If you'd like to volunteer and ring the bell please call 410-749-7464.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Fernando Guerrero Gives Back
If you'd like to volunteer and ring the bell please call 410-749-7464.
Maryland Republicans Elect New Leadership Team
ANNAPOLIS – This afternoon, newly elected Maryland Republican Party Chairman Alex. X. Mooney presided over the election of a new MDGOP leadership team. The new Maryland Republican Party leadership team is as follows:
Chairman: Alex X. Mooney – Frederick County
1st Vice Chairman: Diana Waterman – Queen Anne’s County
2nd Vice Chairman: Larry Helminiak – Carroll County
3rd Vice Chairman: Eric Grannon – Anne Arundel County
Treasurer: Chris Rosenthal – Anne Arundel
Secretary: John Wafer – Howard County
Maryland Republicans Elect Senator Alex X. Mooney As New Chairman
ANNAPOLIS – This afternoon, 265 enthusiastic members of the Maryland Republican State Central Committee overwhelmingly voted to elect Senator Alex Mooney as their next Chairman. According to newly elected Maryland Republican Party Chairman Alex Mooney, today’s election ushers in a new era for Republicans in Maryland.
“A new day for Republicans in Maryland starts now,” said Mooney. “Under my watch, the Maryland Republican Party will focus on our core principles while building the necessary grassroots infrastructure to push GOP candidates at all levels to victory in 2012 and 2104.”
Alex Mooney, the son of a Cuban immigrant, is a three term state senator from Frederick, Maryland. Prior to holding public office Mooney worked for Congressman Roscoe Bartlett as well as the incoming speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner. Mooney has extensive experience working in the conservative movement. He currently serves as executive director of The National Journalism Center, a program of Young America’s Foundation.
“I look forward to bringing my experience as a state senator, conservative organizer, and prolific fundraiser to Republican Party of Maryland,” Mooney said. “I’m confident our Party is more united and focused than ever and I look forward to launching the Maryland Republican resurgence today.”
STATEMENT FROM MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR SUSAN TURNBULL ON MARYLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR ELECTION
Annapolis, MD (December 11, 2010) - Maryland Democratic Party Chair Susan Turnbull issued this statement today following the election of State Senator Alex Mooney as Maryland Republican Party Chair.
"The Maryland Republican Party confirmed in today's election that they are bankrupt of new ideas and out of touch with most Marylanders by choosing someone who will move the Party further away from the mainstream. Mary Kane's prediction that the Republicans won't win the governor's mansion again for forty years just came closer to fact."
Come Support The Salvation Army Today
Just a quick note to let you all know that Fernando and I will be heading out the Mall and will be set up in front of Boscovs from 11:00am-1:00pm. We will be rininging the bell for the Salvation Army and Fernando will sign anything for anyone. Please come out or tell anyone you know that Fernando will be there and will be.
Please understand, this is not about Fernando, it is about helping a very good organization trying hard to raise much needed funds in these, the worst of economic time, so they can help others.
If Fernando's standing in our community can help that goal, we have no choice but to be there. Please help us aid the Salvation Amy, and our needy neighbors in our community,
Thank You So Much,
Coach Hal
Judge Rules Against Miller In Alaska Senate Race
GOP candidate contested write-in ballots for Murkowski; appeal expected
JUNEAU, Alaska — A judge on Friday ruled against Republican Joe Miller's lawsuit challenging how Alaska counted write-in votes for rival Lisa Murkowski in their Senate race, delivering a crushing blow to the tea party-backed candidate's longshot legal fight.
Judge William Carey's ruling all but ends Miller's hopes of getting relief in state court. Miller can appeal to the state Supreme Court, and his spokesman said he was mulling the option, but Carey cited past decisions by the high court in his ruling.
The judge said his decision to throw out Miller's lawsuit wouldn't take effect until Tuesday to allow time for an appeal.
Miller spokesman Randy DeSoto said there are still outstanding issues "in terms of wanting to get a true and accurate count, and we don't feel like we're there yet."
Murkowski called on Miller to concede, telling The Associated Press: "It's time to end this. It's time to say that the election is over."
GO HERE to read more.
