Author: eastbaltco

Essex Resident Charged with Child Pornography


A Corporal in the Towson University Police Department, Peter Publico (53) of the unit block of Lindsey Court of Essex was arrested today and charged with two counts of distributing/promoting child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

The investigation began after police discovered that in February, Publico electronically distributed child pornography to others. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Publico on June 18 and he turned himself into police this morning. Publico is currently held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on a no bail status pending a bail review hearing.

Detectives from the Baltimore County Crimes Against Children Unit are investigating this incident. Anyone who may have additional information on this incident is asked to contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous.

Man Arrested for Threatening Crabhouse Protesters


Baltimore County Police arrested a man in front of Vince’s Crabhouse after he threatened demonstrators with a bat.

The suspect, who appeared intoxicated, retrieved a bat from his car after engaging in a verbal exchange with the demonstrators in the 600 block of Compass Road in Middle River at 5:16 p.m. Officers were already present and intervened when the suspect approached the demonstrators with the bat He was placed under arrest without incident.

The suspect will be identified following formal charging.

Two Way Traffic in Harbor Tunnel for Next 10 Days


The northbound tube of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895) will be closed continuously until the end of June. Two-way traffic (one lane in each direction) will operate in the southbound tube. Motorists are reminded to obey speed limits and stay in your lane. In April, the southbound tube closed continuously for work with two-way in the northbound tube.

Weather permitting, the northbound tube will close at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19, until June 29. Drivers should expect additional tube closures as crews work towards the completion of this project. MDTA will issue additional traffic advisories as work progresses and schedules are finalized.

The closures are part of the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) three-year, $189 million project to replace the 60-year-old I-895 Bridge and the Holabird Avenue exit ramp north of the Harbor Tunnel and rehabilitate the Harbor Tunnel. The project began in April 2018 and is expected to be completed in summer 2021. Work includes repairs to the tunnel portal, approach walls, and tile & pump replacement. For details visit 895bmore.com. Follow #895bmore on Twitter.

Sign up for email/text alerts at https://bit.ly/2Dh9EZn or view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways by visiting mdta.maryland.gov.

For real-time updates on major incidents follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TheMDTA. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheMDTA.

Limited Outdoor Visitation Now Allowed at Nursing Homes


Ahead of Father’s Day weekend, Governor Larry Hogan today announced a plan to begin allowing limited outdoor visits to Maryland’s nursing home facilities. The plan also allows for limited communal dining and small group activities to resume with proper precautions in place. This is the first step in allowing nursing homes to begin a safe and phased reopening, in accordance with strict protocols established by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

“The COVID-19 pandemic has required all of us to make incredible sacrifices, including being unable to visit family members and loved ones in nursing homes,” said Governor Hogan. “As our state continues on the road to recovery, this Father’s Day weekend we are able to begin safely allowing outdoor visits to certain nursing homes. This is made possible by our early and aggressive actions to slow the spread of the virus, and the tremendous efforts of doctors, nurses, and especially nursing home staff across the state.”

The governor also announced today that, following universal testing of nursing homes, state health officials will now require weekly retesting of nursing home staff. Residents will be retested weekly at facilities that continue to report facility-acquired COVID-19 cases. At present, there are active COVID-19 cases in 107 of the state’s facilities.

Facilities must meet a series of prerequisites to begin relaxing any restrictions, including:
•The facility must not be experiencing an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, defined as one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a resident or staff member.
•Absence of any facility-onset COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days. If a new case is detected, the facility shall return to the highest level of mitigation (pre-Phase 1) and begin again.
•No staffing shortages and the facility must not be under a contingency or crisis staffing plan as described in the CDC’s Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages.
•Universal source control is in place, requiring all residents, staff, and anyone else entering the facility to wear a facemask or cloth face covering at all times while in the facility.
•Staff must have access to adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
•Nursing homes must be able to conduct COVID-19 testing among residents and staff at sufficient frequencies to fulfill the CDC’s Testing Guidance for Nursing Homes.

Read the Maryland Department of Health’s order and guidance.

