Category: 911

Faith and Blue Weekend Set for East County


The Baltimore County Police Department will participate in several events and activities planned for the second annual National Faith and Blue Weekend scheduled for October 8-11. Faith and Blue Weekend is endorsed by every major law enforcement group and police department, and has been embraced by religious communities nationwide.

Chief Melissa R. Hyatt has invited Baltimore County faith-based organizations to participate in this initiative, which is organized jointly by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS office) and Movement Forward, Inc.’s OneCOP initiative. “Despite numerous pandemic-related challenges last year, the inaugural Faith and Blue Weekend was extremely successful in Baltimore County. This initiative is based on the foundation that strong communities are built on mutual respect and understanding. Our faith-based partners are pillars in our communities and when we all work together there are long lasting, positive effects,” said Chief Hyatt.

Faith and Blue provides an opportunity to reinforce connections between law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve through the reach of houses of worship. Neighborhoods are safer and stronger when law enforcement and faith-based organizations work together around our commonalities instead of being divided by our differences.

The following is a list of events that are scheduled throughout Baltimore County. These events involve people of all ages including those that were specifically designed for youth, as well as a diverse collection of religions and congregations.

Keep checking this list for updates. These events are also posted on the Faith and Blue website under the Events tab. Here are events scheduled for eastern Baltimore County:

PRECINCT 8 PARKVILLE

Date: Sunday, October 10
Time: 10 to 11:15 a.m.
Location: Perry Hall Baptist Church, 3919 Schroeder Avenue, 21128
Hosted by: Perry Hall Baptist Church and BCoPD
Activity: Police officers will attend church service.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/4946/

Date: Sunday, October 10
Time: 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Location: St. Joseph Church, 8420 Belair Road, 21236
Hosted by: St. Joseph Church and BCoPD
Activity: Mass to honor Baltimore County Police Officers
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/4004/

PRECINCT 9 WHITE MARSH

Date: Friday, October 8
Time: 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Location: Masjid Bait-us-Samad Mosque, 7302 Philadelphia Road, 21237
Hosted by: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and BCoPD
Activity: Police officers will attend prayer service and be available for any questions. A tour of the mosque will also be available.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/5334/

Date: Sunday, October 10
Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Perry Hall Family Worship Center, 5125 E. Joppa Road, 21128
Hosted by: Perry Hall Family Worship Center and BCoPD
Activity: Police officers will be honored during church service and answer questions.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/4060/

Date: Sunday, October 10
Time: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Life Source Church of God, 7000 Rossville Boulevard, 21237
Hosted by: Life Source Church of God and BCoPD
Activity: Officers will attend a barbecue picnic with community and church members, and will be available to answer questions.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/4561/

Date: Monday, October 11
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: White Marsh Precinct, 8220 Perry Hall Boulevard, 21236
Hosted by: Pilgrim Presbyterian Bible Church and BCoPD
Activity: The White Marsh Precinct will host several members of the Pilgrim Presbyterian Bible Church at the precinct as a way to get to know local faith leaders
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/5680/

PRECINCT 11 ESSEX

Date: Saturday, October 9
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Location: Church of the Harbor, 911 Mace Avenue, 21221
Hosted by: Church of the Harbor and BCoPD
Activity: Breakfast with police officers, uplifting conversations and prayer.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/3768/

Date: Saturday, October 9
Time: Noon to 4 p.m.
Location: Trinity Church of Essex, 914 Essex Avenue N., 21221
Hosted by: Trinity Church of Essex and BCoPD
Activity: Officers will join community and church members at a free barbecue picnic. There will be entertainment by Gene Vincent and the Cadillac Cruisers, games and fun events for adults and children, a raffle and more.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/3870/

PRECINCT 12 DUNDALK

Date: Thursday, October 7
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School, 8003 N. Boundary Road, 21222
Hosted by: Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School and BCoPD
Activity: Officers will assist and greet students during morning drop off. Elementary students will later join officers and ask questions about their profession. Officers will then participate in recess activities with the students.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/4512/

Date: Friday, October 8
Time: 8 to 10 a.m.
Location: Dundalk Precinct, 428 Westham Way, 21224
Hosted by: Various faith-based organizations and BCoPD
Activity: Coffee with a Cop community engagement with police officers, local church leaders and community members. There will be an opening prayer, coffee and refreshments.
More: https://faithandblue.org/event/4140/

Date: Saturday, October 9
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Location: Dundalk Precinct, 428 Westham Way, 21224
Hosted by: Our Lady of Fatima Church, Knights of Columbus and BCoPD
Activity: Rosary reading and prayer service for law enforcement officers.
More: https://faith

Man Convicted in 2019 Perry Hall Murder


Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger announced that Christopher James Engles, 21, was convicted today by a jury of First Degree Premeditated Murder, Robbery with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

At 11:13 p.m. on February 26, 2019, the Baltimore County Police were called to the intersection of Hickory Falls Way and Hickory Hurst Drive in Perry Hall on the report of shots fired. When they responded, they found Taylor Webb, 20, in a car suffering from gunshot wounds. She had been shot once in the face and another time behind her right ear into her head. She was killed as a result of the gunshots.

