Intruder

EVERYTHING WAS in place to erase the scorched memories of last year's Preakness, when the power went out. This time, the weather was perfect, a record crowd turned out, and electricity filled the air as well as the circuitry. The afternoon offered hope and just enough suspense that Charismatic could match his surprise win in the Kentucky Derby for a chance at horse racing's rare Triple Crown.Then, three races before the 124th Preakness stakes, a man stole onto the track and struck a menacing pose as four tons of horse flesh rushed toward him.Among the thoughts likely racing through the mind of Joseph A. De Francis at that moment: Why me?

Q. For two weeks our 2-year-old daughter has been telling me that one night a stranger came into her bedroom. Without prompting, she described the intruder as wearing a black outfit and white sneakers. She said she woke up during the night and he was sitting in a chair in her room, watching her.When questioned, she said he did not touch her in any way, speak with her or touch anything in her room. I asked why she didn't call for help and she said she did, but we didn't hear. She said the stranger left by way of her door.

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Both the beer and popcorn were green on St. Patrick's Day at the Bayview Club, not far from a huge outdoor cinema where several dozen sailors sat under the stars watching Mel Gibson play a con man in "Payback."A few miles away, U.S. Marines, two to a watchtower, listened through the night for Fidel Castro's Frontier Brigade while watching for would-be exiles in the minefields.Over at the enlisted members' Lateral Hazard bar, an unmistakable wail lured a sailor's wife to the dance floor.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.Ellicott City-ElkridgeEllicott City: An intruder broke in through a window at an apartment in the 8700 block of Town & Country Blvd. on Tuesday and cut himself. Nothing appeared to have been taken from the apartment.East ColumbiaOwen Brown: An intruder entered the office of Dasher Green Pool in the 6800 block of Cradlerock Way on Friday, ransacked the room and stole a radio and a metal cash box containing $6.Oakland Mills: Someone entered the ITE Auto Service parking lot in the 7100 block of Oakland Mills Road on July 1, vandalized two cars and tried to steal another.

A Howard County grand jury indicted a Columbia man yesterday on attempted-murder charges in the August assault on a quadriplegic woman who authorities said was struck several times in the head with a rock or brick.Kevin C. Laster, 29, of the 6000 block of Cedar Wood Drive was indicted on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, malicious destruction of property and several counts of burglary.The woman's boyfriend, who tried to protect her, also was injured in the attack.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.Ellicott City-ElkridgeElkridge: An intruder entered an unlocked storage shed at a construction site in the 7000 block of Kit Kat Road Thursday or Friday, cut the padlock of a storage bin and took $900 worth of plumbing tools and equipment.West ColumbiaWilde Lake: An intruder stole a courtesy phone and $3 from the Slayton House-Wilde Lake Village Center on Saturday morning in the 10000 block of Twin Rivers Road. The person entered the building after smashing a rear window with a brick.

A Howard County grand jury indicted a Columbia man yesterday on attempted-murder charges in the August assault on a quadriplegic woman who authorities said was struck several times in the head with a rock or brick.Kevin C. Laster, 29, of the 6000 block of Cedar Wood Drive was indicted on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, malicious destruction of property and several counts of burglary.The woman's boyfriend, who tried to protect her, also was injured in the attack.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.Ellicott City-ElkridgeEllicott City: An intruder broke through the screen door of a home in the 6400 block of Summer Cloud Way on Sunday or Monday and stole $40 from a purse in the dining room.Ellicott City: A thief broke into a house in the 12300 block of Benson Branch Road on Monday, cut the phone line, and stole jewelry and coins from a safe.Ellicott City: Two thieves stole five windows valued at $1,000 Friday from a house under construction on Cross Country Drive.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.East ColumbiaLong Reach: A vandal entered a vacant dwelling in the 9300 block of Indian Camp Road on Wednesday by breaking a window and poured glue on the living room carpet.Oakland Mills: Someone entered a business in the 5500 block of Twin Knolls Road on Wednesday, apparently using a key, and stole computer software valued at $1,500.Kings Contrivance: An intruder entered a business in the 8900 block of Broken Land Parkway on Wednesday by prying open the front door.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.Ellicott City-ElkridgeEllicott City: Someone drove a truck through the front of a gas station in the 10100 block of Baltimore National Pike on Sunday, chained an automatic teller machine to the vehicle and drove out of the station. A suspect was stopped afterward with an ATM in a truck. Antoinette Sweeney was charged with breaking and entering, police said.Ellicott City: An intruder broke into a residence in the 4800 block of S. Haven Drive on Friday and stole a television, scanner, videocassette recorder and computer equipment.

