Southern Maryland News Net

UPDATE: Innocent Woman Killed by Man Fleeing Police in Prince Frederick – Maryland Office of the Attorney General and Maryland State Police Investigating Crash

UPDATE 12/12/2025 – The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General is investigating a fatal police-involved collision that occurred on December 12, 2025, in Prince Frederick, Calvert County, Maryland. The preliminary investigation revealed on Friday, December 12, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a deputy with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) observed a Nissan sedan drive past his cruiser in the 500 block of Rt 4/Solomons Island Rd. The deputy followed the Nissan and...
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UPDATE: No Injuries Reported, Police Investigating Crash Involving NAS Patuxent River Truck 13

UPDATE 12/10/2025: Witnesses reported the red sedan had previously entered into the left hand turn lane prior to the intersection of Hollywood Road and Three Notch Road, before re-entering the Southbound lanes of Three Notch Road. The vehicle then continued to travel South on Three Notch Road until entering the left-hand turn lane to travel onto Mervell Dean Road, at the same time, Truck 13, who was travelling routine with no lights, no sirens, returning to quarters from a...
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UPDATE: Driver’s Failure to Yield Sends One to Trauma Center with Life-Threatening Injuries After Early Morning Crash in Charlotte Hall

UPDATE 12/10/2025: On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at around 6:42 a.m., patrol units from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision in the area of Three Notch Road and Charlotte Hall School Road in Charlotte Hall. Deputies arrived at the site to find one person trapped. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2018 gray Hyundai Tucson was traveling northbound on Three Notch Road and attempted to turn left onto Charlotte Hall School...
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UPDATE: Fire Marshals Make Quick Arrest After String of Arsons in Mechanicsville

UPDATE 12/10/2025: Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged a Mechanicsville man in connection with a series of intentionally set fires that occurred Tuesday evening along the 26400 block of Three Notch Road. Jeffrey Allen Wathen, 41, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree arson, after investigators—assisted by K9 “Taylor”—identified him as a suspect. Wathen approached investigators at one of the scenes and claimed he was also a victim of a fire, prompting additional scrutiny. The Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department responded shortly...
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UPDATE: Lexington Park Woman Shot by Police in October Charged with Multiple Offenses

UPDATE 12/9/2025: Paige Taylor Hartness, 34, of Lexington Park, has been charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses following an incident on October 23, 2025, during which she allegedly pointed a firearm at deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. According to court documents, Hartness faces a total of eight charges, including first-degree assault, use of a firearm in a felony crime, reckless endangerment, and possessing a loaded handgun on her person. Deputies responded to a welfare check...
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65-Year-Old Transported After Accidental Self-Inflicted Shooting in Valley Lee

On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:20 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 45000 block of Joeys Way in Valley Lee, for the reported shooting. 911 callers reported a 65-year-old male student had accidentally shot himself in the foot. EMS arrived on the scene to find a tourniquet had been placed on the victim and requested a helicopter to land nearby. Flight medics were advised the patient had a self-inflicted gunshot wound which grazed the...
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UPDATE: Santa is Flying Into Town Today – Updated Times and Additional Locations!

Southern Maryland residents young and old should look skyward today, Tuesday, Dec. 9, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET as Adm. Saint Nicholas takes to the air on his annual holiday readiness flight — now with an expanded route that includes additional regional schools. Locals can catch a glimpse of Nicholas — flying under his seasonal call sign “Claus” — as he lifts off in a U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, accompanied by his team of elves and...
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2-Year-Old Flown to Children’s Center, Adult Transported to Trauma Center After Serious Crash on 301 in Waldorf

On Monday, December 8, 2025, at approximately 7:40 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Crain Highway and Substation Road in Waldorf, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews quickly arrived on the scene to find a two vehicle collision with three patients suffering injuries. EMS found a 2-year-old female suffering injuries to the head/face and requested a helicopter to respond. U.S. Park Police Eagle 2 landed nearby and transported the child...
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One Injured After Propane Truck Overturns in Prince Frederick

On Monday, December 8, 2025, at approximately 8:10 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of 5760 Sixes Road in Prince Frederick, for the reported commercial vehicle overturned with unknown entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to find a propane truck overturned and actively leaking, with the operator still inside of the vehicle. Firefighters placed a handline in service to precautionary reasons and began removing the operator from the vehicle, along with evacuating nearby residents....
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UPDATE: Man Cited After Lexington Park Collision Involving St. Mary’s County School Bus in Lexington Park