The 10 Worst States For Retirement
Most of us won't be retiring anytime soon. But for those few who will be saying goodbye to the workforce forever in the next few years, the people at TopRetirements.com have put together their list of the worst states in which to live out your golden years.
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FDNY To Begin Charging Motorists In Car Crashes
The Fire Department in New York City thinks the taxpayers should no longer be the only ones paying when firefighters are called to the scene of a car crash. Starting next summer, the FDNY will begin billing their time to the motorists involved in the incidents.
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Krauthammer: Swindle Of The Year
Barack Obama won the great tax-cut showdown of 2010 -- and House Democrats don't have a clue that he did.
In the deal struck this week, the president negotiated the biggest stimulus in American history, larger than his $814 billion 2009 stimulus package. It will pump a trillion borrowed Chinese dollars into the U.S. economy over the next two years -- which just happen to be the two years of the run-up to the next presidential election.
This is a defeat?
If Obama had asked for a second stimulus directly, he would have been laughed out of town. Stimulus I was so reviled that the Democrats banished the word from their lexicon throughout the 2010 campaign.
And yet, despite a very weak post-election hand, Obama got the Republicans to offer to increase spending and cut taxes by $990 billion over two years -- $630 billion of it above and beyond extension of the Bush tax cuts.
No mean achievement. After all, these are the same Republicans who spent 2010 running on limited government and reducing debt. And this budget busting occurs less than a week after the president's deficit commission had supposedly signaled a new national consensus of austerity and frugality.
More here
In the deal struck this week, the president negotiated the biggest stimulus in American history, larger than his $814 billion 2009 stimulus package. It will pump a trillion borrowed Chinese dollars into the U.S. economy over the next two years -- which just happen to be the two years of the run-up to the next presidential election.
This is a defeat?
If Obama had asked for a second stimulus directly, he would have been laughed out of town. Stimulus I was so reviled that the Democrats banished the word from their lexicon throughout the 2010 campaign.
And yet, despite a very weak post-election hand, Obama got the Republicans to offer to increase spending and cut taxes by $990 billion over two years -- $630 billion of it above and beyond extension of the Bush tax cuts.
No mean achievement. After all, these are the same Republicans who spent 2010 running on limited government and reducing debt. And this budget busting occurs less than a week after the president's deficit commission had supposedly signaled a new national consensus of austerity and frugality.
More here
BREAKING NEWS
Official: Madoff son found dead in NYC apartment
Mark Madoff found hanged in apparent suicide
NEW YORK — A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a son of Bernard Madoff has been found dead in New York City of an apparent suicide.
The official says Mark Madoff was found hanged in his Manhattan apartment.
A family member notified police around 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
The official spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't allowed to speak publicly about the case.
Mark Madoff and his brother, Andrew, were under investigation but hadn't faced any criminal charges in the massive Ponzi scheme that led to their father's jailing.
Bernard Madoff swindled a long list of investors out of billions of dollars and is serving a 150-year prison term.
Source
Source
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases
Incident: Sex Offender – Failure to Register
Date of Incident: 9 December 2010
Location: 200 block of Truitt Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Kevin Stewart Connor, 53, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 10 December 2010, deputies assigned to the Sex Offender Registration Unit arrested Kevin Connor on a warrant for failing to re-register as a sex offender. Because of a 1998 conviction for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a 14 year old girl and Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Connor is subject to resister with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for the rest of his life and part of the requirement subjects this to happen every 90 days.
On 9 December 2010, after Connor failure to show for his required re-registration, a warrant was obtained. Upon arrest on 10 December 2010, Connor was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Connor was held without bond.
Charges: Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 9 December 2010
Location: 24000 Block Of Carnival Rd, Sharptown, MD
Suspects: Karen Stephenson, 40 YOA Female, Salisbury, MD
Tiffany Suire, 21 YOA Female, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 9 December 2010 at approximately 5:58 P.M., a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home located in the 24000 block of Carnival Rd in Sharptown in reference to a reported assault.
