Delcher was Named Parkville Officer of the Month


Sergeant Delcher was named Parkville Precinct 8 Officer of the Month in June. According to the precinct, Delcher went above and beyond in his efforts to serve the community.

There was an example of one incident where he worked together with other officer on the ground and the Aviation unit to gather information and search for a missing person.

When Aviation spotted an undetermined shadow in the deep end of a pool, Sgt. Delcher did not hesitate to jump in and locate the missing person in the water. He pulled that person out of the poo and performed CPR with the help of other officers until EMS arrived on the scene.

Baltimore County Council to Remain Virtual


The Baltimore County Council announced that it will continue with virtual sessions and meetings.

The Council had been considering a return to in-person sessions and meetings, including Work Sessions and Legislative Sessions, with the Legislative Session scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

Since the Council held its Budget Adoption Session in-person in the
Council Chamber on May 27th, COVID vaccines were becoming more available,
cases/hospitalizations/deaths were trending down in a positive direction, the local State of Emergency had ended in July, and the State had lifted all restrictions.

It appeared that a return to in-person on Sept. 7 might be a realistic goal.

But now, as we are in the month of August and concluding the Council’s summer schedule, although many people are vaccinated, there is still a sizeable segment of the population
that is not vaccinated.

There are also significant concerns over the potential spread of the very
contagious Delta variant and cases/hospitalizations/deaths now appear to be trending in the wrong direction.

As a consequence, the Baltimore County Council will continue to conduct its meetings and sessions virtually via video teleconference.

“We want to be smart and deliberate about how we respond to the Delta variant and this recent uptick in COVID numbers,” said Council
Chairman Julian E. Jones, Jr.

“Although we would like to resume in-person meetings and ‘get back to normal,’ we don’t want to put anyone’s health and safety at risk unnecessarily.”

Anyone wishing to connect to the Council’s virtual meetings can do so by visiting the County Council Virtual Sessions and Hearings page on the Council Website
at
https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/virtualmeetings.html.

You can also reach the County Council at 410-887-3196.

12-Year-Old Grazed by Bullet in Middle River


Baltimore County police officers responded to the 1500 block of Aldeney, in Middle River, after a 12-year-old reported he was grazed by a bullet.

Youth transported area hospital with a potential graze wound to upper arm – injury does not appear to be life threatening.

No other information has been provided.

Eagle Scout Looking to Honor Amy Caprio


An Eagle Scout is starting a project to honor fallen police officer Amy Caprio, who died on May 21, 2018 in the line of duty. Owen Mrok wants to build a memorial garden at the Parkville Police Precinct 8 and has started a GoFundMe page for the project. Below is his story.

Hi I am Owen Mrok. I am an Eagle Scout candidate for Boy Scout Troop 124

I have been in involved in scouting, since I was a 7-year-old Tiger Scout. During my elementary school years, I completed the tasks necessary to earn my Arrow of Light with Cub Scout Pack 984, prior to bridging over to Boy Scout Troop 124.

As a Boy Scout I have completed all the necessary badges to be qualified to earn my Eagle rank. The Eagle rank is the highest achievement of the Boy Scouts.

My final step to complete is my Eagle Project.

An Eagle project, is an opportunity for a scout to plan, develop and give leadership to others. These are all things that I have learned through my years of Scouting. And now it is my time to demonstrate my mastery of these skills.

I am creating a memorial garden at the Parkville Police Department in Memory of Fallen Officer Amy Caprio. Officer Caprio died on May 21, 2018 in the line of duty. Her death had a huge impact on my community not just for myself but for many others as well. Her co-workers still struggle with her loss, as does her family.

Amy’s mother Debbie Sorrells goes to the precinct on a regular basis just to feel closer to her daughter and to maintain the relationship she and her family had with the other officers. The station currently has a county planted garden that is in desperate need of attention. Ms. Debbie has tried on her own to add flowers and things to make it a bit nicer for the officers to enjoy when coming to and from work.

My plan is to create a garden in Amy’s memory. A place where her mother, other officers as well as the community will have a place to remember her always. It will include plants and a few shrubs that are native to Maryland. As well as many other easily maintained flowers. And a marble bench similar to the one at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, for the Fallen Heroes.