Provided a facility has met the prerequisites for reopening, limited outdoor visitation is allowable if:
•Visitors and residents wear a face covering at all times.
•Visitors and residents maintain proper social distancing at all times.
•There is not an ongoing outbreak at the facility.
•Additionally, it is strongly recommended that there are no more than two visitors at a time per resident per visit.

Read the Maryland’s Department of Health’s outdoor visitation guidance here.

A number of restrictions at nursing home facilities will remain in place for the foreseeable future and will not be relaxed at any time during the reopening process, including:
•Facilities must continue to screen all people who enter the facility, and screen all staff at the beginning of each shift.
•Facilities must continue to screen all residents at least daily, including performance of temperature checks, pulse oximetry checks, observing for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and asking questions about signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
•Facilities must continue to dedicate space for cohorting and managing care for residents with COVID-19 separate from the general population. Additionally, facilities must continue to dedicate space to quarantine new admissions and readmissions in private rooms for 14 days for the purposes of monitoring these residents for the development of signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
•All staff must wear appropriate PPE, including use of procedure or surgical facemasks (i.e. not cloth face coverings) when they are interacting with residents.

Maryland’s early and aggressive response to address COVID-19 in nursing homes began in early March, when state officials met with representatives of long-term care facilities and issued strong guidance to shut down visitation and ramp up infection control protocols. State officials have established strike teams to provide a higher level of triage and care, PPE requirements for staff, universal testing for residents and staff, weekly reporting on facility outbreaks, and bridge teams to supplement staffing shortages.

Four New Yorkers Arrested During Fraud Case in Essex


Four suspects were arrested on June 17 after police set up and searched a perimeter area around Earhart Road in Essex during a call of a fraud in progress.

Three of the suspects fled the TD Bank in the 1800 block of Eastern Boulevard in Essex when police responded around 11:30 a.m. Officers were given information that one of the suspects may have been armed with a gun, so roadways were closed around Earhart Road as police set up and searched for the suspects. A female suspect, identified as Danielle Guzzetti (52) of the 1400 block of McBride Street in Queens, New York, was arrested on the parking lot of the bank.

The investigation determined that Guzzetti and the three male suspects recently traveled from New York to Baltimore with the intentions of using fake identification cards to defraud various TD Bank facilitates and customers. Wednesday, the suspects drove together to TD Bank on Eastern Boulevard. Guzzetti used a fraudulent identification card at the drive-through teller, asking to be given a debit card associated with an account that did not belong to her. A bank employee recognized the woman’s fraudulent actions and called police.

The three male suspects are identified as Denzil Bailey (22) of the 800 block of Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, Sha-lee Felder (20) of the 300 block of Vernon Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, and Lenny Smalls (19) of the 300 block of Bristol Street in Brooklyn, New York. They were located during the search hiding together in the 1700 block of Earhart Road in Essex

All four suspects are charged with possession/use of a false government identification and displaying the government identification of another. They were all released on their own recognizance.

Kenwood High Class of 2020 Graduates After Unique Year


Seniors from Kenwood High School graduated vitrually on Thursday, June 18.

The Pledge was led by Sydni Maul. Nia Hawkes is the Kenwood Class of 2020 president and the valedictorian was Autumn Blackwell.

Kenwood also held an online awards ceremony where students were recognized for receiving scholarships.

Although many BCPS senior activities were canceled as a result of COVID-19, Kenwood parents had organized a car parade for the Kenwood seniors around the Essex area.

Pictures from the car parade are below and are courtesy of Jennifer Mooty Slack.

Perry Hall High Class of 2020 Graduates


Seniors from Perry High School graduated virtually on Monday, June 15. The ceremony started with a Welcome address by Kaleb Todjo. Aya Neal said the Pledge of Allegiance. Linna Cui gave the Valedictorian’s speech and the President’s speech was given by Diana Tran.

Although Perry Hall Seniors were not given a traditional graduation, Perry Hall parents and the community tried to make it a special time for Seniors. A car parade was held on Monday night for Perry Hall Seniors at the Avenue at White Marsh.

photos courtesy of Josh Headley-

“Big thanks to Councilman David Marks for connecting us to THE AVENUE at White Marsh to make this event possible for our Seniors!!
Our local dignitaries have been invited to lead the parade from their cars,” said a statement on the Perry Hall High PTSA website.

