Eastern Baltimore County News----Eastbaltco.com

Two Eastern Tech Student Earn Scholarships

Two Eastern Tech student were among 10 Baltimore County Public Schools seniors have earned college scholarships from Magnet Schools of America.

Alexandra Joy Saquilayan and Elizabeth Wagner, both Engineering Careers at Eastern Technical High School will each receive $1,000, will graduate from a BCPS magnet program in 2019 and were selected on the basis of their high academic and personal achievement, leadership potential and contributions to their magnet program and community.

“From various competitions to projects to simple group work, the engineering careers magnet has introduced me to the world of engineering and encouraged my interest in studying chemical engineering as my college major,” said Wagner, who plans to study chemical engineering at the University of Maryland College Park.

Saquilayan is also headed to the University of Maryland College Park in the fall where she will study civil engineering.

“The engineering program at my school taught me to be confident in my abilities and to not be discouraged when plans don’t work out the first time or the second,” Saquilayan said.

Honeygo & Perry Hall students win two of four writing contests for Black History Month

Anderson J. Williams of Honeygo Elementary School and Gabriella Chiericoni of Perry Hall High School were named winners of Baltimore County Public Schools annual Black History Month Writing Contest for their respected age groups.

Williams is a second grader at Honeygo and was named the K-2nd grader winner for all of Baltimore County. She is in Ashley Schuchardt’s class.

Chiericoni is in Chris Turner’s class at Perry Hall High School and was the winner of Grades 9 through 12.

Kollin Anderson Pringle of Timber Grove Elementary School was named the winner for Grades 3 through 5 and
Dylan Patrick Carson of Dumbarton Middle School was announced the winner for the Middle School division.

More than 100 students entered the contest, which was cosponsored by the BCPS Offices of English Language Arts and Social Studies. Entries were received from 21 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and three high schools.

Students were asked to write in response to the following quote by Jesse Owens, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Congressional Gold Medal, and four Olympic gold medals: “We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”
“The quotation required students to reflect on the achievements of notable African Americans and their impact on society and on students’ lives,” said Janetta Jayman, supervisor of English language arts.

“This writing contest is one way BCPS is making literacy a significant part of Black History Month. It is our way of celebrating our students, their voices, and individual talents. In turn, students share appreciation of the significant contributions African Americans have made in history and in their personal lives.”

The winners for each grade-level category received certificates and a book of poetry, Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander, and their teachers received The Write Thing, also by Kwame Alexander. School visits to surprise the secondary winners took place on February 28, and elementary school visits on March 8.

Essex Man Killed in 702 Crash

Baltimore County Police are investigating a serious crash, involving multiple vehicles, that led to one fatality and left another injured.

Police responded on March 17, 2019, at just after 2 a.m., to a crash in the area of westbound Route 702, just west of the exit to southbound I-695. The preliminary investigation has revealed that a 2012 Acura RDX was traveling westbound when it left the edge of the roadway and traveled into the median. The vehicle then reentered the roadway, and eventually crossed over both lanes of westbound Route 702, before colliding with a guardrail.
The Acura RDX ultimately became disabled in the westbound travel lanes of Route 702.

A second vehicle, a 2013 Acura TL, struck debris that was in the road, as a result of the crash, and it also became disabled. A third vehicle, a 2005 Toyota Camry, then struck the resting Acura RDX as it was traveling along Route 702. Finally, a fourth vehicle, a 2014 Hyundai, also became involved when it struck the 2005 Toyota Camry.

The driver of the 2005 Toyota Camry was transported to a local area hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
The driver of the Acura RDX was pronounced deceased at the scene. He has been identified as Elbert Charles Johns 3rd, (32), of the 1400 block of Hadwick Drive of Essex.

This crash continues to be investigated by members of the Baltimore County Police Department’s Crash Investigation Team.

White Marsh Mall Adds Teen Curfew

The owners of White Marsh Mall have announced a new curfew for teenagers that goes into effect Friday, March 8. According to a press release from the mall, Teenagers 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 years old on Friday and Saturday evenings after 5 p.m. The mall also announced that teenagers without an adult will be asked to show proper ID or leave.

This policy comes after months of police activity at the mall. Councilman David Marks and Councilwoman Cathy Bevins have both called for a curfew at White Marsh Mall similar to Towson Town Center and the Avenue at White Marsh.

“The safety of customers and patrons at White Marsh Mall was the top priority for many attendees at our town hall meeting in January. This long-overdue measure is needed now as the weather improves and crowds increase in the White Marsh Towne Center,” Marks said in a statement. “I thank Councilwoman Bevins for her long work on this issue, as well as County Executive Olszewski for personally engaging mall management. Thank you also to those residents who demanded action from Brookfield Properties.
This measure is not a cure-all, but it will help.”

Bevins, who represents the mall’s district, said she is glad the mall has put the curfew in place.

“This is a step in the right direction. I have met with and been in constant contact with the Mall’s leadership advocating for a curfew. I also introduced a Resolution in October requesting that the mall adopt such a policy,” Bevins explained. “Everyone, from the shoppers to the employees deserve a safe and positive environment and I believe this new policy will help accomplish that.”

Arrest Made in Perry Hall Murder

Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of Taylor India Webb who was found dead in her vehicle in Perry Hall on Feb. 26

Christopher James Engles (19) of the unit block of Bellhurst Way, 21236, is charged with First Degree Murder and remains held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Center following a bail review hearing earlier this afternoon.

