Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police...

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Baltimore City

Central District

Drug arrests: Drug enforcement units, a newly formed Tactical Met Team, federal agents and officers from Southwestern and Western districts raided several dwellings in Ashburton and nearby neighborhoods yesterday and arrested eight people on drug charges. Four others were being sought. Authorities seized quantities of crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana, all valued at more than $155,000. The raids were a response to five drug-related homicides and 10 shootings in the neighborhoods. Information gathered from those arrested is expected to help identify homicide suspects and witnesses and recover weapons used in the killings.

Western District

Church burglary: Someone broke a pane of glass in a door early yesterday and entered Church of the Holy Trinity in the 2300 block of W. Lafayette Ave. It was not known what, if any, property was stolen.

Southern District

Theft: A former security officer at Oriole Park at Camden Yards is accused of stealing a cellular phone valued at more than $100 that belonged to the Maryland Stadium Authority. The theft occurred last month and was reported to police Wednesday.

Baltimore County

Parkville Precinct

Escape/capture: Two residents of the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School at Cub Hill escaped yesterday in a school van. One was captured near the Point Breeze section of Dundalk after the vehicle became disabled. The other was being sought. Lee Towers, a school spokesman, said the boys, ages 15 and 17, were attending a shop class about 1:45 p.m. when they removed the van's keys from a desk after the teacher left the room. The boys drove closely behind another vehicle and through a security gate and headed east on Interstate 695 with school security officers in pursuit. After the van broke down about 2:30 p.m. on Broening Highway, one youth was caught by the security officers and Maryland Transportation Authority Police. Towers said the youths, both from outside the Baltimore area, face disciplinary action for escaping.

White Marsh Precinct

Robbery try/arrest: A man who complained about the conditions of two rooms he rented early Wednesday at Regal Inn Motel in the 8000 block of Pulaski Highway was arrested and charged with attempted unarmed robbery. After allegedly pushing the motel clerk during an argument about 2 a.m., the man allegedly tried to take money. The suspect was identified as Glennford Thompson Jr., 28, of the 3500 block of Carriage Hill Circle, Randallstown.