Sheriff’s Corner

See updates on local Crime in our area from the sheriff. You can learn more here.

The Back-to-School Countdown is On: Essential Safety Tips for 2026

The summer countdown is on! Students will be heading back to the classroom before we know it, which means school bus and traffic safety must be a top priority for everyone on the road.

Sheriff Gary Hofmann says, “It doesn't matter if you are a parent, a student, or a daily commuter; let's refresh our knowledge on these critical safety tips for the upcoming school year":

Flashing Red Means STOP — It’s the Law!

Protecting our children starts with respecting the bus stop arm. If a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended, traffic in both directions must come to a complete stop (unless separated by a physical median). With modern bus camera enforcement systems now widely active across our routes, illegal passers face steep automated fines—and worse, put young lives at risk.

Master the "Six-Foot Rule"

Teach children to stand at least 6 feet (or three giant steps) back from the curb or edge of the road while waiting for the bus. Remind them to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, sets its park brake, and opens its door before approaching or standing up from their seats.

Parents of Teen Drivers: Stay Involved

Car crashes remain a leading cause of death for teenagers, with driving inexperience and modern digital distractions acting as major factors. Don't stop coaching once they pass their driver's test—continue to practice supervised driving with your new driver every week in various weather and traffic conditions.

Head Up, Phone Down, Smart Specs Off

Distracted driving isn't just about texting anymore—it includes scrolling social feeds, interacting with infotainment screens, and checking smart glasses. Set a zero-tolerance rule for digital distractions behind the wheel: Park the phone before you put the car in drive.

Share the Road & Stay Patient

Expect longer commutes, new traffic patterns, and lower speed limits in active school zones. Give school buses plenty of stopping distance, check your blind spots for young pedestrians and bicyclists, and never rush around a bus.

"One illegal passing of a school bus is not worth the life of a child," reminds Sheriff Gary Hofmann.

"Do NOT pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing. It’s the law!"

Let’s work together to make the 2026–2027 school year the safest one yet. Keep your eyes on the road, leave a few minutes early, and help keep our community's children safe!

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Weekly Reportable Incidents 08/02/26 - 08/08/2
As with all legal proceedings, all individuals mentioned or depicted are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mental Health/ Emergency Petition Calls: 4
Verbal or Physical Domestic Calls: 5
DUI/ DWI: 1
Incident: Theft from Motor Vehicle
On 08/06 deputies responded to Reynolds Dr. in Stevensville for a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. The caller advised they own an Airbnb and a guest had recently left a wallet at their home that they were going to return. They placed the wallet, containing $1,200 worth of cash into their car and forgot about it. A few days later they found the wallet to be empty. The caller advised she would be reimbursing the guest their money.
Incident: Theft
On 08/06 deputies responded to the Thompson Creek Boat Landing for a report of theft. The caller advised he believed he had left his cell phone at a boat slip. Upon returning to locate it, the phone was gone and believed to have been stolen.
Incident: Harassment
On 08/05 deputies responded to a Stevensville residence for a report of harassment. The caller advised she is being harassed by a spiritual person that has been sending repeated threatening messages. The caller had blocked this person, but they continued to send messages from a new number.
Incident: Fraud
On 08/05 Deputy Whited took a report for the fraud. The victims advised their joint investment account information had been changed by an unknown person who made over $9,000 worth of transactions to other accounts.
Incident: Fraud
On 08/05 Deputy Schultz took a report for past fraud. The victim advised she had sent a check in the mail that had been intercepted, washed, and cashed for over $2,600. The Postal Inspector Service was notified.
Incident: Disabled/ Towed Vehicle
On 08/03 DFC Meehan was patrolling when he located a vehicle on Main Street at Rt. 50 near the Outlets that was a hazard, blocking the travel portion of the roadway. The vehicle was disabled and deputies were unable to make contact with the owner at his residence. The vehicle was towed.
Incident: Theft
On 08/03 Deputy Mills responded to Target for a report of past theft. Loss prevention advised a known suspect had stolen over $600 worth of merchandise.
Incident: Theft
On 08/03 deputies took a report of theft. The victim advised an employee had been using the business account to pay for her personal bills over a period of years, totaling over $100,000.
Incident: Fraud
On 08/02 Deputy Schultz took a report of fraud. The elderly victim advised she had been contacted by an imposter Apple employee who transferred her to an imposter bank employee who advised there was a charge on her account, and that if she did not deposit $8,000 worth of bitcoin, she would be charged with money laundering. The woman traveled to multiple bitcoin machines and deposited the $8,000.
Incident: Theft from Vehicle / Burglary
On 08/02 deputies responded to Timber Lane in Grasonville for multiple reports of thefts from vehicles. It was determined three unknown suspects wearing masks entered numerous unlocked vehicles, as well as an open garage. Nothing was reported stolen from the vehicles; however, one victim reported two hunting knives taken from his garage.
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DUI Arrest
Gabrielle Bennett, 23, of Grasonville, MD
On July 25, 2026, at approximately 12:45AM, DFC Colburn was in the area of Rt. 18 and Oyster Cover Drive when he observed a vehicle driving with its passenger side tires over the shoulder line. He continued to follow the vehicle and observed it crossing over the solid center line.
He initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Gabrielle Bennett. While speaking with her he observed several indicators of impairment and detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath.
Bennett agreed to submit to SFSTs, which she did not adequately perform, and was placed under arrest. She later declined to submit to a BAC test.
Charges & Citations:
DUI
DWI
Reckless Driving
Negligent Driving
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Failure to Drive on Right Half of Roadway When Required
As with all legal proceedings, all individuals mentioned or depicted are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Make Life Harder For Criminals

