City/county Digest

In Baltimore City

Tsunami anniversary marked by vigil and donation campaign

City officials marked the one-month anniversary of the South Asian earthquake and tsunami yesterday by collecting donations and holding a candlelight vigil.

Dubbed "Baltimoresponds," the event at the War Memorial Building launched a citywide fund-raising campaign that will continue through Monday.

Participants stood curbside outside the building to collect donations from people passing by in cars. The amount raised had not been tallied last night.

"We've had some [donations] with a couple zeros behind them and we've had ashtray change," said Caprece Jackson-Garrett, spokeswoman for Council President Sheila Dixon.

More information is available at 1-888-758-6500 or www.baltimoresponds.org.

Man, 19, pleads guilty in beating of his infant son

A 19-year-old Baltimore man has pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse for severely beating his 4-month-old son in August.

Aaron Morehead of the 1100 block of Dundalk Ave. pleaded guilty at a hearing Tuesday and will be sentenced March 25 by Circuit Judge Alfred Nance. Morehead was convicted of fracturing his son Nathan's skull during a beating Aug. 21.

Court documents state that Morehead told detectives he had hit the infant three or four times in the back of the head with both an open hand and a closed fist. He told police he had "unintentionally" taken out his anger on the baby, who was screaming.

Morehead is being held without bail at the Baltimore city jail.

Suspect in killing tries to escape, police say

A man accused in a 2002 killing made a vain bid for freedom when he tried to flee Central Booking and Intake Center Tuesday afternoon, less than five hours after his arrest by members of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force, authorities said yesterday.

Sheldon Eubanks, 23, charged with shooting Alphonzo Harper, 26, on Aug. 29, 2002, was being escorted into Central Booking about 4 p.m. when he broke free and ran toward the Madison Street entrance as a police car was entering the facility and a 12-foot-high gate topped by razor wire swung open, said Mark Vernarelli, a state prisons spokesman.

Running down a ramp, Eubanks jumped onto the gate and, despite the razor wire, climbed the gate and was nearing freedom when Central Booking Officer Patrick Henderson, 32, captured him, Vernaralli said.

Two arrested and charged with credit card scheme

A $4,000 credit card binge abruptly ended after two people were arrested and charged with purchasing two bus passes using a stolen credit card number, Maryland Transit Administration police reported.

Thomas Leroy Smith, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Cassandra Lee, 23, of Baltimore were charged with using 13 stolen credit card numbers to pay for goods and services. They used the cards for hotel rooms, cell phones, clothing and mobile e-mail devices, MTA police said.

On Jan. 20, two MTA passes worth $164 were purchased with a stolen credit card number, and the next day MTA police tracked Smith and Lee to a Baltimore hotel and arrested them.

Arts, entrepreneurship to be topic of MICA panel

A panel discussion on creative entrepreneurship geared toward artists, photographers, musicians and anyone else who has interest in seeking commercial outlets for their artistic endeavors will be held Feb. 1 at Maryland Institute College of Art.

Panel members will discuss running a creative enterprise and the relationship between the arts promoter and the arts professional. The discussion and reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Falvey Hall in the Brown Center, 1301 Mount Royal Ave. The event is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Program, part of the college's Division of Continuing Studies.

The event is free, but those interested in attending should register by tomorrow at 410-225- 2219 or by e-mail at cs@mica. edu. Information about the Entrepreneurship Program: www. mica.edu/academic/cs.cfm.

In Baltimore County

Pinewood Elementary raises $4,000 for tsunami victims

TIMONIUM - Pinewood Elementary School has raised $4,000 to aid tsunami victims, and Charlie Fenwick Jr., owner of Valley Motors, has pledged to add $2,500 to the school's total.

Joanna Suter of the Red Cross will accept the donation at 10 a.m. today at the school, 200 Rickswood Road, the school said.

Pinewood's monthlong fund-raising effort was prompted by a fifth-grade pupil who was concerned about the tragedy in Asia, the school said.

2 comedians to perform at American Legion hall

TOWSON - The Sons of the American Legion, Post 22 in Towson, will hold a Comedy Blast and dinner from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion hall, 125 York Road.

Comedians Mike Diesel and Steve Bix, who have appeared on Comedy Central, will be featured. Tickets are $23 in advance and $30 at the door.

Proceeds benefit Towson Squadron 22 community programs. Tickets: 410-825-1729 or 410-825-5464.