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Police & Fire
Martial Arts Instructor Indicted For Sexual Abuse Of Minors In Maryland: Sheriff Martial Arts Instructor Indicted For Sexual Abuse Of Minors In Maryland: Sheriff
Martial Arts Instructor Indicted For Sexual Abuse Of Minors In Maryland: Sheriff A martial arts instructor who worked in Maryland and Virginia is facing charges after being connected to at least two cases involving the sexual abuse of minors, the Charles County Sheriff's Office announced. Steven James Hardeman, 37, of Newburg, is facing multiple rape charges and other sexual offenses after victims came forward and reported that he allegedly abused them while he was working at the American Martial Arts Gym in Waldorf, officials say. The assaults occurred as far back as 2013, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office. The case was recently presented to a grand jury…

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by Zak Failla
News
Sheriff IDs 23-Year-Old Found With Gunshot Wound Who Died After Crashing In Maryland Sheriff IDs 23-Year-Old Found With Gunshot Wound Who Died After Crashing In Maryland
Sheriff IDs 23-Year-Old Found With Gunshot Wound Who Died After Crashing In Maryland A homicide investigation has been launched after a 23-year-old driver died at the hospital after being found with a gunshot wound when he crashed in St. Mary's County, according to the sheriff's office. Malic Quinn Freeland has been identified as the person who was rushed to an area shock trauma center and later died from his injuries, authorities announced on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office were called at around 9 p.m. on Feb. 26 to investigate a crash when a vehicle went through a fence and into a shed near Valley Drive and Fox Ridge Road in Lexin…

