Author: eastbaltco

Suspect Arrested After Wedneday Shooting in Old Dundalk


Baltimore County Police arrest a suspect for a shooting Wednesday in Dundalk.

Police responded to the 2900 block of Yorkway, just after 6 p.m. for an assault. The investigation revealed that the victim met the suspect to purchase drugs. They got into an argument which led to the suspect pulling a gun.

The victim grabbed the gun and they struggled for control of the weapon. During the struggle, the suspect shot the victim and the bullet traveled through the victims jacket but did not hit the victim. When police arrived, the suspect ran but was arrested after a brief foot pursuit and the handgun was recovered. The victim was not injured.

Eric Davon Davis (34) of the 7000 block of Dunmanway in Dundalk was arrested and charged with first degree assault, having a handgun on his person, distribution of narcotics and various other charges. Davis is held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on a no bail status pending a bail review hearing.

Dundalk Woman Arrested After Threatening Boyfriend With Knives


Baltimore County Police arrested a woman responsible for assaulting her boyfriend in Dundalk Wednesday night.

Police responded to an apartment in the 2000 block of Paulette Road of Dundalk at 9:30 p.m. for an assault. The investigation revealed the victim, a 28-year-old man, and his girlfriend were involved in a dispute which led to her punching him. She then picked up knives that were nearby and threatened him.

Arriving officers heard screaming and entered the apartment. They saw the suspect holding a knife in each hand, advancing towards the victim. The officers ordered her to drop the weapons and she was arrested without incident.

Jessica Brooke Mentzell (29), also of the 2000 block of Paulette Road, 21222, was arrested and charged with first and second-degree assault and is held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on a no bail status pending a bail review hearing.

Three Eastside Teachers Among Five Finalists for BCPS Teacher of Year


Five Baltimore County Public Schools educators have been named finalists for 2020-21 BCPS Teacher of the Year. Three of those educators are from eastern Baltimore County.

Bianca Crockett is a kindergarten teacher at Battle Grove Elementary. She serves on her school’s leadership committee and is also the equity team leader. This year, she presented at the BCPS Leadership Summit for Young Women in High School and the Maryland Cultural Proficiency Conference. She is in her fifth year at Battle Grove and her 10th year overall as an educator.


Claudia Enders is a special education teacher at Charlesmont Elementary. She works with some of the school’s youngest learners, who are just 3- and 4-years old. Enders leads Charlesmont’s environmental club. She recently partnered with the Baltimore County Police Department to ensure that her students could build a rapport. She is in her third year at Charlesmont and her 13th as a teacher.

Robert Runk is a special education teacher at Parkville Middle. He also served as a paraeducator there. He leads a mentorship program for male students at Parkville Middle and leads a martial arts program through the Parkville Recreational Program. He has worked for 17 years at Parkville Middle in various roles and is in his sixth year there as a teacher. He is a Sparrows Point High graduate.

Amara Griffin of Lansdowne Elementary and New Town High science department chair Taylor Ransome are the other two nominees.

“All of these dedicated educators go above and beyond for their students,” BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams said. “In addition to being exemplary teachers, they are making a true difference in their school communities.”

One of the finalists will be named 2020-21 BCPS Teacher of the Year and will be Baltimore County’s Maryland Teacher of the Year representative.

Principals at the 175 BCPS schools, programs, and centers could nominate one educator for BCPS Teacher of the Year. Nominations were received from 165 schools and all nominees are featured on the Team BCPS blog.

The BCPS Teacher of the Year selection committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff, selected the five finalists.

Past BCPS teachers of the year include:
2019: Kristen Nielsen, Crossroads Center
2018: Brendan Penn, Lyons Mill Elementary
2017: Rebecca Eig, Owings Mills Elementary
2016: Corey Carter, Northwest Academy of Life Science
2015: Orly Mondell, New Town High
2014: Anne Cross, Gunpowder Elementary
2013: Sean McComb, Patapsco High & Center for the Arts, the 2014 National Teacher of the Year

Robert Runk
Claudia Enders
Bianca Crockett

Police Arrest Parkville Man; Searching for Additional Rape Victims


Detectives are searching for additional victims after charging a man with numerous sexual offenses, including second degree rape.

Booking photo of Albert Chang PealAlbert Chang Peal (52) of the 9000 block of Naygall Road, 21234, was arrested on a warrant Tuesday after a lengthy investigation. The charges, including various degrees of rape, sex offense, and videoing without permission, stemmed from an incident reported on March 5. The ensuing investigation has led detectives to believe that there are additional women who have been victimized by Peal, and they hope those women will reach out to detectives with information.

The victim in this case was acquainted with Peal, as she was an employee at an establishment he frequents. Peal offered to drive the victim home after she’d been drinking at a local nightclub. Instead, he drove her to his home in Parkville where he took advantage of her level of intoxication, recording the incident unbeknownst to the victim. The victim later reported the incident to police.

The investigation led to the discovery of a second victim that detectives contacted on April 2. This woman was also sexually assaulted by Peal under a similar set of circumstances, but had not reported the incident.