To donate go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-garden-for-officer-amy-caprio?utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&fbclid=IwAR36bzq_V4Cln_if-mZr1XiPVjIWQVLcNY-JfxUKcaX7Vf1Xn1Nf20C9n8o

White Marsh Precinct 9 Officer Named Rookie of the Year


Baltimore County Police announced that Officer Stephen B. Dutton, Jr. of White Marsh Precinct 9 has been named Rookie of the Year Award.

Ofc. Dutton Jr. was selected to receive the Baltimore County Police Foundation’s 2020 “Michael P. Caruthers” Rookie of the Year Award.

In a video, Dutton said he started his training by breaking his hand a few weeks into the academy. He later had to retake the training.

According to to Dutton, his new career was an officer came into perspective when he made a traffic stop on Route 40 near the Baltimore City line that recovered stolen handguns in an intense situation.

Dutton added that he is proud to patrol the area of White Marsh, which is where he grew up.

For more, go to the full interview.

Police Confirmed Loud Boom came from APG


Baltimore County Police reported receiving many phone calls about a large boom in Eastern Baltimore County on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m.

There have been post on social media post from Perry Hall to Dundalk of people that heard and felt the sounds.

Baltimore County police said Aberdeen Proving Ground was conducting tests.

“Did you hear that? We’ve received some calls & emails asking about “a big boom sound” that many people reported hearing in Eastern Baltimore County. #BCoPD has confirmed the noise originated from APG (Aberdeen Proving Ground),” said a statement from Baltimore County police.

There shared an image (above) from APG.

BCPS Gives Update on Universal Masking


Baltimore County Public Schools staff provided a presentation on universal masking in schools and on Virtual Learning Program registration at a special meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County on Tuesday, Aug. 3.

Dr. Monique Wheatley-Phillip, BCPS chief accountability and performance management officer, offered a presentation regarding the school system’s rationale for requiring universal indoor masking for the fall of the 2021-2022 school year for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors in all BCPS schools.

“We are looking forward to having our students back in our classrooms this fall,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams, “but we must acknowledge that the pandemic is not over. We must take the steps that we can to protect the health of our students, staff, and community.”

BCPS staff explained that the universal masking decision is aligned with July 27 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that everyone in K-12 schools wear a mask while indoors regardless of vaccination status. The CDC noted that while “increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage remains the most effective means to achieve control of the pandemic, additional layered prevention strategies will be needed in the short-term to minimize preventable morbidity and mortality.”

According to BCPS staff, the following factors were considered in instituting universal indoor masking in BCPS schools:
• Emerging evidence suggests that fully vaccinated persons who become infected with the Delta variant are at risk for transmitting it to others.
• From July 1 to July 30, the Baltimore County case rate increased from 4.7 (in the CDC’s low transmission range) to 39.2 (in the CDC’s moderate transmission range). Medical experts have advised BCPS that Baltimore County will likely experience a continued rise in the rate of transmission in August and will likely reach the CDC’s substantial transmission range before mid-month.
• Children under the age of 12 are still not eligible for vaccination.

BCPS staff noted that universal mask wearing is just one of the layered prevention strategies the school system is employing, such as encouraging vaccinations, physical distancing, and handwashing. Staff also shared that universal mask wearing in schools has the support of local leaders including Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch.

The universal masking requirement will end as soon as transmission rates and guidance from health experts support that decision.

The meeting concluded with a response to several public inquiries related to registration for the BCPS Virtual Learning Program. BCPS staff said that BCPS families had the opportunity to register for the program during the last two weeks of May. Then, in response to student needs, the registration window was re-opened from June 4 through July 2. This second deadline, staff explained, was necessary to implement and enforce for planning and staffing purposes. BCPS is no longer accepting enrollments at this time.

USWind to Bring Manufacturing Jobs to Area


– photo courtesy of TradePoint Atlantic-

TradePoint Atlantic (TPA) held a press event on Tuesday to announce that they signed a deal with USWind to bring steel back to the Sparrows Point area.