The police conducted an investigation into the killing and discovered that Ms. Webb had been in what family and friends would describe as a dysfunctional relationship with Christopher Engles. Evidence was presented at trial to show that Engles had lured Ms. Webb to the area she was killed by cellphone. Engles then confronted Ms. Webb, took her cellphone and shot her twice. The evidence showed that Ms. Webb was killed with a .38 caliber revolver.

The police were able to discover a photograph, taken eleven days prior to the murder, of Engles holding a revolver which matches that description.

“This case involves the combination of two extremely serious, and sometimes tragically fatal, issues today in our society- gun violence and domestic violence,” said State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

“We must continue to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who choose violence in these situations.”

The case was presided over by Judge Paul Hanley. No sentencing date has been set at this time. The State will be seeking a sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole. The case was prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Robin Coffin and Assistant State’s Attorney Natalie Scurto.

Pedestrian Killed Near Pulaski & Campbell


A driver struck and killed a pedestrian along Pulaski Highway over the weekend.
It occurred Saturday, Sept. 18 before 9 p.m.

Investigators determined the driver had just made a U-turn at the intersection of Pulaski Highway and Campbell Boulevard when a 68-year-old man was hit.

Stanley Vingsen Jr., who was attempting to cross Pulaski Highway without utilizing a crosswalk, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver had just turned westbound when the crash occurred; Vingsen was walking southbound.

At the time of the accident, Vingsen did not identification on him.

Cause of Edgemere Apartment Fire Revealed


Baltimore County officials reported that a 65-year-old woman is expected to survive critical injuries suffered yesterday in a fire at an Edgemere senior living complex.

Three other patients suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the fire at St. Luke’s Place, 2800 block of Lodge Farm Road in Edgemere.

Residents from nine apartment units were displaced.

Baltimore County Police fire investigators have determined that the fire was accidental. The fire began when the victim — the patient who suffered critical injuries — had been smoking on the sofa while using oxygen.

A fire ignited and trailed along the oxygen tubing, burning the patient and igniting the couch where she was sitting. 

Medical oxygen is enriched, leading to a greatly increased fire hazard because oxygen makes fires burn hotter and spread faster.

Smoking should not occur in homes with patients on medical oxygen.

The St. Luke’s Place fire was dispatched at 10:25 a.m. for a report of a fire alarm.

Fire crews found the victim on the fourth floor of the complex, in critical condition.

She was treated by EMS personnel, who transported her to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

The complex’s sprinkler system quickly extinguished the fire. 

Overlea Shooting Reported on Raspe Avenue


Detectives with the Baltimore County Violent Crimes Unit continue to investigate a shooting that occurred Wednesday. Shortly before 10 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 4600 block of Raspe Avenue in Overlea.

The victims told police two suspects approached them and fired shots. The suspects then fled the scene. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for their injuries. One victim has been treated and released.

As this investigation continues, VCU detectives are asking anyone who may have been in the area of Raspe Avenue Wednesday evening to contact them by calling 410-307-2020.

Man Fatally Hit Outside Vehicle in Dundalk


A man was struck and killed as he was standing outside his legally parked vehicle on Tuesday night in Dundalk.

A driver went on to hit the victim and his vehicle as well as a car parked in front of it.

Both vehicles were legally parked when they were struck along Dundalk Avenue near Patapsco Avenue around 7:30 p.m.

Medics transported 35-year-old Santos Porfirio Flores Cabrera to a local hospital where he later died.

The driver who hit Cabrera was also transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Fire Reported at Edgemere Senior Apartments


A senior apartment was reported in Edgemere on Wednesday morning, Sept. 15.

Baltimore County fire crews were on the scene with a fire on the 4th floor of a senior living apartment near St. Luke’s church in the 2800 block of Lodge Farm Road around 10:30 a.m.

Fire was reported on 4th floor in a kitchen area.

Fire sprinklers have controlled the fire.

There are reports of multiple occupants with injuries as one victim went into cardiac arrest.

Crews later reported that the fire was started when a resident had been smoking on the sofa while using oxygen.

Zavala Named Dundalk Officer of the Month


Baltimore County Police announced that Officer Zavala was been named Officer of the Month for the Dundalk Precinct 12 in August.

According to the report, Officer Zavala had one felony case clear, six misdemeanor case clearances and one misdemeanor arrest. She assisted a family who was the target of a bias incident by thoroughly investigation, charging and arresting the suspect responsible.

“Officer Zavala is bilingual and has been an asset to the department and community,” said a statement from Baltimore County Police.

Essex Man Dies in 702 Motorcycle Crash


Baltimore County Police responded to a fatal Essex motorcycle crash on Saturday afternoon.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling on Route 702 towards Mace Avenue when he lost control and struck a guardrail on Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m.

The motorcyclist, 66-year-old, William Schmittinger of Katherine Avenue of Essex was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Team is continuing the investigation.