TROOPERS ARREST CARROLL COUNTY MAN FOR ATTACKING WOMAN WITH HAMMER

(Westminster, MD) – Maryland State Police have arrested and charged a Carroll County man after he allegedly attacked his neighbor yesterday and critically injured her by beating her with a hammer.

The accused is identified as Paul D. Scott, 51, of the 1100-block of Muller Road, Westminster, Md. After consultation with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, State Police investigators charged Scott with attempted murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, and reckless endangerment. Scott is incarcerated in the Carroll County Detention Center on $500,000 bond.

The victim is a 56-year-old woman who is a neighbor of the accused. She is not being identified at this time because she may have been the victim of a sex crime. The Maryland State Police does not identify victims of sexual crimes.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police at the Westminster Barracks received a 9-1-1 call from the victim who was hysterical. She reported she had been attacked and beaten in the head with a hammer. She identified her attacker as the accused and said he was her neighbor.

Troopers and EMS personnel immediately responded to the victim’s home, where she lived alone. Troopers found the victim with blood on her face and head. Blood was also on the floor of the house. The victim was treated at the scene and transported to the Carroll Hospital Center where she remains under treatment.

The victim told troopers she had been called earlier that morning by the accused, who asked if she wanted him to bring up her newspaper from the bottom of the driveway, since he was going out to get his. The victim said that would be fine and a short time later, the accused came to her door.

The victim said she allowed the accused to enter her residence to give her the newspaper. The victim told troopers that once the accused was in her house, he attacked her with a hammer and tried to rape her. The victim said the accused hit her repeatedly in the head with the hammer and she believed she was in and out of consciousness during the attack. The victim said the accused took a knife from her kitchen and threatened her with it, telling her not to call police.

After contacting the victim and ensuring her safety, troopers established a perimeter around the home of the accused. A State Police duty officer called the home of the accused and told him to exit his home and meet the troopers outside. He did so and was immediately placed under arrest.

Criminal investigators obtained a search warrant for the home of the accused and served it last evening. Troopers recovered a hammer and a knife. Both items will be forwarded to the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division laboratory along with other evidence collected for examination.

A motive for this assault is not known at this time. The investigation is continuing. Additional charges are possible.