The Baltimore County Police Special Victims Unit is asking anyone who may have had a similar encounter with Peal, or knows of a similar incident that he may have been involved in, to contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020.

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault, reach out for help. You can call the police non-emergency line at 410-887-2222 or contact any one of these resources:
•Turn Around 24-hour hotline: 443-279-0379
•Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County: 410-828-6390
•Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
•Greater Baltimore Medical Center SAFE nurse: 443-849-3323

Peal is charged with the following sexual offenses:
•Two counts of second degree rape
•Two counts of third degree sex offense
•Two counts of fourth degree sex offense
•Visual surveillance – private area
•Private place – prurient intent

Initially held on no bail status, Peal was released yesterday on his own recognizance following a bail review hearing.

Police Arrest Two Men in Middle River for Attempted Armed Robbery


Baltimore County Police arrest two men for attempted armed robbery in Middle River Monday night.

The investigation determined just after 10:27 p.m., the victim, an adult woman, stood behind the Middle River Assembly of God in the 9600 block of Bird River Road.

Two suspects, one armed with an apparent handgun, walked up to the victim and demanded her money. The victim screamed for help and the suspects ran away. Police quickly found and arrested the two suspects in the 1200 block of Middle River Road, 21220.

Nigel Carlton Torrence (21) of the 1700 block of Waverly Way, of Baltimore City and Dontrell Kelvin Randall (19) of the unit block of King Charles Circle of Rosedale were arrested and charged with armed robbery, first-degree-assault and second-degree-assault. Both suspects are held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on a no bail status pending a bail review hearing.

County Reopens Drop-off Centers & Will Recollect Yard Waste


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced that that yard waste collection will resume and residential Drop-Off Centers will reopen.

“We know these services are important to our residents, and we feel confident that we can safely resume them with appropriate social distancing measures in place,” Olszewski said. “I’m grateful to our trash haulers for their service, and I’m grateful to our residents for their patience and cooperation as we continue to navigate this unprecedented crisis.”

Residential Drop-off Centers

Beginning, Thursday, April 23, Baltimore County’s residential Drop-off Centers will reopen to the public. These locations include:
•Eastern Sanitary Landfill—6259 Days Cove Road, 21162
•Central Acceptance Facility—201 West Warren Road, 21030
•Western Acceptance Facility—3310 Transway Road, 21227

Residents will be required to adhere to all social distancing guidelines and required to wear masks onsite. These requirements will be strictly enforced.

Yard Waste Collection

Additionally, beginning today, Wednesday, April 22, yard waste materials will be collected from Baltimore County residents with “Y” days on their schedule. These separate yard material collections will occur through as late as December 2020.

Collection schedules are available for download on the Bureau of Solid Waste Management’s website and may also be requested by calling 410-887-2000. Schedules are also available on the County’s BaltCoGo app, for use on mobile phones.

The amount of garbage being collected from residents has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, during the week ending April 18, trash haulers collected nearly 23 percent more tons of trash than the same week in 2019. County Executive Olszewski approved hazard pay of $75 dollars per week for workers collecting trash in the County during the pandemic.

Requirements for Collection

While residents may set out an unlimited number of bags of yard materials, the collector may not collect all of the bags on the same day. Collectors must make trash collection their first priority, and must take into account all of the residents on their route. Residents are asked to leave their yard materials out until collection occurs.

Yard materials acceptable for collection include grass, leaves, vines, twigs, shrubbery trimmings, and branches and limbs.

Residents are reminded to use lawn and leaf bags to set out their yard materials, not trash cans. Bags of yard materials set out for collection must not exceed 30 pounds. Also, branches and limbs will be collected only if they are no larger than three inches in diameter, no longer than three feet, and tied in bundles not exceeding 30 pounds.

Benefits of Grasscycling and Composting

Baltimore County Department of Public Works officials also reminded residents that they are encouraged to try “grasscycling” or home composting in addition to placing yard waste for pick-up.

These practices not only reduce the amount of yard materials to be bagged and stored, but also provide benefits such as protection and nutrients to plants and lawns.

To grasscycle while mowing your lawn, remove the bag from your mower and let the grass clippings fall back onto the ground. To protect the health of your lawn, never cut more than one-third of the length off of the grass blade in one mowing.

Keep the grass mowed to two inches in the spring, gradually increasing the height to three to four inches by summer. When fall arrives, decrease the blade height back to two inches.

The practice of grasscycling eliminates the time and labor required to bag lawn clippings. In addition, when grass clippings are properly cut, they decompose quickly and release vital nutrients back into the soil.

Another beneficial use for yard materials is home composting. Composting—creating a mixture of decomposed organic matter—is an easy way to produce a nutrient-rich soil additive. Using compost in your garden also helps to suppress plant diseases and pests and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

For more information about grasscycling, home composting and other ways to manage organic material at home, visit the Bureau of Solid Waste Management’s website.