It may seem like we keep hounding this over and over, but the elderly continue to be victims of crime. Sheriff Hofmann would like to remind everyone of a few safety tips and to please share with your parents, elderly neighbors, and those who may need an extra reminder!

Car Safety

●Lock your doors immediately after entering or leaving your car.

●Park in safe areas with adequate lighting and ensure that your car is in public view. When you park, look around for suspicious persons or vehicles near your car.

●Do not leave any valuables inside the vehicle, including cell phones, money in plain sight, wallets, purses, or any electronic devices. Home Security In many burglaries, no force was used. That means the burglars got in through UNLOCKED doors and windows. Most burglaries can be prevented.

●Properly lock all windows and doors.

●Have adequate exterior and interior lighting.

●If you are going out or on vacation, use timers so that lights, radio, and TV go on and off throughout the house to indicate someone is home.

● Never leave a house key available outside: under a doormat, in a flower pot, or on the ledge of the door. These are the first places a burglar will look.

Law Enforcement Department Scam

We advise the public to be aware of phone scams involving subjects pretending to be law enforcement personnel. Suspects fraudulently identify themselves as law enforcement officers and call victims, claiming they have a warrant for their arrest. A law enforcement agency will NOT solicit by phone to advise of unpaid debts of any kind. In addition, payments related to warrants and/or citations are handled directly through the Court. The public can help combat this scam by doing the following:

●Do not call back and/or hang up if you are talking to them.

●Block the number on your cell phone. It will not help with all the fraudulent calls you may get, but it will help.

Scams that Target Seniors

Financial scams targeting seniors have become so prevalent that they’re now considered “the crime of the 21st century.

”Why? Seniors are thought to have a significant amount of money in their accounts. Additionally, seniors tend to be trusting and are willing problem-solvers. If you receive suspicious solicitations, do not provide any personal or banking information. Never do business with someone who calls you out of the blue. Instead, have a practiced "no" script, such as "I don't buy products over the phone" or "I don't talk to solicitors."

If a Crime Occurs - Report it!

Everyone should consider it their responsibility to report crime. Many criminals target favorite areas and have predictable methods of operation. Reporting all the facts about a crime helps the police assign officers to places where crimes are occurring or where they are most likely to occur. Sheriff Hofmann states that in many cases, “it is the information provided by victims and witnesses that leads to the arrest of a criminal. Please tell a Deputy or other law enforcement as much as you can; all facts are significant! The police need the eyes and ears of all our citizens!”