WALDORF, Md. — Charles County Sheriff’s Office patrol officers arrested Shannon Nicole Smallwood, 36, of Waldorf, on March 18, 2025, at 6 p.m., after she stole cigarettes and assaulted a convenience store clerk in the 3600 block of Crain Highway. The suspect was charged with assault, theft, destruction of property, and related offenses.
Smallwood entered the store, went behind the counter, and took several packs of cigarettes. She left without paying. When the clerk confronted her outside to recover the items, Smallwood punched her in the face, breaking her eyeglasses, and continued the assault before walking away. Officer Huston canvassed the area and found Smallwood near a commuter lot on Route 925, where she was arrested without incident.
On March 19, a judge ordered Smallwood held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center. The clerk sustained minor injuries from the attack, though medical treatment details were not released. The stolen cigarettes’ value was not specified, but Maryland law classifies theft under $1,000 as a misdemeanor, with penalties up to six months in jail.
The investigation remains ongoing, with potential updates pending further review of evidence or witness statements. Smallwood’s next court appearance has not been announced.