Pizza John’s Products Now Available at Kingsville Store


Pizza John’s in Essex has had to follow the same protocol as all restaurants across the state by closing its dining room down since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular pizza site on Back River Neck Road still offers carryout, but they have provided another opportunity for customers to bake their own Pizza John’s pizza at the comfort of their home.

Pizza John’s announced that their pizza and sauce are now for sale at a Kingsville store.

“We are excited to announce our large and small Bake-At-Home pizzas along with our pasta sauce are now available at Greene’s Family Butcher Shop!!! Located in Kingsville,” said a statement on the Pizza John’s Facebook page.

Greene’s is located at 12037 Belair Road in Kingsville.

Bel Air Motorcyclist Killed in Carney Sunday Crash


Police are investigating a fatal crash on northbound Harford Road and East Joppa Road in Carney Sunday afternoon.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at 3:04 p.m. a Harley Davidson motorcycle driving north on Harford Road attempted to pass another vehicle, also traveling north on Harford Road, and collided with the passenger side of a Dodge Durango that was crossing Harford Road eastbound. The operator and passenger of the motorcycle were ejected.

The operator of the motorcycle, Bryan Eric Yarworth Sr. (62) of the 1600 block of Dogwood Lane, of Bel Air, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger of the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the Dodge were uninjured and remained at the scene.

The Baltimore County Crash Team is working to determined all of the factors involved in the fatal crash.

Marks & Henn Ask Gov. Hogan for School Funding in Letter


Fifth District School BCPS Board Member Julie Henn and 5th District Councilman David Marks have written a letter to Gov. Larry Hogan asking him to continue to support the Build to Learn Act. Henn and Marks are asking for funding for the new Northeast Elementary School at Ridge Road, the new Northeast Middle School, and a renovation / expansion of Pine Grove Middle.

“We are writing to ask for your continued assistance. The Build to Learn Act of 2020 will provide $2.2 billion in school construction funding and help ensure our children have access to modern comfortable classroom for genereations to come,” said a portion of the letter.

The Maryland General Assembly passed the funding for the construction money for the projects, but Gov. Larry Hogan said he was not going to sign any spending bills into law as a result of an unexpected economic downfall as a result of COVID-19. Some believe that the $400 million in Baltimore County school construction funding could be denied and Henn explained that is why the letter was sent.

“Today, Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and I wrote to Governor Hogan asking him to support the Built to Learn Act of 2020. This legislation provides funding that would allow several critical school construction projects in the northeast to move forward,” Henn said in a statement about the letter. The full letter is above.

County to Offer Internet at Selected Library Parking Lots


As Baltimore County continues to identify ways to assist residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced new exterior Wi-Fi resources at Baltimore County Public Library branches to support students and other residents without high-speed internet access.

“This crisis has upended life in countless ways, and it requires us to find creative solutions to the challenges we face,” Olszewski said. “We hope these new Wi-Fi resources will hope narrow the access gap as we continue to work around the clock to identify additional resources to support Baltimore County families during these trying times.”

The County has installed external Wi-Fi capacity at 9 new library branch locations. Previously, the Towson branch already had external Wi-Fi capacity, bringing the total number of branches to 10. Residents can now access free Wi-Fi in the parking lots of 10 branch locations across the County:
• Catonsville Branch, 1100 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228

• Essex Branch, 1110 Eastern Boulevard, Essex, MD 21221

• Hereford Branch, 16940 York Road, Hereford, MD 21111

• Lansdowne Branch, 500 Third Avenue, Lansdowne, MD 21227

• North Point Branch, 1716 Merritt Boulevard, Dundalk, MD 21222

• Randallstown Branch, 8604 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133

• Rosedale Branch, 6105 Kenwood Avenue, Rosedale, MD 21237

• Towson Branch, 320 York Road, Towson, MD 21204

• White Marsh Branch, 8133 Sandpiper Circle, Baltimore, MD 21236

• Woodlawn Branch, 1811 Woodlawn Drive, Woodlawn, MD 21207

Residents will be required to remain their vehicles or otherwise adhere to all social distancing guidelines. These requirements will be strictly enforced.

“Access to the internet is critical, not just for work and homework, but also for our residents’ personal lives: checking in on friends and families is important to everyone right now,” said Baltimore County Public Library Director Paula Miller. “Our internet usage within our buildings is typically very high, so we know that there are many residents who may not have access at home. We are thrilled with this solution that enables us to utilize our parking lots to continue to provide internet service.”

Residents can also visit the BaltCo Go-Online Map to find the closest available free internet service throughout the County. Users can search for locations closest to where they live.

Additionally, in the interest of ensuring as many residents as possible have access to internet service, Baltimore County wants residents to know that Comcast has made a number of resources available in its service areas:
• Free “Internet Essentials” Service: Low-income families who live in a Comcast service area can sign up for 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service if you apply by May 13, 2020. To sign up, applicants can simply visit www.internetessentials.com or by calling 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
• Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspots: Any resident can now access hundreds of Comcast public Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the County. Locations available at: https://wifi.Xfinity.com