Upon their arrival, the deputy met with a male victim who advised that he had been assaulted by Tiffany Suire and her mother Karen Stephenson. The victim advised that the suspects had assault him using a number of weapons to include a flash light, baseball bat and mace. After being struck several times by the flashlight the victim fell to the ground at which point he was bitten on the hand by Tiffany Suire. The assault was eventually thwarted when a witness disarmed the suspects and physically pulled them off the victim. In the continuing investigation the deputy met with two other witnesses who provided similar accounts of the event.
During his conversations with the victim the deputy observed several signs of injury on the victim that where consistent with the described assault. As a result of the aforementioned injuries the victim was later transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Both Tiffany Suire and Karen Stephenson were placed under arrest and later transported to WCDC where they were released to custody of the central booking unit. Both Tiffany Suire and her mother Karen Stephenson are currently being held in lei of a $50,000 bond.
Charges: Assault 1st & 2nd Degree, Reckless endangerment, Wear/Carry of a deadly weapon.
3-Star General: Congress Will Review Lakin Case
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney predicts the incoming Republican-controlled House of Representatives will launch an investigation if Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin is convicted in next week's court martial.
Lakin is on trial for refusing to obey orders to deploy to Afghanistan. He challenged the orders because he questions President Barack Obama's eligibility to serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. His court martial is scheduled to begin Dec. 14.
"It looks like he's not being treated fairly," said McInerney in an interview Friday on Denver talk radio station KHOW.
"It's important that he gets a fair trial, which means discovery. Since the Army will not allow that I believe in the final analysis that this will be overturned, but he may have to go to the slammer in Ft. Leavenworth."
Lakin had hoped through the discovery process to force Obama to produce documentary evidence demonstrating his birth and citizenship status so that Obama's authority to give orders as commander-in-chief would be demonstrated or disproven.
As reported earlier by WND, court martial judge Col. Denise Lind, however, simply declared the orders received by Lakin were valid. Lind refused to allow Lakin to address the underlying eligibility issues and limited the scope of the trial to whether Lakin had knowingly disobeyed orders.
McInerney called on Congress to "do its job" and determine whether Obama is constitutionally eligible to serve as president.
"[Lakin] really had a very important point. He is not a birther, he is a constitutionalist," said McInerney. "Now it shouldn't be the job of a lieutenant colonel and flight surgeon in the U.S. Army to be the constitutionalist. It's the job of the Congress and the executive agency to do that. But we've had 44 presidents of the United States and only one, the current president, has not shown a valid birth certificate."
McInerney suggested Lakin is certain to be convicted if the court martial proceeds.
"The outcome is evident to me that this is a slam dunk," said McInerney. "They're not going to let him really talk about it. They're avoiding the issue.
"The way they conduct themselves is going to be extremely important for the follow-on investigation for the House of Representatives," added McInerney, who said the House Armed Services Committee could hold hearings to determine whether the military handled the case properly.
"The smartest thing the Army could do is not to have [the trial]," said McInerney, who suggested the court should let the case go "low profile."
"I don't think they're going to do that. They're going to make the mistake of trying him, and then you're going to have a court of record that will condemn them for the way they conducted it."
McInerney held up his own treatment by the trial judge to illustrate the unfairness of the proceedings thus far. Lind has refused to allow McInerney or any other expert witness requested by the defense to testify at Lakin's court martial.
There's more here
Lakin is on trial for refusing to obey orders to deploy to Afghanistan. He challenged the orders because he questions President Barack Obama's eligibility to serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. His court martial is scheduled to begin Dec. 14.
"It looks like he's not being treated fairly," said McInerney in an interview Friday on Denver talk radio station KHOW.
"It's important that he gets a fair trial, which means discovery. Since the Army will not allow that I believe in the final analysis that this will be overturned, but he may have to go to the slammer in Ft. Leavenworth."
Lakin had hoped through the discovery process to force Obama to produce documentary evidence demonstrating his birth and citizenship status so that Obama's authority to give orders as commander-in-chief would be demonstrated or disproven.
As reported earlier by WND, court martial judge Col. Denise Lind, however, simply declared the orders received by Lakin were valid. Lind refused to allow Lakin to address the underlying eligibility issues and limited the scope of the trial to whether Lakin had knowingly disobeyed orders.