On Friday, December 5, 2025, at approximately 4:11 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Kessler Court in Lexington Park, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving an occupied school bus. Crews arrived on the scene to find a three vehicle collision involving a Nissan sedan, a Toyota hatchback, and St. Mary’s County School Bus 222 which was occupied by three students, the driver and an aide. The aide was...
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Historic Donation Creates New Fund for CSM Scholarships and Student Support

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Foundation will expand scholarships and break down student financial barriers through the Lorraine Diana ’79 and Robert Guite Pathways to Possibility Fund, established with the largest donation in the college’s history. The fund will provide students with traditional scholarships, as well as financial support for other needs which can create barriers to education, such as food, transportation, living expenses, or essential school supplies like nursing equipment or trade program tools. Donors Lorraine Diana...
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Fire Marshal Investigating Trailer Fire in Leonardtown That Sends Woman to Hospital with Smoke Inhalation

On Sunday, December 7, 2025, at approximately 12:36 p.m., firefighters from Leonardtown, Second District, Seventh District, Hollywood, Bay District and Solomons were dispatched to the Wilderness Run RV Resort (formerly called La Grande RV Park) located at 23285 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown, for the reported trailer on fire. The owner reported a fire in the trailer, with multiple additional 911 callers reporting the trailer engulfed in flames. Crews arrived on the scene to find a small trailer well...
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Missing 14-Year-Old Located Deceased in Prince George’s County; Death Ruled Homicide

Prince George’s County Police Department Homicide Unit detectives are investigating a homicide after human remains were located at a park in College Park. The victim is 14-year-old Jefferson Amaya-Ayala of Washington, DC. On November 3, 2025, while assisting the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and FBI Cross Border Taskforce with a joint missing persons investigation, what appeared to be possible human remains were located during a search of Indian Creek Stream Valley Park. The remains were sent to the Office...
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School and Weather Updates for This Weekend – December 5th, 2025

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY: Schools will open 2 HOURS LATE on Friday, Dec. 5th, 2025. ST. MARY’S COUNTY: St. Mary’s County, Maryland is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025. Snowfall totals for St. Mary’s County are expected between 1–4 inches with very low temperatures. Snowfall is expected to begin in the early morning hours, around 3–5 a.m. Peak timing for snowfall is expected to be between 4 a.m.– noon. Impacts to...
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No Injuries After House Fire in Waldorf, Two Displaced and Cause Under Investigation

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at approximately 9:25 p.m., firefighters from Waldorf and surrounding departments responded to the 800 block of Copley Avenue in Waldorf, for the reported garage on fire. 911 callers reported the garage was on fire and spreading to the attached residence. Firefighters quickly arrived on scene to find a two-story residence with the attached garage fully engulfed in flames and requested the working fire dispatch, which alerted additional units to the scene. The fire was...
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Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Dec. 16, 2025

Communities surrounding the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Outlying Field Webster, and the Northern Neck of Virgina are advised that a noise-generating night-time test event is scheduled to take place December 16, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. Night testing and training is essential for the precision and safety of our military aviators...
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NAS Pax River SAR Dogs, Navy Corpsman Complete Rigorous Qualification Flight, Enhancing Combat Readiness

Story by Maria Scott, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Arsides Garay, assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Patuxent River, has completed the rigorous L00A Joint Qualification Requirement (JQR), culminating in a successful final qualification flight. The achievement provides Navy Medicine with another highly skilled corpsman ready to deliver advanced life...
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Fun Spring Events to Support Care and Community at Hospice of the Chesapeake

Hospice of the Chesapeake invites the community to celebrate spring with three unforgettable signature events designed to fuel its mission of providing compassionate hospice, supportive and grief care across the region. Mark your calendars for these April, May and June experiences that each offer their own blend of excitement, elegance and community impact: Bubbles...
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Sports Wagering Contributes $19 Million to the State During November 2025

Maryland’s sports wagering market continued a strong performance in Fiscal Year 2026 by generating $19,012,033 in contributions to the state during November. Sports bettors in Maryland wagered $720,180,853 during the month and won back $622,895,669 in prizes. Sportsbook operators held 13.5% of the handle, leading to the largest single-month return to the state since...
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Bob Hall Beverage Company is Bringing the Budweiser Clydesdales to the Calvert County Christmas Parade & North Beach, Maryland on December 13 & 16