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by Zak Failla
News
Driver Found With Gunshot Wound After Crashing Through Fence At Maryland Intersection: Sheriff Driver Found With Gunshot Wound After Crashing Through Fence At Maryland Intersection: Sheriff
Driver Found With Gunshot Wound After Crashing Through Fence At Maryland Intersection: Sheriff What started as a crash investigation in St. Mary's County evolved into a probe into a Lexington Park shooting overnight, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies were called at around 9 p.m. on Monday night to investigate a crash when a vehicle went through a fence and into a shed near Valley Drive and Fox Ridge Road, officials say. First responders provided aid to the driver for injuries sustained in the crash, at which point they found that the victim had been shot and they were rushed to an area Shock Trauma Center. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with inform…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
One Airlifted To Maryland Hospital With 'Significant Laceration' To Throat, Sheriff Says One Airlifted To Maryland Hospital With 'Significant Laceration' To Throat, Sheriff Says
One Airlifted To Maryland Hospital With 'Significant Laceration' To Throat, Sheriff Says The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office has launched an attempted murder investigation after someone had to be airlifted to the hospital when their throat was cut over the weekend. Deputies from the sheriff's office were called to the 21000 block of Morris Drive in Lexington Park on Saturday, Feb. 24 to investigate a reported disturbance in the area. Upon arrival, they found a victim with a "significant laceration to the throat," officials said, and they were flown to a local shock trauma center for treatment of the injuries. Their condition was not available on Monday afternoon. No detail…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Stolen Guns, Drugs, Cash Seized During Two Searches In Maryland, Sheriff Says Stolen Guns, Drugs, Cash Seized During Two Searches In Maryland, Sheriff Says
Stolen Guns, Drugs, Cash Seized During Two Searches In Maryland, Sheriff Says A pair of search and seizure warrants led to drug and weapon charges for two in St. Mary's County, according to the sheriff's office. Lexington Park resident Joseph Matthew Queen III, 30, and Terrance Lamar Barnes, 29, who has no fixed address, are being held behind bars following two busts over the weekend, authorities announced. On Friday, deputies from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office first responded to a residence in the 21000 block of Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, where they recovered suspected Fentanyl/xylazine mix, crack cocaine, cocaine, cash, loaded handguns, and posses…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Off-Duty Officer Suspended Following Attempted Murder Arrest In Maryland: Police (UPDATED) Off-Duty Officer Suspended Following Attempted Murder Arrest In Maryland: Police (UPDATED)
Off-Duty Officer Suspended Following Attempted Murder Arrest In Maryland: Police (Updated) A Prince George's County Police officer has been suspended following his arrest on Friday morning for a domestic incident, the department announced. Cpl. David Hardester, of Mechanicsville, has been charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder in Charles County and with second-degree assault in St. Mary’s County following an incident at his home. According to the Prince George's County Police Department, Hardester, 42, shot at a man using his assigned duty weapon in Charles County on Friday, Feb. 23, though the man was uninjured. At approximately 1:30 a.m., officers…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police ID Son Killed During Shed Fire In Parents' Maryland Backyard Police ID Son Killed During Shed Fire In Parents' Maryland Backyard
Police ID Son Killed During Shed Fire In Parents' Maryland Backyard The Maryland Fire Marshal has identified the 26-year-old man who was found dead in a burning shed at his parents' home over the holiday weekend in St. Mary's County. Joseph Williams Bowles, Jr. was inside an 8-foot by 10-foot shed in his parents' backyard on River Springs Road in Avenue when it went up in flames on Friday night, authorities announced following a days-long investigation. Officials say that shortly after 11 p.m. on Feb. 16, crews from the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department were called to a home on River Springs Road, when the homeowner found their shed ablaze with a p…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Smiling Suspect Facing Multiple Attempted Murder Charges For Maryland Shooting: Sheriff Smiling Suspect Facing Multiple Attempted Murder Charges For Maryland Shooting: Sheriff
Smiling Suspect Facing Multiple Attempted Murder Charges For Maryland Shooting: Sheriff Charles Vernon Russell was all smiles after being arrested for attempted murder months after a shooting outside a residence in St. Mary's County. The 26-year-old Mechanicsville resident was arrested on Friday and charged with attempted murder and other offenses following a November 2023 incident that was reported in Leonardtown. According to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, Russell had been wanted in connection to the Nov. 26, 2023 shooting outside an occupied residence in the 22000 block of Longmore Street, leading to a warrant for his arrest that was executed on Feb. 16. Russell w…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Prize Fit For A King: Crown-Wearing Maryland Man Claims $50K Lottery Prize Prize Fit For A King: Crown-Wearing Maryland Man Claims $50K Lottery Prize
Prize Fit For A King: Crown-Wearing Maryland Man Claims $50K Lottery Prize A professional driver from St. Mary's County came dressed for the occasion when he collected his $50,000 Maryland Lottery prize this week. Sporting a stylish crown, "Anthony" was in Lottery Headquarters this week after claiming a second-tier prize playing the "50X The Cash" scratcher that he bought at a Waldorf liquor store. The winner says he's not a Lottery regular, but he and a friend came up with a system that paid off in a big way. "Neither of us plays too often he said," but when they do, the prosperous pair tends to pick up the same tickets, believing that it could lead to a big win…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Community Rallies Around First Responders Injured In Fiery Maryland Crash Community Rallies Around First Responders Injured In Fiery Maryland Crash
Community Rallies Around First Responders Injured In Fiery Maryland Crash Support is swelling for a pair of employees working for the St. Mary's County government who suffered critical injuries before being rescued from a burning vehicle by Maryland State Police troopers and a Good Samaritan.  Thousands of dollars have been raised on behalf of the families of Todd Bowman and Dr. Jason Finkelstein, members of the county's Department of Emergency Services team, who were involved in a serious motor vehicle crash while serving their community on Thursday, Feb. 8.  ***Serious Accident with Vehicle on Fire*** At approximately 1315 hours, Engine 7 an…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman, 27, Dies At Hospital Days After Being Airlifted From Maryland Crash: State Police Woman, 27, Dies At Hospital Days After Being Airlifted From Maryland Crash: State Police
Woman, 27, Dies At Hospital Days After Being Airlifted From Maryland Crash: State Police A 27-year-old woman died days after she had to be airlifted to the hospital following a crash in St. Mary's County, state police announced on Wednesday. Mechanicsville resident Casey Nicole Faulds was driving on Sunday, Feb. 4, when she was involved in a crash with another vehicle in the area of Mechanicsville Road and Red Oak Lane. Troopers responded to the Mechanicsville intersection, and police say that one of the drivers was treated by paramedics before being flown to the Washington Hospital Center for evaluation of "serious injuries." AVOID Mechanicsville Rd in area of Asher Rd fo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Armed Robber Who Caused Commotion Near Maryland High School Linked To Second Robbery: Sheriff Armed Robber Who Caused Commotion Near Maryland High School Linked To Second Robbery: Sheriff
Armed Robber Who Caused Commotion Near Maryland High School Linked To Second Robbery: Sheriff The man who caused concern for some at Great Mills High School in St. Mary's County on Monday has been apprehended and connected to at least two armed robberies in the area, the sheriff's office announced. Delano Jurail Parham-Nash, 20, who has no fixed address, is behind bars after being taken into custody on Feb. 12 in Lexington Park, officials say. According to a spokesperson from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Monday morning, deputies were called to the 21100 block of Great Mills Road to investigate a reported armed robbery. 12:52 p.m., SMCSO is…

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by Zak Failla