They’ve robbed graves and construction sites, churches and schools. They’ve taken statues from bases and ordinary pipes right out of the walls. But even a new law designed to curb scrap metal thieves seems to have barely slowed them down....
The theft of copper, which strikes many utilities and other businesses, has been common in Maryland since sharp increases took the price of copper from about $1.25 per pound in January 2009 to about $4.50 per pound in May 2011.
Read more: The Daily Record
Howard County Police are warning of a spate of so-called "bottle bomb" pranks in which plastic soda containers are filled with chemicals and left to explode. County residents have reported five bottle bomb incidents to police this year. Nine incidents were reported in 2011, police said. Victims of the pranks risk injuries to the skin, eyes and lungs. Anyone who finds a suspicious container is advised to stay clear and call 911.
Common instructions for the bombs found online call for a mixture of drain cleaner, water and aluminum foil. Police warn the chemicals found in the bombs are corrosive and hazardous to humans, animals and the environment. Suspects can face felony charges for manufacturing and detonation of explosive devices. The most recent incidents were reported March 11 in the 16600 block of Ed Warfield Road in Woodbine and March 9 in the 5700 block of Thunder Hill Road in Columbia. Three juveniles were investigated for the pranks in February and required to attend a fire and bottle bomb safety awareness class.
Source: Baltimore Sun
A student from Howard County threatened to go on a "shooting rampage" Sunday at the University of Maryland, College Park, campus police said. Alexander Song, 19, of Fulton, posted on a website comments such as "I will be on a shooting rampage tomorrow on campus," "hopefully I kill enough people to make it to national news," and "stay away from the Mall tomorrow at 1:30," according to a release from university police.
Song was taken to a local hospital for an emergency psychiatric evaluation, police said. He was unarmed when police apprehended him and charged with disturbing the orderly conduct of the activities, administration or classes at the campus, a misdemeanor that could result in a $2,500 fine or six months in jail.
Read more: Baltimore Sun
Police and the U.S. Secret Service are not allowing students inside the George Washington University library and two residence halls after the report of a possible gunman heading toward the campus, News4's Jane Watrel reported. The Secret Service advised campus police that they had information of the possible gunman seen near the White House headed toward GW's Foggy Bottom campus. An alert was sent to students about 9:30 p.m. alerting them about the report. Multiple law enforcement agencies searched the area, but no gunman was located, and students received another alert.
But about 10:50 p.m., police and Secret Service converged on the library on H Street with guns drawn, not letting any students enter. Two residence halls across the street also were locked down. Students have been advised to remain on alert. The man was described as white, balding, wearing a gray fleece sweater and possibly wearing eyeglasses.
Source: NBC Washington
Nearly two months after launching a publicity campaign to catch a man suspected in a spate of sexual assaults and a slaying, the FBI says authorities have received multiple good leads and tips but have not identified any suspects yet.
Investigators have met with some men, and a handful -- fewer than 10 -- have voluntarily submitted DNA samples, said Lindsay Godwin, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Washington field office. She said that analysis is ongoing.
"We're continuing to get very strong tips and good phone calls -- and that's all law enforcement, not just FBI," she said.
Local and federal authorities unveiled the publicity blitz in mid-December. It included a website and digital billboards up and down the East Coast to solicit tips about a man believed to be connected to nine attacks on women between 1991 and 1998. The first eight attacks occurred in Montgomery County, Md. Seven were sexual assaults; the other was an attempted sexual assault. The final attack believed to be connected to the same suspect was a murder in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood.
Seven of the attacks have been linked through DNA, but authorities believe all nine are connected based on similarities in the methods and victims.
Read more: ABC2News.com
A sting operation lands three people behind bars charged with running a prostitution and human trafficking ring in Rockville.
...Police say a modest business complex on Hungerford Drive in Rockville was home to three alleged prostitution and human trafficking operations.
Read more: WJZ
A longtime Richmond-area gang member whose testimony last week helped prosecutors win a recommendation of life in prison against the gang’s leader walked free from the Henrico Jail today.
William D. Hargrove, 19, one of four gang defendants facing murder, robbery, weapons and conspiracy charges, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and was released for time served. Last week, Merwin Raheem "Poncho" White, 21, the leader of the G-Shyne Bloods was convicted of murder and multiple other charges largely on testimony from other gang members, including Hargrove.
Read more: Richmond Times Dispatch
Antonio Martinez entered the plea Thursday morning, according to 11 News reporter Lowell Melser.
He was arrested Dec. 8 after authorities said he attempted to detonate what he believed to be explosives in a parked vehicle at the recruiting station.He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Read more: WBAL
A fifth suspect has been charged in the Jan. 12 fatal shooting of a Salisbury man, and police say a sixth arrest could be made soon.
A Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge sentenced three men affiliated with the Black Guerilla Family gang to life plus 30 to 65 years for kidnapping, robbing, and killing Qonta Waddell.
While in front of his grandfather's apartment where he also lived, Waddell was abducted not long after midnight on April 21, 2009, beaten on the head with the handle of a gun, and thrown into a pickup truck. His captors drove him to a nearby alley in West Baltimore where they took his house keys and obtained the combination to his safe. Using the keys and combination, a group of men led by William Rhodes entered the apartment of Waddell's grandfather and took $30,000 in cash from Waddell's safe. However, when Rhodes was reached by phone, he reported that he found only $4,000 in the safe. Waddell protested, calling Rhodes a liar and explaining that there was more money in his safe. Nevertheless, Waddell declared that he could secure more money from an associate, but that the individual would only agree to meet him at the home of Waddell's mother.
Read more: Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office
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