The school PTSA also announced that the Class of 2020 was invited individually for separate times to the school to receive their diplomas on Wednesday, June 17. Families were encouraged to go to the school as Principal Craig Reed was there to greet grads.

Principal Craig Reed. presents Morganne Manouse with her diploma. -photo courtesy of David Marks-

Perry Hall also had a created a Class of 2020 banner on the school building with all the names of each grad.

Illegal Fireworks Popping Up All Over Baltimore County


With the Fourth of July less than three weeks away, there has already been reports of illegal fireworks being sent off all over the county and at all hours of the night.

Second District Councilman Izzy Patoka said he has received phone calls and complaints from all over his northwest Baltimore County District.

Over the last week or so, I have noticed and received reports of folks setting off illegal fireworks in several neighborhoods throughout the 2nd District,” Patoka said in a Facebook post. “This post is intended to raise public awareness. Please do not set off fireworks in your neighborhood or community as people are attempting to sleep or getting their kids or pets to sleep.”

Fifth District Councilman David Marks, who resides in the Perry Hall area, says he has also heard the illegal fireworks at night.

“Last night was Sunday, June 14th – not the Fourth of July,” Marks wrote on social media.

“This post might not make any difference to some, but please do not set off fireworks in your neighborhoods when people are attempting to sleep, or getting their babies to sleep. Show some courtesy.”

Patoka also points out that backyard fireworks are illegal and shared a link to the Baltimore County website about fireworks.

“You cannot have a private display of fireworks at your home without a permit. All fireworks displays, regardless of location, require the proper permits and insurance. Call Baltimore County’s Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-887-4880 for information,” said a statement on the Baltimore County website.

Violators who possess or discharge illegal fireworks are subject to a misdemeanor fine of up to $250. The sale of fireworks without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine.

30 Eastside BCPS Seniors Earn Maryland Seal of Biliteracy


Ninety-two Baltimore County Public Schools seniors have earned the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy this year, an honor that recognizes their high proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages other than English.

The award is presented by the state through Baltimore County Public Schools. BCPS is one of 20 Maryland counties along with Baltimore City that have participated in the program since its adoption in 2016. Begun in California in 2011, the Seal of Biliteracy is offered in 36 states and Washington, D.C. In its first year of availability in BCPS, 202 students earned the Seal of Biliteracy.

“Baltimore County schools recognizes the tremendous value and importance of ensuring that our graduates are proficient in multiple languages as they enter a world of increasingly global economic competition, social awareness, and cultural appreciation,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “So we congratulate these superlative students for their hard work and determination to earn this distinction and enhance their abilities to become true citizens of the world.”

Including this year’s honorees, a total of 371 BCPS students have qualified for the Seal of Biliteracy since 2016, but more may soon be added to their number. “We expect many more seals to be earned following this year’s Advanced Placement exam results,” said Jennifer Hernandez, director of the BCPS Office of World Languages and English for Speakers of Other Languages. “This achievement is also a testament to the hard work of our World Languages teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school level.”

2020 Seal of Biliteracy Recipients from  Eastern Baltimore County high schools

Chesapeake High School

Joseph Agueta-Gutierrez – English & Spanish

Mohaimen Al Karm – English & Arabic

Stephanie Chavarria – English & Spanish

Bianca Darago – English & Spanish

Brianna Hawes – English & Spanish

Yoriam Laboy – English & Spanish

Boswell Pesienji – English & French

Alejandra Posadas – English & Spanish

Jennifer Torres – English & Spanish

 

Dundalk High School

Joselyn Chicas Barrera – English & Spanish

Yalile Garcia Gonzalez – English & Spanish

Astrid Matta – English & Spanish

Lizbeth Rodriguez-Hernandez – English & Spanish

 

