U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two fleeing Maryland rape suspects at Washington Dulles International Airport late Thursday and early today. Officers first arrested Oscar Armando Hernandez Mata, a 53-year-old Salvadoran, on a Montgomery County, Maryland, warrant for felony second degree rape and sexual abuse of a minor. Hernandez Mata is an alien unlawfully present in the U.S. after being ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2006. CBP’s National Targeting Center alerted Dulles officers of Hernandez Mata’s impending departure flight to El Salvador. Dulles CBP officers apprehended Hernandez Mata at 4:48 p.m., Thursday at the departure gate. Nine…

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will close a section of MD 935 (Lower George’s Creek Road) near MD 36 in Allegany County for emergency roadwork on October 23. The repair is expected to be completed by Monday, November 6, weather permitting. This work will address a damaged pipe under MD 935, which necessitates a temporary road closure and detour. The State Highway Administration’s contractor, Braddock Construction, LLC of LaVale, will be using detour signage, construction barrels and cones to assist motorists with navigating through the work zone. Motorists traveling north on MD 935 will take MD 935A…

Governor Wes Moore today released the following statement regarding the killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson: “I am shocked, heartbroken, and sickened by the killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. He was the victim of a cold-blooded, vicious, and targeted attack. My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinson’s family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him.  My team has been in close contact with the judiciary and with leadership in Hagerstown and Washington County, including local law enforcement and elected officials. Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to protect other judges, and I am…

US District Judge Julie Rubin approved a consent decree with Jordan Hobel, formerly a Frostburg-based dentist, resolving allegations that Hobel violated the Controlled Substances Act in illegally prescribing opioids.  The government alleges that between 2017 and 2021, Hobel issued at least a dozen prescriptions for substances that had no legitimate medical purpose.  It is alleged that Hobel used the DEA registration numbers of other dentists in his practice to prescribe himself controlled substances including oxycodone. Hovel denies the government allegations. Under the decree, Hobel agrees to not apply for or seek reinstatement of his DEA registration which he voluntarily surrendered…

Maryland’s Senators and Congressmen met with the leadership of NASA Goddard, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics, Relative Dynamics and the Space Telescope Science Institute. They were there to hear how Maryland’s space industry impacts the state on a daily basis.  According to NASA, every job located in Maryland supported an additional 10.8 jobs statewide in 2021. Every million dollars’ worth of economic output generated by NASA sustained an additional $4.2 million across the state. Senator Chris Van Hollen said that the state’s leadership in space science propels both the state’s economy and the nation’s innovation.

Washington County authorities are actively looking for a suspect in the shooting of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.  Wilkinson, 52, was gunned down Thursday evening in the driveway of his home in Hagerstown.  He was transported to Meritus Medical Center where he died of his injuries.   Law enforcement is actively looking for Pedro Argote who is considered to be "armed and dangerous" as the lead suspect in the shooting.  Wilkinson had recently presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert told reporters the judge’s wife and son were also home at the time of the…

On Thursday, October 19, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Logan O’Brien.  The warrant was issued as the result of O’Brien failing to appear in court on October 17, 2023.   He was originally charged with Driving on a Suspended License.  O’Brien was arrested and transported to Central Booking.  He was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and released on his personal recognizance.  ARRESTED:  Logan Malachi O’Brien       AGE:  27         Cumberland, MD ARREST WARRANT SERVED On Thursday, October 19, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Kevin Mauck.  The warrant was issued as the…

On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at approximately 6:27 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to Canal Pl. for a disturbance.  Police arrived and contacted the parties involved.  One of the subjects contacted was identified as Araya Plauger.  Officers discovered that Plauger had an active bench warrant for her arrest.  The warrant was issued as the result of Plauger violating probation.  She was originally charged with CDS: Possess-Not Marijuana.  Plauger was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine.  She was placed under arrest and transported to Central Booking.  Plauger was issued a criminal citation for CDS: Possess-Not Cannabis. …

Maryland’s Cannabis Administration has officially issued a warning on a potentially fraudulent mailer citizens throughout the state are receiving.  The postcard, printed in both English and Spanish, identifies the person receiving the mail as a potential winner of a cannabis dispensary license.  The MCA is not connected to the mailer and advises anyone interested in cannabis licensure to obtain information through the State of Maryland’s website only.

Formal charges are pending against Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon after he interceded on his daughter’s behalf when she wrecked her car on Cemetery Road in January. The indictment handed down this week and says the Sheriff gave false information to West Virginia State Police investigating the matter and obstructed the investigation of a law officer.