Police determined that Engles is an ex-boyfriend of Taylor Webb, who she arranged to meet with just half of a mile from his home on Bellhurst Way. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

Police have identified Taylor India Webb (20) as the woman shot to death in a vehicle on Hickory Falls Way in Perry Hall of the 4600 block of Marble Hall Road, 21239.

Officers were dispatched to the area for a call of gunshots heard around 11:58 p.m. on Feb. 26 and discovered the victim in the driver seat of her vehicle suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

BCPS Educators Recognized at Statewide Ceremony for Technology and Engineering Education

The Technology and Engineering Association of Maryland (TEEAM) honored local Baltimore County Public Schools educators at its Awards Banquet on Feb. 22 at the Engineers Club in Baltimore.

The East Side honored educators are: Nicole Boyd and James Hemming, Stemmers Run Middle, who received the Program Excellence Award and Angela Waldrop, Eastern Tech, named Exemplary Teacher at the High School Level.

Jennifer McGough of George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Michael McIntyre, a retired and contractual employee, and Brendan Penn of Lyons Mill Elementary and the 2018-2019 BCPS Teacher of the Year was also honored.

Boyd, Hemming, and Waldrop will also be honored at the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Conference to be held in Kansas City in March.

“Congratulations to all six of these impressive educators,” said BCPS Interim Superintendent Verletta White.

“Our great teachers bring honor to our school system, and every day, across the county, they inspire, inform, and challenge our students. We can never thank them enough for all they do.”

City Woman Found Shot to Death in Car in Perry Hall

Police have identified the woman shot to death in a vehicle on Hickory Falls Way in Perry Hall On Tuesday, Feb. 26 as Taylor India Webb (20) of the 4600 block of Marble Hall Road in northeast Baltimore City.

Officers were dispatched to the area for a call of gunshots heard around 11:58 p.m. and discovered the victim in the driver seat of her vehicle suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this shooting death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020.

Reward Offered
Metro Crime Stoppers, an organization that is separate from the Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore County Government, offers rewards for information in connection with felony offenses.
Anonymous tips can be sent to Metro Crime Stoppers by phone, online or via mobile app.

Local BCPS Students Honored at MD Regional Braille Challenge

Three area Baltimore County Public Schools students earned high honors in the 2019 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge.

This year, more than 35 students from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. participated in the regional event held on Feb. 9, hosted by the Maryland School for the Blind and the Maryland State Department of Education. During the event, participants, ages 4 to 19, competed in five categories requiring them to read and type braille. Regional events are the first step on the road to the national competition. Once all the regional tests have been completed throughout North America, the 50 students with the top scores (10 from each of five age divisions) will be invited to compete in the National Braille Challenge Competition, to be held in Los Angeles in June. The BCPS students will find out in early May if they have qualified as finalists for the national competition.

Eniola Osunkoya of Nottingham, a Grade 2 student at Chapel Hill Elementary, won first place in the Apprentice division (Grades 1 – 2), and was also the highest scorer in the competition and the most improved participant (from last year). He received an Orioles uniform shirt that had Braille on it. This shirt was worn in a game last year, and that was the first time braille ever appeared on a major league baseball shirt.

The other first place winner from BCPS is Julia Stockburger of Nottingham, a Grade 8 student at Perry Hall Middle School. She won first place in the Junior Varsity division (Grades 7 – 9). She has qualified five times for the national competition.

Also in Grade 8 at Perry Hall Middle, Sujan Dhakal placed third in the Junior Varsity division. A new BCPS student, Dhakal has previously qualified for the national competition.
The Braille Challenge® is the only academic competition for blind and visually impaired students in the United States and Canada.

Shooting in Essex Injures One, Circumstances Under Investigation

Baltimore County Police are investigating after a subject was brought to a local hospital with a gunshot wound last night.
Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit are investigating to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, believed to have occurred in a field near Kings Mill Apartments and Townhomes in the 1400 block of Hadwick Drive in Essex. The victim suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to a lower extremity.
Police were dispatched to the hospital around 8:17 p.m. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police by calling 410-307-2020.

Baltimore, Harford County Police Seek Information on Multi-Jurisdictional Burglaries

Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Burglary Unit are asking for help identifying a burglary suspect in connection with at least two commercial burglaries, one in Baltimore County and one in Harford County.

This suspect struck Carroll Motor Fuels gas station and convenience store at Harford Road and Sunshine Avenue in Kingsville around 2:22 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Jan. 23. The suspect, whose face is concealed, entered the store by shattering a window, stole cartons of cigarettes, and fled the location on foot. The suspect was caught on store surveillance video behind the store counter stealing the cigarettes.

The same suspect is believed to have committed a similar burglary in Harford County last year, on March 4, 2018, around 1 a.m. In that burglary he shattered a window and entered the Royal Farms store in the 3000 block of Jarrettsville Pike in Monkton, again stealing a number of cartons of cigarettes and fleeing on foot.

Anyone who may have additional information on these burglaries or can help identify this suspect is asked to contact Baltimore County Police Burglary Unit detectives by calling 410-307-2020, or contact the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Aksomitus, at 410-836-5427 or Harford Crime Solvers at 1-888-540-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.