McInerney called on Congress to "do its job" and determine whether Obama is constitutionally eligible to serve as president.
"[Lakin] really had a very important point. He is not a birther, he is a constitutionalist," said McInerney. "Now it shouldn't be the job of a lieutenant colonel and flight surgeon in the U.S. Army to be the constitutionalist. It's the job of the Congress and the executive agency to do that. But we've had 44 presidents of the United States and only one, the current president, has not shown a valid birth certificate."
McInerney suggested Lakin is certain to be convicted if the court martial proceeds.
"The outcome is evident to me that this is a slam dunk," said McInerney. "They're not going to let him really talk about it. They're avoiding the issue.
"The way they conduct themselves is going to be extremely important for the follow-on investigation for the House of Representatives," added McInerney, who said the House Armed Services Committee could hold hearings to determine whether the military handled the case properly.
"The smartest thing the Army could do is not to have [the trial]," said McInerney, who suggested the court should let the case go "low profile."
"I don't think they're going to do that. They're going to make the mistake of trying him, and then you're going to have a court of record that will condemn them for the way they conducted it."
McInerney held up his own treatment by the trial judge to illustrate the unfairness of the proceedings thus far. Lind has refused to allow McInerney or any other expert witness requested by the defense to testify at Lakin's court martial.
There's more here
Letter To The Editor
Joe-
I saw your post yesterday concerning the 'Latino Forum' being held at a local church, and I had to wonder what its purpose would be, other than to pump the Latino community, and to try to put a good PR face on a growing problem-- the heavy drain of illegal immigration on our budgets.
It seems like we see this from time to time. An attempt to 'educate' the public on why we should just accept the presence of whoever wants to come here, and 'celebrate the diversity' as an area of our city loses its character and becomes a separate subculture with a different language and customs.
And of course, if we don't, we're racists.
To that, I would repeat what I said in a comment yesterday.
I don't think the negative attitudes toward the Hispanic community have to do with racism as much as they have to do with that community's willful disregard of the status of those who are here illegally.
Most Hispanic folks I've known are great people- very hard workers, and very nice.
But to just ignore our laws and jump the fence because you feel like you have some right to be here is NOT going to make you too many friends.
And just because we object, that doesn't make us racists, either.
We have always offered lots of opportunities for people to immigrate legally, meld into our social fabric and prosper as fellow Americans.
But don't just sneak in, then join some group of activists and try to tell us of your 'rights' and what kind of contributions you're making.
It will fall on deaf ears.
If you aren't here legally, you aren't welcome.
I saw your post yesterday concerning the 'Latino Forum' being held at a local church, and I had to wonder what its purpose would be, other than to pump the Latino community, and to try to put a good PR face on a growing problem-- the heavy drain of illegal immigration on our budgets.
It seems like we see this from time to time. An attempt to 'educate' the public on why we should just accept the presence of whoever wants to come here, and 'celebrate the diversity' as an area of our city loses its character and becomes a separate subculture with a different language and customs.
And of course, if we don't, we're racists.
To that, I would repeat what I said in a comment yesterday.
I don't think the negative attitudes toward the Hispanic community have to do with racism as much as they have to do with that community's willful disregard of the status of those who are here illegally.
Most Hispanic folks I've known are great people- very hard workers, and very nice.
But to just ignore our laws and jump the fence because you feel like you have some right to be here is NOT going to make you too many friends.
And just because we object, that doesn't make us racists, either.
We have always offered lots of opportunities for people to immigrate legally, meld into our social fabric and prosper as fellow Americans.
But don't just sneak in, then join some group of activists and try to tell us of your 'rights' and what kind of contributions you're making.
It will fall on deaf ears.
If you aren't here legally, you aren't welcome.
Shooting In Georgetown
Shooting In Georgetown
Location: 20000 block of Rodney Street, Homestead Trailer Park, Georgetown, DE
Date of Occurrence: Saturday, December 11, 2010 at approximately 3:00 a.m.
Victim: 47 year old Georgetown, DE man
Suspects: 48 year old Georgetown, DE man
Resume:
Georgetown- The Delaware State Police are currently on the scene of a shooting that occurred early this morning in Georgetown.
