On March 9, Charles County Sheriff’s officers arrested Louis Delano Bowles, III, age 25, of Waldorf, in connection with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography after he was indicted by a Charles County Grand Jury in late February. The investigation was initiated after detectives from the Special Victims Unit received a tip from the National Center for [...]
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 [...]
On March 4, a student at Westlake High School and a student at La Plata High School were found to be in possession of vaping devices containing THC. On March 3, a student at Davis Middle School, age 13, was found to be in possession of loose cannabis. Further investigation revealed the student got the cannabis from a 12-year-old student. [...]
On March 4, detectives assigned to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division arrested Shawn Lamont Wade, Jr., age 32, of Waldorf in connection with the shooting death of David Leroy Raley, age 47. The shooting occurred on July 3, 2025, in the 3000 block of October Place. Wade was indicted by a Charles County Grand Jury and investigators [...]
The Charles County Sheriff's Office is launching Project Y.O.U. – Youth Outreach Unified – a new pilot program starting this April as part of the Sheriff’s Youth Engagement Unit. Project Y.O.U. will bring together police officers and CCSO employees to work with local youth after school, twice a week, focusing on life skills, academic support, leadership, fitness, and hands-on activities [...]
On February 24, two students at Mattawoman Middle School, ages 12 and 13, were found to be in possession of a vape containing THC. The 12-year-old reportedly used the device in class. In an unrelated case, a 13-year-old student at Mathew Henson Middle School was found to be in possession of a vape containing THC. In accordance with MD law, [...]
On January 26, 2026, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit, in coordination with the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), successfully located and apprehended Brandon Gerald Jernigan, 40, of Jackson, Mississippi, who was wanted in connection with multiple violent offenses across several jurisdictions. On October 18, 2023, an arrest warrant was obtained by [...]
On February 13, at approximately 10:10 a.m., officers responded to a tobacco shop located in the 6400 block of Crain Highway in La Plata for the report of a commercial armed robbery that just occurred. Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect entered the business, pointed a black semi‑automatic handgun at a store clerk, and demanded currency and a carton [...]
Charles County Sheriff’s detectives charged three suspects in connection with an October 2025 murder case. On October 29 at 12:14 a.m., officers responded to the Westlake Dash-In in the 2000 block of Smallwood Drive West in Waldorf for a report of a shooting. The investigation showed unknown suspect(s) fired multiple rounds in the parking lot, striking two individuals who were [...]
On February 11, at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers were in the area of Newport Circle and Cobbler Place in White Plains attempting to arrest an individual who had an active arrest warrant and protective order stemming from escalating domestic-related incidents. As the officers approached, the individual pulled out a large machete and advanced towards them with the machete raised. Two [...]