Eastern Technical High School

Cindy Castillo – English & Spanish

Aneisa Jangbahadur – English & Spanish

Kara Kaskel – English & Spanish

Dimitrios Kostrivas – English & Greek

Sarah Lutz – English & Spanish

Alexander Ramirez – English & Spanish

Naeha Regmi – English & Spanish

Kamalmeet Singh – English & Spanish

Yuriria Vásquez – English & Spanish

Michael Vittini-Ponceano – English & Spanish

 

Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts

Karlos Garcia – English & Spanish

 

Perry Hall High School

Kaila Chen – English & Chinese

Cassie Li – English & Chinese

Amy Lin – English & Chinese

Michelle Lopez – English & Spanish

Fidel Rosales Sanchez – English & Spanish

Whitney Wang – English & Chinese

Christina Zhang – English & Chinese

 

Sparrows Point High School

Kathy Peralta Guachun – English & Spanish

 

Olszewski Outlines Police Reform Initiatives for County


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced a series of steps to improve accountability in the County’s Police Department (BCoPD) and promote more equitable policing.

These steps are the latest efforts by Olszewski’s administration to address systemic challenges and improve relationships between communities and the Police Department.

“The protests we’ve seen in Baltimore County and around the country are shining a bright light on what we already knew—that we have a long way to go to achieve equal justice for African American communities and that local leaders have a responsibility to take action,” Olszewski said. “We are listening to those in our community who have been marginalized, and we are recommitting to making real change.”

Taken together, the steps announced today aim to improve transparency and accountability in the Baltimore County Police Department, create a more diverse police force and improve relations between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

The steps announced by Olszewski and Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt are:

  • Update Use of Force policy. The Department has previously made a number of improvements to its use of force trainings that are in alignment with police best practices. The trainings include de-escalation training, Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT), and implicit bias training. Additionally, Chief Hyatt has incorporated into the Department’s Use of Force policy the concept of Sanctity of Life, the Duty to Intervene and Report excessive or unnecessary use of force, and the importance of Constitutional Policing. The County will now sign the Obama Foundation Pledge to review and update its use of force policy with community input.
  • Implement Fair and Impartial Police Training Curriculum for all BCoPD members. The Department will bring in a nationally-recognized police training program on Fair and Impartial Policing to be provided to all BCoPD commanders, officers and employees in the coming year.
  • Increased transparency of complaint, use of force and traffic stop data. In accordance with Olszewski’s commitment to a more transparent, accountable government, the County will build public dashboards displaying data on the number and disposition of complaints against police officers, instances of uses of force and traffic stop data broken down by race.
  • Support state legislation to amend the MPIA to increase transparency related to discipline cases. County leaders will support legislation in Annapolis to amend the Maryland Public Information Act to increase transparency related to the disposition of police disciplinary actions.
  • Conduct independent analysis and review of BCoPD hiring and recruitment practices. The County will hire an independent third-party organization to conduct a comprehensive review of our hiring and recruitment practices, including a review of data for discriminatory impacts or practices in our testing and background investigations.
  • Expand scope and duration of Equitable Policing Workgroup. Olszewski has issued an Executive Order to expand the scope of the Workgroup on Equitable Policing, originally formed to examine traffic stop data. Going forward, the Workgroup will be a permanent advisory group and will focus more broadly on disparities in policing.

“I’m grateful to the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department who serve honorably and put their lives on the line every day to serve our communities and I believe that these steps will make the Department even stronger,” Olszewski said.

About the Equitable Policing Workgroup

In November 2019, after reviewing traffic stop data showing that African American individuals were issued citations at a higher rate than other individuals, Olszewski created the Workgroup on Equitable Policing to examine policing policies and practices.

Chaired by the County’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Troy Williams, the group has met six times, including two community listening sessions, and will issue a report later this year. Going forward, the group will continue to examine traffic stop data and will also:

  • Review community policing training policies and practices
  • Review oversight systems, seeking community input and identifying best practices
  • Review the internal and external officer complaint and disciplinary process

Williams is the County’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, a position created by Olszewski to help address disparities and promote equity and inclusion countywide.

In addition to the Workgroup on Equitable Policing, Olszewski created a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Community Advisory Council and Employee Advisory Council, both aimed at advancing equity and inclusion in Baltimore County and changing the culture of County government to focus consistently on equity in decision-making.