The incident began at approximately 3:00 a.m. this morning as troopers responded to the 20000 block of Rodney Street in the Homestead Trailer Park in reference to a shooting. Troopers learned that a 47 year old man, who is a resident of the trailer park, had been shot at his trailer by a 48 year old man who also resides within the trailer park. The suspect then fled the scene back to his residence which is also located in the 20000 block of Rodney Street. Troopers have surrounded the suspect’s trailer and have evacuated nearby trailers as the Delaware State Police Special Operations Team and the Crisis Management Team attempt to persuade the suspect to surrender. He is believed to be armed with an unknown type of gun.
The victim has been removed from the scene. He was flown by helicopter to the Beebe Memorial Hospital where he is currently being treated for non life threatening injuries.
Additional information will be released as it is received.
Navy Sets World Record With Incredible, Sci-Fi Weapon
A theoretical dream for decades, the railgun is unlike any other weapon used in warfare. And it's quite real too, as the U.S. Navy has proven in a record-setting test today in Dahlgren, VA.
Rather than relying on a explosion to fire a projectile, the technology uses an electomagnetic current to accelerate a non-explosive bullet at several times the speed of sound. The conductive projectile zips along a set of electrically charged parallel rails and out of the barrel at speeds up to Mach 7.
The result: a weapon that can hit a target 100 miles or more away within minutes.
"It's an over-used term, but it really changes several games," Rear Admiral Nevin P. Carr, Jr., the chief of Naval Research, told FoxNews.com prior to the test.
For a generation raised on shoot-'em-up video games, the word "railgun" invokes sci-fi images of an impossibly destructive weapon annihilating monsters and aliens. But the railgun is nonetheless very real.
An electromagnetic railgun offers a velocity previously unattainable in a conventional weapon, speeds that are incredibly powerful on their own. In fact, since the projectile doesn't have any explosives itself, it relies upon that kinetic energy to do damage.
More on this
Rather than relying on a explosion to fire a projectile, the technology uses an electomagnetic current to accelerate a non-explosive bullet at several times the speed of sound. The conductive projectile zips along a set of electrically charged parallel rails and out of the barrel at speeds up to Mach 7.
The result: a weapon that can hit a target 100 miles or more away within minutes.
"It's an over-used term, but it really changes several games," Rear Admiral Nevin P. Carr, Jr., the chief of Naval Research, told FoxNews.com prior to the test.
For a generation raised on shoot-'em-up video games, the word "railgun" invokes sci-fi images of an impossibly destructive weapon annihilating monsters and aliens. But the railgun is nonetheless very real.
An electromagnetic railgun offers a velocity previously unattainable in a conventional weapon, speeds that are incredibly powerful on their own. In fact, since the projectile doesn't have any explosives itself, it relies upon that kinetic energy to do damage.
HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER
Discipline
Throughout history, children have been disciplined in many different ways. Up until the second half of the twentieth century, the motto was “Spare the rod and spoil the child”. It must have worked because children seemed to behave somewhat better. A lot of this had to do with the respect the parents earned from their children. It just was not the thing to do to embarrass your parents by acting badly in public. The mutual respect that was formed in the formative years carried over to the school years. The bottom line was that you learned that what you did was bad. Nowadays, the seeming lack of conscience only regrets getting caught. As they say, the punishment doesn’t always fit the crime.
The discipline administered by the nuns at St. Francis in the 1950’s was a combination of love and fear. While you knew they loved you, there was always the threat of facing some form of corporal punishment. If you were good, the fear level was minimal, and you were always on guard to see that it didn’t elevate. There was no bleeding-heart liberal telling the nuns that they couldn’t hit you. They only resorted to a good slap if it was warranted, and the parents had enough faith in the nuns that they knew it was truly warranted. At St. Francis one time a student called a nun a liar, and she slapped him. He then proceeded to slap her back. Big mistake. The next thing we saw was a fist coming out of that black habit and connecting right on the chin. The nun calmly said, “If that’s the way you want it, let’s go.” The student said he had enough. He walked up and down the property every morning and afternoon for a half hour and during recess for a month. I don’t think they ever had a problem with him again.
