Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Governor calls budget package "good for all Marylanders." Republicans say burden to local governments may force county governments to increase taxes.
The Maryland House of Delegates gave final approval Wednesday to a package of three bills that increases taxes on some state residents, shifts part of teacher pensions to local governments and undoes the so-called "doomsday budget." The votes Wednesday afternoon capped the three-day special session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley in order to override more than $500 million in cuts made in a budget passed in early April. The Senate approved the same three bills Tuesday. As part of the package, legislators approved by a vote of 86-51 what amounts to a 50-50 split of teacher pension costs with local governments. The split will be phased in over the next four years beginning July 1 with the new budget year. That bill also includes a doubling of…
Highlights from police incidents in Prince George's County. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
CK One and Done: PG Police Sniff Out Perfume Theft Ring For two District of Columbia women, their scented trail of theft has finally been sniffed out by the Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD), with groundwork laid by the Glenarden Police Department. The PGPD arrested 19-year old Darquesha Shelby Wilkinson and 23-year old Latasha Renee Mungo for their involvement in an organized theft ring where thousands of dollars worth of stolen assorted perfumes were recovered, according to police. Loss prevention officers at JC Penney spotted Wilkinson and Mungo stealing assorted perfumes on on May 8, in the store on the 9000 block of McHugh Drive in Glenarden, according to police. They left the store, however, without being detained. …
May Public Safety Newsletter eyes hurricane season readiness.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
"There are still heroes among us who are willing to give themselves for others." —Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Marcus Brown
Trooper First Class Shaft Sidney Hunter had a personality larger than life, according to those who memorialized him Friday by dedicating a highway sign in his name on Interstate 95. Hunter, 39 and the father of six, attempted to stop a motorcycle at approximately 2:40 a.m. on May 21, 2011, when his patrol car ran into a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of I-95 south near the Welcome Center by Route 32. A witness told police that a motorcycle passed his vehicle "at a high rate of speed" and it was followed by a marked police car, which, moments later, crashed into the tractor-trailer in the fatal collision. Hunter had been with the Maryland State Police 11 years. On Friday, the State Highway Administration placed signs on northbound …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A malfunctioning boiler was the cause, according to the fire department. The store opening was delayed but no injuries were reported.
High carbon monixide levels at the Nordstrom in Columbia Sunday morning prompted firefighters to ventilate the store and evaluate an employee for medical reasons, according to the fire department. Nordstrom employees at The Mall in Columbia called 911 after smelling a strange odor around 9:30 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Gordon Wallace. Approximately 30 fire and rescue personnel arrived and determined that a boiler in the tailor shop, which operated the steam presses, had malfunctioned, said Wallace, spokesman for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS). The malfunction "created high levels of carbon monoxide" in the store, which was not open at the time, said Wallace. High levels of carbon monoxide, which …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Toddler remains in critical condition but appears to be regaining consciousness; incident investigation ongoing.
Update: A Laurel toddler hospitalized following a near-drowing in her home is now in critical but stable condition, and appears to be regaining consciousness, according to statement from the City of Laurel. The statement was released this evening by city Public Information Officer Carreen Koubek. Prince George's County Fire Department fire rescuers and a Howard County Paramedic unit responded to an 911 call Thursday evening from the home, located in the 1000 block of 10th Street. According to the press release, the child's grandmother, her legal guardian, said was giving the girl a bath when two friends came to the door. When the woman returned 10 minutes later she found the child underwater in the tub and unresponsive. The grandmother …
Residential break-ins, stolen vehicles and a sexual assault among recent crimes reported.
Prince George's County Police have kept busy in Laurel during early May, investigating residential and vehicle break-ins, stolen cars and a reported sexual assault. Following is a list of crimes reported by the Prince George’s County Police Department, as of May 10, 2012: Residential break-ins: 6400 block Park Hall Drive W. 13100 block North Point Lane 12200 block Shadetree Lane 13600 block Barnet Lane (May 1) Thefts: 13400 block Finsbury Court 12700 block Laurel Bowie Road 10400 block Balsamwood Drive Thefts from vehicles: 8400 block Imperial Drive Laurel Bowie Road & Briarcroft Lane 9100 block Contee Road 13800 block Briarwood Drive (May 3) 13600 block Avebury Drive Vehicle Thefts: 14500 block Mayfair Drive 9600 block Muirkirk Road…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Court of Appeals ruling won't change Animal Control procedures.
Howard County Animal Control will not change the way it handles pit bulls after a Court of Appeals ruling that labeled the dogs dangerous by nature, according to Howard County police. Animal Control, which runs shelters and adopts animals, is overseen by the Howard County Police Department. “Animal Control will continue its procedure of assessing each dog individually,” police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn wrote in an email. “Those pit bull and pit bull mixes assessed to be adoptable will be made available for adoption.” Two pit bulls were included in the list of adoptable animals distributed by Animal Control in May. On May 8, Llewellyn said the shelter had “no pit bulls in the facility.” Of the two advertised, “one pit bull was adopted,” …
Police said they found 341 plants worth $510,000 in the former Baltimore City Police Department civilian employee's home.
This story has been updated with suspect's background and potential penalties. Howard County police have charged a Laurel man, formerly a Baltimore police lab technician, in a marijuana-growing operation that police say involved hundreds of plants found in his basement. Manoj Unni, 30, the sole occupant of 9318 Cross Timbers Court, was charged Wednesday with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute and possession of equipment to produce marijuana and drug manufacturing, according to a press release. He faces up to 16 years in prison and/or $46,000 in fines if convicted, according to court records. According to Howard County police, Unni is a former civilian crime lab technician with Baltimore City Police. He stopped …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Highlights from police incidents in Prince George's County. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
PGPD jackpot sting: More than 23 pounds of marijuana, $4,000 in cash and ammunition seized The Prince George’s County Police Department’s (PGPD) Special Enforcement and Special Operations divisions made a substantial drug seizure on the morning of May 4 in Suitland, MD. Police conducted a search warrant at an apartment in the 3500 block of Parkway Terrace Drive. Police report a recovery of more than 23 pounds of marijuana, more than $4,000 in cash and ammunition. The arrest and seizure occurred during the county's Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative, in which Suitland is one of six targeted neighborhoods. The lone suspect is identified as known gang member Leon Flythe, 28, of the 3500 block of Parkway Terrace Drive, according to police…
Pinky Collins
3:58 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
Yeah! No one should be condemned due to breed only!!!! more ›