Frederick, MD – The Frederick Police Department’s evening and midnight patrol officers displayed excellent teamwork and proactive policing over the weekend. Officer L. Abed initiated a traffic stop on Saturday evening and called in reinforcements due to suspicious behavior by the vehicle’s occupants.
OFC Walsleben, K-9 handler Corrado, and OFC Malatesta promptly responded to assist Abed. During the field investigation, Officer Walsleben noticed a semiautomatic handgun in plain view inside the vehicle.
All three occupants were taken into custody without incident, with one of the suspects found to have an outstanding arrest warrant.
- School bus hit and run and child neglect charges headline busy week in Calvert
DUI crashes child neglect and burglary among 2403 calls in busy week for Calvert deputies
Prince Frederick, MD – A week that included more than 2,400 calls for service across Calvert County ended with 43 arrests, including charges tied to a hit and run involving a school bus, an alleged home break in and assault, multiple DUI cases and a reported inmate assault inside the county detention center.
From February 2 through February 8, deputies with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to 2,403 calls for service, including 56 motor vehicle crashes, 21 domestic incidents, 68 welfare and mental health checks, 288 traffic stops and 1,282 patrol and school checks.
One of the most serious incidents occurred February 4 when deputies responded to a hit and run involving a school bus at Plum Point Elementary School. Investigators identified the driver of a white Chevrolet pickup as Brian Paul Davis, 41, of Prince Frederick. Witnesses reported the truck left the scene and was later involved in a second collision.
Deputies located the vehicle at Davis’s residence, where damage consistent with both crashes was observed. A 5-year-old child was found seated in the back of the truck. Deputies reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech. Davis was charged with neglect of a minor, reckless endangerment, DUI, DWI and related traffic offenses.
In Chesapeake Beach on February 4, deputies responded to the 6500 block of 9th Street for a reported burglary. Investigators said Jacob Tanner Papanicolas, 27, of Lusby, forced entry by breaking a front door off its hinges and damaging the frame. He allegedly attempted to strike a victim with a basket and kicked her in the stomach before fleeing on foot. Deputies apprehended him nearby. He was charged with fourth degree burglary, second degree assault, intoxicated public disturbance, intoxicated endangerment and malicious destruction of property valued at $1,000 or more.
Drug related arrests were also reported. On February 3, a traffic stop led to the arrest of Lisa Marie Thompson, 36, of Chesapeake Beach, after deputies recovered items containing suspected cocaine residue. She was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance not cannabis, possession of paraphernalia, fraud to avoid prosecution and obstructing and hindering.
On February 6, a traffic stop in North Beach resulted in the arrest of Michael Anthony Sellman, 47, of Washington, D.C. Deputies reported locating brass knuckles and suspected PCP, including glass vials and cigarettes dipped in liquid PCP. Sellman was charged with DUI, reckless and negligent driving, concealing a dangerous weapon and drug offenses.
At St. Leonard Elementary School on February 3, deputies arrested Brion Wesley Brookins, 39, of St. Leonard, after he allegedly entered the school, caused a disruption and refused to comply with commands. A records check revealed an active Maryland State Police warrant. He was charged with disrupting school operations, disturbing the peace, obstructing and hindering and disorderly conduct.
Inside the Calvert County Detention Center on February 5, deputies investigated a reported assault between two inmates. Samuel NMN Giles, 55, of Washington, D.C., was charged with second degree assault.
Additional cases included a reported theft of merchandise valued at $70 from a Prince Frederick grocery store and a property destruction complaint in Chesapeake Beach involving damage to a front door.
During the same week, deputies reported seven DUI arrests across the county.
A single week in Calvert County brought a wave of arrests ranging from DUI crashes and child endangerment to burglary and jailhouse assault.
Key Points
- Deputies responded to 2,403 calls for service and made 43 arrests during the week of February 2 through February 8
- Charges included DUI, child neglect, burglary, assault and drug possession
- A hit and run involving a school bus and a 5-year-old child led to multiple felony and traffic charges
- After work lottery run explodes into huge jackpot in Maryland
Clarksburg woman turns after work lottery stop into $158K jackpot
Clarksburg, MD – A routine after work stop at a neighborhood grocery store turned into a $158,107 payday for a Montgomery County woman who purchased a FAST PLAY Chili Pepper Payout ticket that carried a progressive jackpot prize.
The Clarksburg resident bought the $5 FAST PLAY ticket February 16 at the Harris Teeter located at 22700 Sweet Shrub Drive. The ticket revealed a $158,107 progressive jackpot win.
The woman, who works in banking, said she regularly plays scratch off and FAST PLAY games. After scanning the ticket, she initially saw a message indicating it was a winner but did not realize the amount.
Store personnel confirmed the ticket was a winner, but the full prize amount was not immediately identified. It was only after visiting another retailer that she learned the ticket carried the progressive jackpot. The prize amount was printed directly on the ticket.
Lottery officials said the winner later shared the news with her children and scheduled an appointment at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore the following day to claim the prize.
The Harris Teeter location will receive a $1,000 bonus for selling the jackpot winning ticket.
Following this win, 15 progressive jackpots remain in the FAST PLAY Chili Pepper Payout game. The jackpot resets to $40,000 and increases incrementally with each non jackpot ticket sold.
