25 years ago: N.C. man convicted in death of two state troopers

From The Aegis dated July 16, 1987:

The man driving the tractor trailer that slammed into a Maryland State Police cruiser and killed the two troopers in it was convicted 25 years ago this week of two counts of manslaughter.

The North Carolina man, who admitted to drinking and driving after having only slept 45 minutes in a 28-hour period, was also convicted of driving while intoxicated after a four-day trial in Harford County Circuit Court.

The trial wrapped up just a few months after the March 10 crash on I-95 near the Havre de Grace exit, where Troopers John E. Sawa, 40, and Larry E. Small, 21, were killed.

"I didn't believe a word that he said...He wasn't the worst witness I have ever seen, but he is certainly in the top 10," Circuit Court Judge William O. Carr said when rendering his verdict.

A Maryland-based company was expected to announce 25 years ago it was moving its headquarters and operations to a new industrial park in Harford County.

The company was planning to move to a 44-acre portion of an 80-acre industrial park near Route 7 and Winters Run Road, at Winter's Run Industrial Park. It had the potential to be the largest industrial/commercial facility in the county, with a 300,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution space and 100,000-square-foot corporate office space.

A Harford judge denied a request to close a Bel Air day care amid allegations that three girls may have been sexually abused by an adult male there, but rather signed an order prohibiting any adult males on the premises between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

It was a compromise to ensure the safety of the children, Carr said.

"I think the order will enhance the safety of the children until the investigation can be completed," Roberta Ward, the assistant attorney general for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said.

"The health department believes that this is a crisis. The continued operation of the business may threaten the health and welfare of the children," she said.

Evidence of abuse was evident in three of five girls at the day care interviewed by two doctors, and it was believed the abuse was committed by an adult male at the day care facility.

In issuing his decision not to close the day care, Carr cautioned that a "glut of publicity" about child abuse may make some people overreact.

"Child abuse, unfortunately, had become the Crime of the Year," Carr said.

Still no decision 25 years ago on a site for a new elementary school in the Emmorton Road corridor 25 years ago this week. The school board, which was deadlocked in where to build a new school, agreed this week to reconsider the controversy at its September meeting.

One possible site was the 35-acre school-owned site at the corner of Route 24 and Ring Factory Road; the other site was 26 acres off Singer Road in the new Constant Friendship development.

The first site had been recommended, and was favored by Superintendent Dr. A.A. Roberty, unless another site came available by Aug. 31.

Hutzler's in Harford Mall was closing 25 years ago. In an ad in this week's paper, the department store announced its "LAST DAYS" closing out sale, with 40 percent off the lowest marked price. Liquidation sale hours were 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with prices already reduced by a quarter, a third or a half. The Bel Air store was closing but "It's business as usual in our ongoing Hutzler stores."