Manufacturing is coming back to Sparrows Point and TPA said this deal will soon create 500 high quality, good paying, permanent union jobs for skilled workers once again.

Gov. Larry Hogan attended the event and said this announcement is both good for the environment and the economy.

“Expanding offshore wind in Maryland will diversify our economy and energy portfolio,” Hogan said.

“Through US Wind’s continued investment, the revitalization of Sparrows Point will be a shot in the arm for Baltimore, and another milestone for the transformative vision for Tradepoint Atlantic Industrial Complex.”

Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. said that the addition of 500 union jobs could be a “game changer for the area.

“The legacy of Sparrows Point is built on good jobs for our families, and I’m excited about the prospect of the return of manufacturing to this site,” Olszewski said.

“This is a full circle moment that will strengthen communities across our entire region.”

Essex Woman Wins $50,000 in Powerball


It wasn’t the cryptic message in a fortune cookie that inspired a Baltimore County woman into action, but rather the string of numbers the fortune contained.

The third time she played Powerball using those numbers, the 38-year-old won a $50,000 third-tier prize.

The winner, going by the nickname “Shopper’s Retreat,” told Lottery officials that she noticed the lucky numbers shortly after cracking into a fortune cookie. “They just spoke to me,” said the Essex woman.

“Shopper’s Retreat” decided to use the numbers the next time she purchased a Powerball ticket. Although she didn’t win using the fortune cookie’s numbers in two drawings, she persevered.

On July 7, before that night’s drawing, she bought a $2 ticket at One Stop Convenience located at 321 Stemmers Run Road in Essex and again played the numbers. She almost tossed that $50,000-winning ticket by mistake while tidying her home the next day! Luckily, she decided to scan it using the Lottery’s mobile app ticket checker. The ticket matched four of the numbers drawn plus the Powerball to give her the third-tier prize.

When her phone flashed back a quick “Congratulations,” “Shopper’s Retreat” knew she had won! She quickly contacted her sister and mother, showing each of them a screenshot proving her Lottery luck.

The lucky lady is also an entrepreneur. She recently started a rideshare and grocery delivery business called Shopper’s Retreat, which inspired her winning nickname. She said the funds from her Powerball win will provide seed money to help her business grow.

Players have plenty of time to buy tickets for the next Powerball drawing on Saturday, July 24. The jackpot, which keeps rolling, is set for $174 million and the cash option is $125.5 million. In 2021, 33 Maryland players have won $50,000 Powerball prizes.

Middle River Man Pleads Guilty in Delivering Cocaine


The United State Attorney’s Office sent out a press release that a leader of drug trafficking organization was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison that has ties to a Middle River man.

The United State Attorney’s Office revealed that two U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers, Zakiyya Holloman, 35, of Middle River, and Maurice Vaughn, age 34, of Washington, D.C. agreed to divert U.S. Priority Mail parcels, containing cocaine, sent to addresses on their routes, to Russell Stanley; who today was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison; a member of the Stanley DTO in exchange for money.

Holloman was a mail carrier in Prince George’s County.

Holloman serviced a route in Bowie from April 2017 to October 2019, and Vaughn serviced a route in Bowie from July 2018 to October 2019.

As USPS letter carriers, the U.S. Attorney’s office said that Vaughn and Holloman were public officials and were expected, among other things, to deliver each package to the addressee at the proper address and to keep an accurate record of their deliveries.

According to the release, Holloman began diverting packages containing cocaine to Stanley in approximately April 2018, after being introduced to Stanley by a mutual acquaintance.

Holloman received $500 from Stanley for each parcel diverted.

The release also stated that Hollman diverted cocaine parcels on at least six occasions, receiving a total of at least $3,000 from Stanley.

In an effort to conceal the scheme, Holloman scanned the parcels as delivered to the addressees, despite delivering those parcels to Stanley.

Maurice Vaughn and Zakiyya Holloman, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and to bribery.

They face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum of 15 years in federal prison for bribery.

Scheduled sentencing dates have not been set for Holloman or Vaughn.