Calvert County: Calvert County remained quiet during the week of March 15-21, 2025.
BOCC Adopts Zoning Rules to Protect Calvert’s Character: The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) proudly announced the adoption of the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance, effective March 1, 2025, following its approval at a public hearing on February 18, 2025.
Charles County: Charles County saw a spike in public safety incidents from March 15-21. On March 15, officers arrested Cato Alexander Johnson, III, 21, at an Indian Head liquor store after he threatened patrons with a handgun, charging him with first-degree assault; he was held without bond. On March 18, Shannon Nicole Smallwood, 36, assaulted a Waldorf convenience store clerk after stealing cigarettes, leading to her arrest and detention without bond. The next day, a 17-year-old from Capitol Heights was caught after a slow chase in a stolen Hyundai in Waldorf, facing juvenile theft charges. On March 20, a house fire at 2345 Progress Court caused $350,000 in damage, displacing James Powell with no injuries, and Captain Matthew Norris was appointed Acting Chief of La Plata Police.
Sheriff Seeks Tips in 23-Year-Old Waldorf Cold Case: More than two decades after a fatal shooting rocked a quiet Waldorf neighborhood, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office continues its pursuit of justice in the unsolved homicide of Eric Hill.
St. Mary’s County: St. Mary’s County saw a busy March 15-21. On March 20, when Charles County Sheriff’s Officer David Moats, 26, was arrested in Mechanicsville for second-degree assault in a domestic dispute. St. Mary’s deputies made the arrest, and Moats was released on March 21 after a bail review; the CCSO suspended him with pay pending investigations.
Jury Finds Man Guilty in St. Mary’s Murder: A St. Mary’s County jury convicted Jontae Lamont Proctor, 21, of Leonardtown, of first-degree murder on March 14, 2025, for his role in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old in Lexington Park.
State of Maryland: Maryland addressed broader health and local shifts during March 15-21. Two Prince George’s County residents tested positive for measles after international travel, leading the Maryland Department of Health to issue exposure warnings for Dulles and Reagan National airports from March 5-17, affecting travelers statewide, including Southern Maryland. In Prince George’s County, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s $3 million renovated PACU, opened March 10, enhanced regional healthcare capacity.
As Maryland youngsters struggle, some get their best help from peers: When Celia Anthony was a high school sophomore, her fellow students nominated her to be a peer leader in her school’s student-led mental health support and suicide prevention program.
