Thursday, May 17, 2012
Harold Williams, a fitness trainer at the Baltimore County Police Academy, is charged with sexually assaulting a female officer.
A Baltimore County Police Department officer has been assigned to administrative duties and charged with sexual assault as the result of an incident that occurred in March at the department's training academy in Dundalk. Officer Harold Williams, 42, is charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and second-degree assault — both misdemeanors, according to Baltimore County Public Safety spokeswoman Elise Armacost. Williams is accused of sexually assaulting the victim — also a county police officer — while giving her a foot rub after some physical training at the academy on the Dundalk campus of The Community College of Baltimore County, according to a WBAL-TV report. Both officers were off duty when the incident occurred, according to …
Donald Church, 31, charged after identifying himself in St. Mary's and Charles counties as a Baltimore County police officer
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…
Two men were caught attempting to steal copper from an abandoned hospital building on the Spring grove campus.
Maryland State Police arrested two men Tuesday who were caught attempting to steal copper from inside an abandoned building at Spring Grove Hospital Center in Catonsville. The first suspect was caught by police officers working for Spring Grove, Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley said. The second suspect was caught after state troopers from the Special Tactical Assault Team were preparing to enter the building. As officers lined up outside the building, the suspect crawled out of a hole in the roof on the other side. A county and state police officer who had been monitoring the perimeter of the building took the suspect into custody, Shipley said. State police have two men in custody: Matthew R. Blizzard, 29, of the unit block of…
Accused officer was a fitness trainer at the Baltimore County Police Department's training academy in Dundalk.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Judge interprets silence as a 'not guilty' plea.
Sluggish economy, skyrocketing value in metals are among the reasons for a 450 percent spike in such crime since 2009, police Chief Jim Johnson said.
Individually, the theft of copper wiring and piping from homes and businesses in Baltimore County usually amounts to little more than stealing a few dollars worth of metal. But, a closer examination of the issue finds the economic impact far worse, Baltimore County police chief Jim Johnson said. Destruction of property, business hours lost and a heightened sense of vulnerability make copper thefts one of the fastest growing problems facing the community, he added. This is why Johnson announced Monday the formation of the region's first law enforcement team dedicated to the growing problem of metals theft. The chief made the announcement at a news conference at BGE's White Marsh Learning Center to highlight the issue, as the utility is a …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
New interview process aims to make the Baltimore County police more responsible, accountable for selecting its leaders.
Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson threw out a more than three-decades old promotions policy just days before a class of sergeants was to take standardized oral interviews to become lieutenants. The change comes amid a looming U.S. Department of Justice inquiry into the county's hiring and promotions practices within the police and fire departments. The change involves who interviews prospective candidates for promotion. Until now, interviews had been conducted by outside law enforcement personnel. Now, those interviews will be conducted by officials who work for Baltimore County. "I have not determined the motivation of the administration as to why this change was instituted," said Cole Weston, president of the Fraternal Order of …
Plan to fix "Doomsday Budget" includes $247 million in tax increases and elimination of exemptions for single filers earning $100,000 or more and joint filers earning $150,000 or more.
UPDATE (5:59 p.m.)—Some Maryland residents will pay more taxes in the coming year under a plan worked out between Gov. Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders. O'Malley, accompanied by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, announced the nearly $35.8 billion plan during a Wednesday morning news conference in Annapolis to discuss the upcoming special session. "To leave this budget incomplete, to leave this budget as it stands right now, would damage the very forward motion that all of us, together, have worked so hard to achieve for our state," O'Malley said. "Progress is a choice," O'Malley said. "Job creation is a choice. Building America's number one schools, making a college education affordable, …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The Maryland State Fire Marshal, warning that clothes dryers can cause fires, urges owners to clean lint from filters and vents and to never leave home when a dryer is operating.
Clothes dryers can cause fires. But maintaining and cleaning them and the attached vent ductwork can help prevent a tragedy. “Following the below listed guidelines will not only promote the longevity of the dryer, but it will also lessen the chance for a fire,” said Maryland State Fire Marshal William Barnard. Please check to see if your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly, the release states. The fire marshal is headquartered in Pikesville at Maryland State Police headquarters.
Buzz Beeler
10:40 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
I thought about what I said in my first post and a comment came my way that made me think I was wrong. The fact is I was wrong, and that is why I deleted my first post. The article stated "The department will conduct a full internal investigation pending the outcome of the criminal case, Armacost said.", and that's the way it should be. I've known Harold for many years. He was a good cop and in … more ›