scene to confirm a single engine aircraft had crashed after leaving the runway with the plane coming to a rest...
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Hughesville Man Arrested Four Times in Three Weeks Across Southern Maryland

Michael Hemi Fischer, 28, of Hughesville, was arrested four times between February 23, 2026, and March 13, 2026, in Charles and St. Mary’s counties, facing multiple misdemeanor charges including trespassing, theft, disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property, and fourth-degree burglary, according to court records. The earliest incident occurred on February 23, 2026, in St....
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Court Records Detail Arrest of Metro Police School Resource Officer in Charles County

Devin Thomas Smith, 44, of Waldorf, a Metropolitan Police Department officer serving as a school resource officer, is facing multiple charges including resisting arrest and several alcohol-related driving offenses following a March 15, 2026 incident in Charles County, according to court documents. According to charging documents filed by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the...
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Mike Bellis Elected Chair of St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee

The St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee (SMCDCC) unanimously elected Mike Bellis as its new Chair on March 11, 2026, following the resignation of AnnMarie Abell, who announced her candidacy for St. Mary’s County Commissioner President. Bellis, a longtime Democratic organizer and elected member of the SMCDCC, steps into the role at a moment...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Warns of “Notice of Hearing” Text Scam Impersonating District Court

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a scam in which individuals receive text messages falsely claiming to be a “Notice of Hearing – Traffic Violation” from a District Court. Recently, residents reported receiving a text message that appeared to be an official court notice, alleging an outstanding traffic violation and...
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Governor Moore Announces Historic Year for Oyster Reproduction in Maryland Waters

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the concentration of new oysters in 2025 was nearly six times higher than the long-term spatset average and the second highest ever recorded in the 41-year modern history of the state’s annual fall oyster survey. “Oysters are the bedrock of the ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay...
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Governor Moore Announces Additional Reforms to Maryland’s Foster Care System to Better Serve Young People with Complex Needs

Governor Wes Moore announced additional reforms to enhance service, oversight, and capacity in Maryland’s foster care system. Through contracts approved during this morning’s Board of Public Works meeting, the Maryland Department of Human Services will establish statewide standards to ensure that youth in foster care with complex needs receive one-on-one care and will expand...
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Police Seeking Identities of Armed Robbery Suspects Who Stabbed Victim, Critically Injuring Them

The Robbery Unit is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying the suspects who robbed a Fort Washington business and critically injured an employee. A cash reward is available for information leading to arrests and indictments in this case. On March 7, 2026, at approximately 1:50 am, three male suspects targeted the convenience store in...
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Great Mills Man Held Without Bond on Drug Distribution Charges in Lexington Park After Suspect Flees into Pond

David Leroy Harvey Jr., 33, of Great Mills, has been charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, according to court documents. The charges stem from an incident on February 21, 2026, in the Lexington Park area. According to charging documents filed by...
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Bryans Road Woman Charged After Allegedly Dragging Victim With Vehicle in Charles County

Ami Elizabeth Clagett, 52, of Bryans Road, is facing charges of first-degree assault and second-degree assault following an incident in Charles County on February 18, 2026, according to court documents. According to charging documents filed by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded around 3:49 p.m. to the area of Indian Head Highway and...
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Man in Charles County Charged With Assaulting Juveniles, Disorderly Conduct, and Trespassing Following Public Underwear Incident

William Brian Ramsay, 50, of Germantown, is facing multiple charges including two counts of second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a lawful order, and trespassing on private property following two incidents reported on March 9, 2026, in Charles County. According to court documents, officers with the La Plata Police Department responded at approximately...
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Historic St. Mary’s City Launches Rare, Hands-On Archaeology With DIG! St. Mary’s Fort Excavation Experience

Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) is offering a rare opportunity for adults to step behind the ropes and into an active archaeological excavation at the site of St. Mary’s Fort — Maryland’s first colonial settlement. On select Saturdays in 2026, participants will join HSMC’s archaeology team in southern Maryland for a full-day, hands-on excavation...
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Fill The Helicopter! MedStar Seeking Communities Help to Support Food Drive and Our Local Pantries This Saturday, March 21st, 2026

When every second counts, the MedSTAR Transport team is there, on the ground and in the air. They’re taking that same lifesaving spirit into the community Saturday, March 21, with a food drive at Leonardtown High School from 10 a.m. to noon. The rain date for the event is April 18, 2026. The MedSTAR...
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After-School Program in Applied Physics Coming to Arthur Middleton Elementary Through $4,000 Grant Award

An exciting new After-School Program in Applied Physics is coming to Arthur Middleton Elementary School thanks to a $4,000 micro-grant awarded to Pure Play Every Day through the Community Impact Awards program by the United Way of Southern Maryland. This 10-session program will run from Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 24, giving students...
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Calvert Marine Museum 2026 Waterslide Music Series Concerts

The Calvert Marine Museum is proud to announce the 2026 Waterside Music Series, bringing a summer of live music to the Motto Mortgage Preferred and RE/MAX One Waterside Pavilion in Solomons, Maryland. Set along the Patuxent River, the waterfront venue will host a lineup of nationally recognized artists including country hitmakers, a rising star,...
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Police Arrest Four Teens Aged 15 to 18-Years-Old After Armed Robbery in Waldorf

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., several suspects approached the victim who was walking in the area of Promenade Place in Waldorf. They pulled a firearm and demanded the victim’s jacket, shoes, and cell phone. The victim complied and the suspects fled in a vehicle. While on the scene, officers observed the...
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Brush Fire in Charles County Raises General Alarm, Bringing Firefighters from Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s and Prince George’s County to Scene

On Friday, March 14, 2026, at approximately 4:34 p.m., firefighters responded to the 12200 block of Billingsley Road in Waldorf, for the reported large brush fire. 911 callers reported hearing a loud explosion, “like a transformer blew” and advised the woods were now on fire and actively spreading. Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene...
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SMADC Invites Southern Maryland Farmers to Shape Future Grant-Funded Workshops via New Survey

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), a division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, is calling on local producers to help define the mission of a new regional agricultural initiative. SMADC is currently applying for a Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant and is seeking direct farmer input via an...
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