My own sons asked me one time why I never hit them. I told them honestly that I loved them, and you didn’t hit someone you loved. I learned this lesson many years earlier from my Pop. One Saturday night, I came home around ten o’clock to get more money from my room. He asked me why I was home so early, and I told him the truth. What I didn’t tell him, but he knew, was that I had previously consumed a few beers. I had left my car running in the driveway and fully expected to just jump in and carry on with my Saturday escapades after acquiring a small amount from my “stash”. When I came downstairs, he got up from his chair and calmly faced me. His exact words were, “George, I’ve never hit you, but if you attempt to go out that door, I’m going to hit you.” My reply summed up all the respect he had earned over the years. I said, “Pop, would you mind turning my car off?” He turned my car off, and I went to bed.
Discipline can be easier if there is a degree of respect earned over a period of time. I never wanted to show my parents any disrespect by doing anything that would embarrass them or the family. Of course, this applies to children after they have reached the age of reason. Before that, it’s spare the rod and spoil the child. I once heard an elderly lady explain how she disciplined her children. She would take a hairbrush and gently brush their hair. If that didn’t work, she said that she applied the other side of the brush to the other side of the child. She claimed it always worked.
(Pictured above: Sr. Mary Boniface, May 1952)
CARROLL CO. MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
(TANEYTOWN, MD) – Maryland State Police have charged a Carroll County man with the attempted murder of a police officer after evidence indicates the man fired a shotgun at the officer when he responded to a call for shots fired last night.
The accused is identified as Jose A. Acevedo, 41, of the 400-block of Red Tulip Court, Taneytown, Md. He is charged with attempted murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has been taken to the Carroll County Detention Center to await his initial appearance before a court commissioner for a bond hearing.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m. yesterday, two officers from the Taneytown Police Department responded to the home of the accused after a call was received reporting shots being fired at that location. One of the officers, a sergeant, parked near the rear of the row of townhouses and moved on foot along a fence. As he neared the backyard of Acevedo’s home, the sergeant heard a shotgun being ‘racked’ and then heard a blast.
The sergeant was hit in the center of the knit cap he was wearing with shotgun wadding, which is the plastic cup that holds the shot together as it leaves the gun barrel after the weapon is fired. The sergeant dropped to the ground just before another round was fired and he observed another piece of shotgun wadding land in the street near him. The sergeant was not injured and was fortunately not struck by the shot pellets from the shotgun rounds.
As the sergeant retreated and called for backup, he said the accused continued firing the shotgun and was yelling and cursing, telling the officers to “come and get me.” The sergeant recognized the man as Jose Acevedo, due to a prior contact he had with him in September 2010.
Maryland state troopers from the Westminster Barrack, Carroll County deputies, and officers from the Westminster Police Department responded to assist the Taneytown officers. A perimeter was established and area residents were contacted through a reverse 9-1-1 system. Chief Bill Tyler of the Taneytown Police Department came to the scene and requested Maryland State Police take charge of the ongoing police response and investigation.
Although prior attempts at communication had failed, at about 1:00 a.m. today, members of the State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element and the Hostage Recovery Team in an armored vehicle approached Acevedo’s home. A loudspeaker was used to communicate with him and he was urged to exit his home and surrender.
Minutes later, Acevedo walked out the front door of his home. An electronic control device was used briefly by members of the STATE Team as he was taken into custody. He was taken to the Carroll Hospital Center for a check up where he was examined and released. Acevedo was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of alcohol.
State Police criminal investigators had obtained a search warrant for Acevedo’s home, which was served after his arrest. Troopers found 20 spent shotgun shells on the back porch of the home. Inside, they found a .12 gauge shotgun, two rifles, a handgun, ammunition, and a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Neither Taneytown police officer who responded to the initial call was injured. No injuries were sustained by any law enforcement personnel who responded to the incident last night.
The investigation is continuing.
