On Sunday, February 5, 2023 at approximately 12:56 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 100 block of W. Third Street for an assault.  Police contacted the alleged victim who reported that Francis Nizer had strangled her and slammed her against a wall while arguing with her over a ring.  Officers observed injuries to the victim.  Nizer was placed under arrest and transported to Central Booking.  He was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. ARRESTED:  Francis Damien Nizer        AGE:  44         Cumberland, MD CHARGES: …

On Sunday, February 5, 2023 at approximately 10:33 AM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 100 block of Humbird Street for an assault.  Police arrived and contacted the involved parties who had visible injuries.  The alleged victim reported that his injuries had been caused by Alexa Davis.  After further investigation, Davis was placed under arrest and transported to Central Booking.  She was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and released on her personal recognizance. ARRESTED:  Alexa Rhea Davis          AGE:  22           Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Assault-2nd Degree

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Ricky Broadwater.  The warrant was issued as the result of Broadwater violating his probation.  Broadwater was originally charged with Rifle/Shotgun Possess – Disqualify.   He was arrested and transported to Central Booking.  He was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and posted a $5,000 unsecured personal bond. ARRESTED:  Ricky Allen Broadwater       AGE:  43         Cumberland, MD On Sunday, February 5, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Nichole Jones.  The warrant was issued as the result of Jones Failing to appear in court on…

A two-car head-on crash Sunday on state Route 36 sent at least five people to area hospitals, including two who were flown by Maryland State Police helicopters. Route 36 was closed for more than 3 hours while Maryland State Police reconstructed the crash that was reported about 3:25 p.m.  The injured included two children, one of whom was flown to an area trauma center. Three people were taken by ambulances to UPMC Western Maryland for treatment. Conditions on the injured were not available. First responders from Mount Savage, Corriganville, Wellersburg, Frostburg and the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services responded as well…

Once again the Maryland Republican Caucus this session will push for a bill that would make the theft of a handgun an automatic felony- and House Minority Leader Jason Buckel says unfortunately he expects Democrats to fight against it. Delegate Buckel said, for whatever reason, what seem’s like a common sense crime bill has been defeated in the past and probably will be again… Buckel says that by blocking this legislation but making gun control a major centerpiece of  the party’s platform- Democrats are sending a mixed message…

West Virginia's Republican governor, Jim Justice, told CBS News this week he will decide by the end of February whether he will run for the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in 2024, a decision that could upend the race and the balance of power in the Senate.  Justice's openness to running raises the prospect of a blockbuster head-to-head battle between the state's two foremost political leaders:  Justice and Manchin, the state's longtime senator who also previously served as governor. Justice, who switched parties to become a Republican just months into his first term as governor in 2017, said he is confident…

While representatives of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority met recently with Ridgeley, Carpendale and Mineral County officials to gauge support for the proposed River Park project-  Delegate Gary Howell has been slow to endorse the concept. A year ago Howell said he had concerns with part of the plan that calls for the removal of the dam beneath the Blue Bridge that links Ridgeley and Cumberland. Howell, a Republican who represents Mineral County,  was quoted as saying he believes removing the dam takes away more opportunities than it creates. Canal Place executive director Dee Dee Ritchie said she…

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican who has said he is giving "serious consideration" to running for president, evaded the question when asked Thursday if he would support former President Trump if he wins the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Hogan, the two-time GOP governor of a blue state, told conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt that he does not think Trump will be the Republican nominee to challenge President Biden. When asked repeatedly if he would support Trump if he recaptures the GOP nomination in 2024, Hogan insisted he would support the Republican nominee, but declined to consider whether that…

Although a Washington D.C. native who represented Baltimore in the General Assembly, Comptroller Brooke Lierman tells WCBC News that she has become  familiar  with Western Maryland over the years- and is excited about the recreational economic development opportunities.   Elected in November, Lierman replaced longtime Comptroller Peter Franchot who was a regular visitor to Allegany County and opened an office in downtown Cumberland. Lierman says that with 170,000 acres of public land,  Allegany and Garrett counties are gateway communities to a large number of nature-based assets and four seasons of outdoor recreation opportunities. She believes that with more than 500 miles of developed…

On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at approximately 5:47 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the area of Park Street and Cecelia Street for traffic infraction.  The operator of the vehicle was identified as John Sinclair Sr.  A consent search was granted and Sinclair was found to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a prescription.  Sinclair was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  John Waylon Sinclair Sr.              AGE:  39             Johnstown, PA CHARGES:  CDS: Possess-Not Marijuana