VIDEO: Organizers Explain Why Students Didn't Plunge Friday

Anne Arundel students didn't participate in the regularly scheduled Cool School plunge because of exams and then weather conditions caused Friday's festivities to be canceled.

Police Charge Churchton Man With Distributing Child Pornography

Maryland State Police search man's house after an online investigation.

Maryland State Police announced charges Friday against a Churchton man alleging he possessed and distributed child pornography. According to police, an investigator identified a computer last summer that was distributing what was believed to be child pornography on a file sharing network. The officer traced the computer to a residence in Churchton. Police searched the residence of Drew Ellis Lindsley, 32, and found digital evidence suggesting he had child pornography in his possession and was distributing some files. Police arrested Lindsley and charged him with two counts of distributing and two counts of possessing child pornography. Lindsley was released on a $75,000 bond and no court date has been announced, as of mid-day Friday. …

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Driving Strongly Discouraged in Maryland

State police urge motorists to stay off the roads as much as possible.

Although Maryland State Police is not handing out citations for being on the road, they are strongly discouraging residents from driving. State police spokesperson Greg Shipley warned residents that increasing amount of standing water is a significant hazard to drivers because of the high risk for vehicles to hydroplane.  “People don’t realize that you don’t have to be going that fast on the road to hydroplane,” he said. Hydroplaning is caused by water being pushed up to the tires and creating a barrier of water, which decreases tire traction and inhibits drivers’ ability to safely steer their vehicles. Basically, Shipley added, the vehicle will be traveling on top of water. Drivers could also run into other hazards like downed trees and …

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New Car Seat Law Removes Weight Exemption for Kids

The law that takes effect in Maryland on Oct. 1 still requires kids younger than 8 to be in a safety seat, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller.

UPDATED (12:40 p.m.)—A new child safety seat law will go into effect Oct. 1 to remove the weight exemption for children who are more than 65 pounds, according to a Maryland State Police press release. The state law still requires that children use car seats up until the time they turn 8 years old, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. The law is a primary enforcement law, which means drivers can be detained and cited for violating the seat belt law. The fine is $50 for each child in the vehicle that is not properly restrained. The fine also applies to children ages 8 to 16, who are still required to wear a seat belt.  "A child safety seat is a device—including a child booster seat—which the manufacturer has certified as being made in …

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New Law About Broken Traffic Lights Starts Oct. 1

Maryland drivers who fail to stop and check for pedestrians at nonfunctioning traffic signals will soon face larger fines and points on their licenses.

Maryland drivers have a new set of rules to follow when they come upon a traffic signal that's broken, according to a Maryland State Police press release. The new law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, requires a driver approaching a nonfunctioning traffic signal from any direction at an intersection to stop at a clearly marked stop line, before entering any crosswalk or before entering the intersection. After stopping, the driver must yield to any vehicle or pedestrian in the intersection and remain stopped until it is safe to enter and continue through the intersection. "Just because a traffic control signal is not functioning at an intersection does not mean drivers are relieved of their duty to exercise care and caution," according to the…

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Prescott Had Collector Status, Bought Firearms Legally

Maryland State Police said Neil Prescott bought 16 firearms between May of 2011 and July of 2012. He passed all background checks and was permitted to buy more than one gun per month.

Maryland State Police say Neil Prescott legally purchased 16 weapons and component parts between 2011 and 2012, and had obtained collector status that allowed him to buy more than one gun per month.  Prescott, a Crofton resident accused of threatening to shoot former employees, did not violate any laws when he bought an array of weapons, including several pistols, revolvers and receivers. Maryland State Police said Prescott passed all background checks required to purchase firearms. His collector status was also properly applied, police said. Collector status can be granted to to a person who "devotes time and attention to acquiring certain types of regulated firearms for the enhancement of the collector's personal collection," and who …

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Maryland Police Declare May ‘Move Over Month’

The law requires motorists to move over or slow down if they see emergency personnel on the side of the road.

In an effort to increase awareness and ensure the safety of emergency personnel, the Maryland State Police have declared May “Move Over Month.” The Move Over initiative is being used to remind motorists that if they see emergency personnel on the side of the road they need to switch lanes or slow down. Many drivers remain unaware of the law that went into effect in October 2010. “We thought that because of a couple incidents in the beginning of the year that injured a couple of police officers, the Move Over Law was not something that our motorists were familiar with enough,” said Elena Russo, Maryland State Police spokeswoman. “These two incidents could have been prevented if the motorist had slowed down and moved over when they saw the …

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Police: Drivers in 4-Death Crash Were Drunk

Maryland State Police released 911 recordings from prior to Saturday's accident.

Both drivers in Saturday's quadruple fatal Maryland Route 50 accident were drunk, according to NBC4 in Washington. The TV station reported Wednesday that 19-year-old Brittany Ann Walker and 55-year-old Terry Wayne Davis were both drunk when they crashed. Walker, a 2010 Meade High School graduate, had two 18-year-old passengers, who also died: Breanna Marie Franco, a Severna Park High School graduate, and Zachary Tyler Rose, a 2011 Meade graduate. Maryland State Police released 911 recordings from prior to the crash, when callers reported Walker's car to be driving the wrong way in the fast lane on Interstate 97, the Associated Press reported. Davis is also from Severna Park, but he and Franco weren't the only tragic deaths the town endured…

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Brent

7:54 am on Friday, March 30, 2012

This was hardly wreckless. In fact, there was a wreck...   more ›

3, 2, 1, PLUNGE!

The Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park draws thousands.

Despite the chilly weather, participants happily embraced the cold for the Maryland State Police sponsored Polar Bear Plunge, now in its 15th consecutive year to support Special Olympics Maryland. Mickey Cucchiella of Baltimore's 98Rock morning show, an event sponsor, told the crowd that the energy of the crowd would warm them up. “It’s unbelievable how this has grown to an event this size in the five years I’ve been doing it," Cucchiella said. This year an estimated 12,000 plungers were expected to have participated, with another 13,000 attending the festivities. There were two plunges today [Jan. 29]—the first at 1 p.m., the second at 3 p.m. Because the event has grown so much over the years, organizers also scheduled a pre-plunge event …

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Students Take the Frigid Friday Plunge

South River High students raised an impressive $19,000 for Special Olympics.

Thousands of students from across the state traveled to Sandy Point State Park on Friday [Jan. 28] to do something really “cool” for Special Olympics. The event was the Frigid Friday Plunge, an official partner activity with the Maryland Special Olympics’ Plungefest, which allows schools to bring teams of students to a smaller, more manageable event. The official 2011 Polar Bear Plunge takes place on Saturday [Jan. 29] at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Despite the chilly, snowy weather, the spirits of the teen participants and their parents, teachers and coaches were not dampened—and all were excited to spend the day together representing their schools. Enjoying the music of one of the two rock bands performing for the crowds as they…

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