The accused is identified as Jose A. Acevedo, 41, of the 400-block of Red Tulip Court, Taneytown, Md. He is charged with attempted murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has been taken to the Carroll County Detention Center to await his initial appearance before a court commissioner for a bond hearing.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m. yesterday, two officers from the Taneytown Police Department responded to the home of the accused after a call was received reporting shots being fired at that location. One of the officers, a sergeant, parked near the rear of the row of townhouses and moved on foot along a fence. As he neared the backyard of Acevedo’s home, the sergeant heard a shotgun being ‘racked’ and then heard a blast.
The sergeant was hit in the center of the knit cap he was wearing with shotgun wadding, which is the plastic cup that holds the shot together as it leaves the gun barrel after the weapon is fired. The sergeant dropped to the ground just before another round was fired and he observed another piece of shotgun wadding land in the street near him. The sergeant was not injured and was fortunately not struck by the shot pellets from the shotgun rounds.
As the sergeant retreated and called for backup, he said the accused continued firing the shotgun and was yelling and cursing, telling the officers to “come and get me.” The sergeant recognized the man as Jose Acevedo, due to a prior contact he had with him in September 2010.
Maryland state troopers from the Westminster Barrack, Carroll County deputies, and officers from the Westminster Police Department responded to assist the Taneytown officers. A perimeter was established and area residents were contacted through a reverse 9-1-1 system. Chief Bill Tyler of the Taneytown Police Department came to the scene and requested Maryland State Police take charge of the ongoing police response and investigation.
Although prior attempts at communication had failed, at about 1:00 a.m. today, members of the State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element and the Hostage Recovery Team in an armored vehicle approached Acevedo’s home. A loudspeaker was used to communicate with him and he was urged to exit his home and surrender.
Minutes later, Acevedo walked out the front door of his home. An electronic control device was used briefly by members of the STATE Team as he was taken into custody. He was taken to the Carroll Hospital Center for a check up where he was examined and released. Acevedo was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of alcohol.
State Police criminal investigators had obtained a search warrant for Acevedo’s home, which was served after his arrest. Troopers found 20 spent shotgun shells on the back porch of the home. Inside, they found a .12 gauge shotgun, two rifles, a handgun, ammunition, and a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Neither Taneytown police officer who responded to the initial call was injured. No injuries were sustained by any law enforcement personnel who responded to the incident last night.
The investigation is continuing.
LEGO Competitions and Workshops, FIRST LEGO LEAGUE Tournament At Salisbury Middle Saturday
Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. will be a time for LEGOS and robotics at Salisbury Middle School. With their own LEGO blocks and building on site, children ages 4-6 can build a house for their favorite cartoon character, while students ages 7-9 and 10-12 can transform their LEGO blocks into a future hospital for Salisbury. No charge to participate but advance registration is required. Wicomico County 4-H will sponsor WeDo workshops on robotics for children ages 5-11; there will be two sessions on introduction to simple robotics, one from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and the second from 11 a.m.-noon. The Eastern Shore Regional FIRST LEGO LEAGUE Tournament will also be held at Salisbury Middle School that day, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FIRST LEGO League Robotics is a fun program for ages 9-14. FLL Robotics introduces students to the engineering design cycle, and software design principles in a fun, and exciting way. Spectators are welcomes. The FIRST LEGO LEAGUE Tournament is for registered teams only. To register for any of these events or for more information, please contact Gretchen Boggs at gboggs@wcboe.org or 410-677-5149, X4634.
In a related item, the Wicomico County STEM Academies will be hosting a Barnes & Noble Bookfair with displays and projects on Sunday, Dec. 12 , 1-5 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Salisbury. Any purchases made in the store that day that reference the STEM Bookfair # 10319630 will have a percentage of the sales go to support STEM activities at Bennett Middle School and Salisbury Middle School. Starbucks Cafe purchases also apply. You can visit the B&N site to find out more about the various STEM activities scheduled to occur from 1-4 p.m. A Nook, compliments of Mt. Hermon Discount HealthMart Pharmacy and Pittsville Pharmacy, will be raffled off that day. You do not need to be present to win and the winner will be announced on Monday, Dec. 13. Tickets are $1 each and will be available at the Bookfair as well as at various events and activities prior to the Bookfair, or from Gretchen Boggs (SMS), Teresa McCain (BMS), and various committee members.
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