Baltimore Sun
Anne Pearson gives her collie, Siri, the run of the fenced-in yard. She says she always keeps watch from the window. At night, the dog sleeps in her bedroom.

But in the eyes of Anne Arundel County’s Animal Control, Pearson was a menace to her pet. And they threatened to take the dog away - unless she agreed to buy Siri a doghouse.

[…]

County animal control officials say the law allows them to target animal abusers. Although they went to Pearson’s house three times, they eventually dropped the charges, and now say that her case is a rare example of the law being misapplied.

At the council meeting, they testified against Middlebrooks’ proposed change, which would require a shelter only if the dog is left outside when the owner is not home. The animal control officers said that changing the law will make it harder to determine which dogs are habitually left outside.

[…]

Under state law, an owner has to provide shelter for a dog only if it is necessary, according to Deputy County Attorney David A. Plymyer, who said if a dog were outside on a nice day, it would not be a violation of that law. Anne Arundel, he added, takes the matter a step further, and requires that if a dog is confined outdoors, it must have a shelter.

Anne Arundel officials said that since 2005 they have issued 70 citations, which carry a $50 penalty for a first offense and up to $500 for three violations or more. They added that citations are only issued after several warnings and that officers determine appropriate penalties on a case-by-case basis.

WJZ
There were some scary moments Tuesday morning as an out-of-control car careened past a group of people gathered for a governor’s news conference in Northwest Baltimore.

Suzanne Collins reports the car then sailed across a busy road and crashed into subway tracks.

A crowd gathered on the Northwest Plaza parking lot panicked as a car came racing toward them. The car tore up a bank and flew over Wabash Avenue, ending on the subway tracks. Amazingly, the driver seemed uninjured.

[…]

Hall, 79, will not be charged in the crash. No was hurt in the crash. Officials say a parked car and some fences did receive some damage.

The governor’s news conference did take place on that parking lot, a half hour later than it was scheduled.

WBAL.com
A Baltimore County circuit court judge handed a convicted sex offender what’s believed to be the longest sentence of its kind in the state…ever.

Carlos Cortez of Essex will have to serve consecutive 25 year prison terms on each of 4 counts of sexual abuse the Examiner reports.

Cortez was accused of abusing a girl over several years starting when she was 5.

Judge Patrick Cavanaugh has a reputation for long sentences…having given a former Randallstown High student a 100 year sentence in a school shooting case.

WBFF reports that alcohol can’t be brought in by those sitting in the grandstands or suites at the Preakness next weekend - that those attendees must purchase alcohol at Pimlico. People in the infield will still be able to bring in beer and wine according to the report.

WBAL TV
The father of an inmate who was killed aboard a prison bus had to be escorted from a courtroom after he threw his cane at the man on trial for the murder.

Phillip Parker Sr. was led away by deputies Tuesday during the trial of 25-year-old Kevin Johns, the two-time convicted murderer who is accused of killing Parker’s son.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office said Parker would be charged with disorderly conduct and possibly other offenses.

The outburst came while prosecutors were playing a recording of Johns’ interview with investigators after the killing of Philip Parker Jr.

Examiner.com
The immigrant advocacy group CASA de Maryland says the new immigration enforcement program in Frederick County could cost the county $3.2 million per year.

CASA says the estimate takes into account increased police training, staffing, detention costs and the possibile drain on the foster care system if immigrant parents are detained.

However, County Commissioner Charles Jenkins says he doubts CASA’s figures. He says the county is reimbursed by the federal government for detaining immigrants.

Frederick County is the first Maryland jurisdiction to check the immigration status of people who are arrested.

CASA legal director Kerry O’Brien says Frederick is showing little appreciation for the contributions that immigrants have made.

News reports indicate that the Brunswick MARC line has been closed (as well as freight rail on those tracks) at Rockville that resulted in passengers being transferred to the DC Metro. A passenger was struck and killed on the tracks.

Also, light rail delays are still around and lasting around 30 minutes. A shuttle bus is running between Penn Station and Mt. Clare where light rail service is down.

WBAL TV
Howard County police arrested an 83-year-old man Monday night on charges that he tried to kill his wife at their Columbia home.

Calvin Ralph Payne was charged with attempted murder and assault after he allegedly struck his wife, Alma Payne, 81, with a hammer.

Police said Alma Payne called police to report an assault around 8 p.m. Tuesday. Officials found the victim at the home with a severe head injury. She was flown to Shock Trauma in serious but stable condition. Family members told WBAL TV 11 News that she was blinded in one eye.

“Every finger in both hands had been broken by the hammer. She has facial lacerations and broken bones to the right side of her face. On the left side of her head, she had 100 staples,” said nephew Eric Figueroa.

Officers said they found Calvin Payne in a bathroom of the home with blood on his clothes and hands and a knife in his hand. Officials said they found a hammer covered in blood in the master bedroom.

Detectives have not determined a motive in the incident, but relatives of the two said that Calvin Payne had grown increasingly violent over the last decade due to mental decline.

Baltimore Sun
A staff member at Calverton Elementary/Middle was putting in extra hours at the West Baltimore school Sunday afternoon when two 13-year-old boys broke into the building and one tried to rape her, police confirmed yesterday.

Realizing that her attacker was unarmed, police said, the woman fought back, and both the boys - identified as students at the school - fled. When they returned for class Monday, they were arrested and charged as juveniles with attempted first-degree rape, attempted robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and trespassing, police said.

Related:
Another teacher assaulted
Other violence, sex assault at Reginald Lewis HS
Photographer attacked at school where teacher was attacked

WBAL.com
A female midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy has died after her roommates found her unconscious and not breathing in her bed.

The service academy says the first-year student was pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Medical Center a short time after she was found late Monday morning. The circumstances of her death are under review, but the academy says foul play is not suspected.

The midshipman’s identification is being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified.

UPDATE: The midshipman found dead was Kristen Dickmann of Kennett Square, PA.