One quick stop for lottery tickets has now delivered a six figure payout to a Clarksburg woman.
Key Points
- A Clarksburg woman won $158,107 on a FAST PLAY Chili Pepper Payout ticket
- The ticket was purchased at Harris Teeter on Sweet Shrub Drive
- Fifteen progressive jackpots remain in the game after the win
- Routine gas station stop sparks five figure lottery win
Severn teacher scores 50000 Gold Bar Bingo prize in family scratch off tradition
Severn, MD – A Severn school teacher who regularly buys bingo themed scratch off tickets with her mother and uncle turned a routine family lottery run into a $50,000 payday after uncovering a top prize on a Gold Bar Bingo ticket.
The Anne Arundel County woman purchased two $5 Gold Bar Bingo scratch offs at the Sunoco gas station located at 7530 Martin Luther King Jr. Highway in Landover. One of those tickets revealed a $50,000 top prize.
The teacher, who has worked in education for three years, said she scratched the ticket at home. After revealing the first five bingo cards without a win, she uncovered a sixth card where the caller’s numbers and a free space formed an X pattern, corresponding to the game’s $50,000 top prize.
Lottery officials said she initially questioned the result and attempted to scan the ticket using the Maryland Lottery app, which was temporarily unavailable. The win was later confirmed, and she shared the news with her family.
The mother of twin daughters said she does not have specific plans for the winnings but indicated the money will assist with expenses related to raising her children.
The Landover Sunoco will receive a $500 bonus for selling the top prize winning ticket.
Gold Bar Bingo launched in July. Of the eight $50,000 top prizes available in the game, two remain unclaimed.
A family scratch off tradition has now delivered a $50,000 boost to a Severn teacher and her household.
Key Points
- A Severn woman won $50,000 on a Gold Bar Bingo scratch off ticket
- The ticket was purchased at Sunoco on Martin Luther King Jr. Highway in Landover
- Two of eight $50,000 top prizes in the game remain unclaimed
- Frederick man arrested after alleged secret filming of minor in shower
Multiple charges filed in Frederick home investigation
Frederick, MD – A Frederick man was taken into custody Wednesday after investigators alleged he secretly recorded an underage girl known to him while she was showering, leading to multiple felony charges months after the initial report.
Officers were first dispatched on October 7 to the 1400 block of Heather Ridge Court in Frederick City after receiving a report that an adult male had filmed an underage female while she was in the shower.
Because of the nature of the allegations, the case was assigned to the Frederick Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit. Investigators said evidence gathered during the investigation led to the development of probable cause to charge Julio Cesar Hernandez Cortez.
On February 6, a warrant was issued by the Frederick County Circuit Court charging Hernandez Cortez with one count of sex abuse of a minor, one count of visual surveillance with prurient intent, one count of visual surveillance of a private area, and one count of peeping tom.
Wednesday, members of the Frederick Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Special Response Team executed a search and seizure warrant at Hernandez Cortez’s residence in the 1400 block of Heather Ridge Court.
Hernandez Cortez, whose date of birth is April 1, 1975, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.
Police said no additional information will be released due to the sensitive nature of the investigation. The case is identified as 2025-054560 and remains under review by the Frederick Police Department.
A months long investigation into allegations of secret recording inside a Frederick home has now resulted in an arrest and multiple sex offense charges.
Key Points
- Julio Cesar Hernandez Cortez was arrested Wednesday at his residence on Heather Ridge Court
- He is charged with sex abuse of a minor and multiple visual surveillance offenses
- The investigation began after an October 7 report that an underage female was filmed while showering
Frederick man charged after alleged secret recording of minor
- Lucky night in Maryland as two tickets hit big
Two Maryland Lottery tickets deliver 158K jackpot and 50K Powerball win
Baltimore, MD – A pair of Maryland Lottery players struck it big Monday night after a $158,107 FAST PLAY jackpot ticket was sold in Clarksburg and a $50,000 Powerball ticket was purchased in Greenbelt.
The $158,107 winning ticket came from the $5 FAST PLAY Chili Pepper Payout progressive jackpot game. The ticket was sold at the Harris Teeter located at 22700 Sweet Shrub Drive in Clarksburg. The Montgomery County retailer will receive a $1,000 bonus for selling the jackpot winner.
Lottery officials said this marks the fourth jackpot claimed in the Chili Pepper Payout game. Fifteen progressive jackpots remain. The game reset to $40,000 and increases incrementally with each non-jackpot ticket sold.
In Prince George’s County, a third-tier $50,000 Powerball ticket was sold at American Legion Greenbelt Post 136, located at 6900 Greenbelt Road in Greenbelt.
For the February 16 drawing, the winning numbers were 16, 18, 19, 56, 58 and Powerball 6. The Greenbelt ticket matched four of the first five numbers drawn along with the Powerball to secure the $50,000 prize.
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing carries an estimated annuity value of $169 million, with a cash option estimated at $79.2 million.
Two separate tickets sold just miles apart have now turned routine lottery purchases into six figure and five figure payouts across Maryland.
Key Points
- A $158,107 FAST PLAY Chili Pepper Payout jackpot ticket was sold in Clarksburg
- A $50,000 third-tier Powerball ticket was sold in Greenbelt
- The next Powerball drawing features an estimated $169 million jackpot