Bob Hall Beverage Company, a 92-year-old family-owned beer and beverage distributor serving Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s Counties, is proud to bring the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales to two local parades this coming week to celebrate the holidays with the communities they love and serve. “For more than 90 years, this community has supported us, and we...
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Maryland DNR Announces Opening Weekend Results from the 2025 Deer Firearm Season

Maryland hunters reported harvesting 9,633 deer on the opening weekend of the 2025 firearm season from Nov. 29 – Nov. 30, according to data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The opening weekend harvest decreased 11.5% from last year’s official opening weekend harvest of 10,889 deer. This was 7.2% lower than the 5-year average of 10,384...
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Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack Collecting Food and Toy Donations for Local Families

The Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack is collecting food, hygiene items, and toys this month to help support local families in need during the holiday season. The effort is being done in partnership with several community programs, including the Mary Lou Gough of Our Lady of the Wayside and Saint Cecilia Catholic Church Food...
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U.S. Navy UAS Surpass One Million Flight Hours in ISR Operations

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.: The Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program office (PMA-263) recently announced that the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Services UAS surpassed one million flight hours in support of operations on land and at sea. Sailors aboard achieved the one million flight hours...
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Air Force Research Laboratory Invention Deployed by Maryland State Police Aviation Command

Published Dec. 5, 2025 by Whitney Wetsig, 711th Human Performance Wing Commander’s Action Group – WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio; A mobile medical documentation tool developed by Air Force Research Laboratory researchers is now deployed and being tested on Maryland State Police medevac helicopters. This marks the first time medical providers are using Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After Tree Falls on Him in Bushwood

On Monday, December 8, 2025, at approximately 5:28 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 22000 block of Upland Drive in Bushwood, for the reported traumatic injuries. The 911 caller reported a tree fell on him, with the caller reporting he had trouble breathing and passed out several times. Maryland State Police Aviation...
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No Charges Filed After Waldorf Man Is Shot and Killed by PG County Business Security Guard, Police Investigating

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is actively working to determine the circumstances of a fatal shooting late Monday night inside of a business. During this incident, an armed private security guard fatally shot a patron. The deceased patron is 50-year-old Donald Wayne Hunt of Waldorf. On December 8, 2025, at approximately...
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Fire Marshal Investigating Overnight Building Fire in Mechanicsville

On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 3:43 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Hollywood, Leonardtown, Hughesville, Bay District, and Seventh District responded to the 38000 block of Copsey Farm Lane in Mechanicsville, for the reported building on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 20 x 40 structure fully engulfed in flames and advised...
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Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Announce Settlement with Cracker Barrel Over Allegations of Disability Discrimination Involving Students with Autism at Waldorf Restaurant 

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) announced a settlement with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., resolving allegations that the company discriminated against a group of students from Dr. James Craik Elementary School based on their disabilities during a visit to its Waldorf, Maryland restaurant. The incident occurred...
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P-8A Program Leverages Partnerships to Achieve Winning Operational Outcomes

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program (PMA-290) and the P-8A program team planned and executed several Aircraft on Ground (AOG) events in recent months. The successful AOG events were completed outside of the continental U.S. (OCONUS) with cooperative partnerships between the U.S. Navy and the Royal...
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Commanders Fan in Prince George’s County Wins $50,000 on Ravens Scratch-off

A Washington Commanders fan from Prince George’s County is celebrating a Ravens win. Not the actual team, but rather his $50,000 win on the Ravens X10 scratch-off game. Though he does not root for the Ravens, he enjoys playing the Ravens scratch-off. “I keep playing it because I win a little here and there,”...
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Mechanicsville Woman Faces Drug, Theft, and Burglary Charges Across Three Open Cases

Whitney Anne Arnold, 39, of Mechanicsville, is currently facing three separate criminal cases in St. Mary’s County involving drug possession, a reported retail theft scheme, and an alleged unlawful entry into a vacant residence, according to court documents filed by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. In the most recent case, deputies responded on...
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Governor Moore Commits $10 Million to Nonprofit and Faith-Based Organizations to Help Protect Against Hate Crimes

Governor Wes Moore announced that his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 will maintain $10 million in funding for the Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant Program. The program, which saw its funding doubled in the governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, provides vital support to nonprofit organizations and faith-based institutions for security enhancements to protect their...
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