Was the samurai-sword killing of an intruder by a Johns Hopkins University student an act of justifiable self-defense? Yes 86% No 7% Not sure 6% (2,851 votes, results not scientific) Next poll: : Baltimore's law prohibiting trans fats in restaurants and other eateries is due to take effect next week. Do you support the ban? Vote at baltimoresun.com/vote

Baltimore homicide detectives don't believe a Johns Hopkins University student had "the intent to kill" when he used a samurai sword to confront an intruder outside his home, a police spokesman said Thursday. Police say John Pontolillo, 20, a chemistry major from New Jersey, killed the man with a single blow early Tuesday. Pontolillo has not been charged in the death of Donald D. Rice, 49, a career criminal who was released from jail just three days before the altercation. Prosecutors will determine whether charges are warranted after consulting with police, a process that could take weeks.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southern Baltimore Shooting A female resident of the 600 block of S. Fulton Ave. was home about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday when she encountered a male intruder armed with a handgun. Police said the woman shot the intruder with her own gun. She called 911 and reported the incident, left her home and locked the front door, leaving the man in the house. Medics forced their way in and treated the man before he was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was in critical condition.

Girl, 3, dies after being hit by car in Arbutus; driver won't be charged A 3-year-old girl who chased a ball onto an Arbutus street was struck by a passing vehicle Tuesday night and later died of her injuries, Baltimore County police said yesterday. Asha Kanwal had been playing with a ball in the 4700 block of Gateway Terrace about 6:20 p.m., according to Cpl. Mike Hill, a county police spokesman. Asha chased the ball into the street and was hit by a 1995 Chevrolet Blazer at Gateway Terrace and Courtney Road.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore and Baltimore County. Baltimore Eastern Victim named -- Police yesterday named Daniel Savage, 32, of the 1200 block of N. Luzerne Ave. as the man found fatally shot in the head about 8 a.m. Wednesday in the 1500 block of N. Bradford St. No arrest had been made and police knew of no motive. Burglary -- Someone broke into R&G Communications in the 2200 block of Harford Road yesterday by knocking a hole in an exterior wall and stole communications equipment valued at nearly $6,000.

A woman was sexually assaulted early yesterday morning in her Columbia home by a man who got in through an unlocked window, Howard County police said. The woman, whose age was not given by police, told investigators she was asleep at her house on Flowertuft Court when she was awakened about 5:30 a.m. by a man on top of her, holding a knife at her throat. She told police the man demanded money from her purse but fled when she screamed for her husband, who was asleep in another room. Police said the woman was unable to provide a detailed description because it was dark, although she said he was bald or had a shaved head.

One of two men who broke into a Southwest Baltimore house yesterday evening during an attempted home-invasion robbery died later at an area hospital, possibly from injuries sustained while being restrained by occupants there, police said. The incident began shortly before 5:30 p.m. when the intruders, one carrying a baseball bat, knocked on the front door of a house in the 1800 block of Sexton St. in Morrell Park, police said. When a male occupant answered, the pair attempted to force their way in, police said.

As detectives continue investigating the April killing of a Johns Hopkins University student, the dead man's family and friends have established a scholarship in his honor. The scholarship honoring Christopher B. Elser is expected to be awarded for the first time next school year, university officials said. It will be bestowed annually on a Hopkins upperclassman in need of financial assistance. The ideal candidate would share Elser's passion for athletics and his dedication to the community, according to Hopkins officials.

A 24-year-old Lansdowne man was injured yesterday in a shooting that prompted officials to lock the doors at Lansdowne-area schools, Baltimore County police said. Police said the shooting, at the victim's Lansdowne home, does not appear to be a random act. After the gunman fled, a police dog followed a trail close to several schools. As a precaution, police asked administrators of Lansdowne Middle, Lansdowne Elementary and Riverview Elementary schools to lock their doors for a short time, said Officer Shawn Vinson, a county police spokesman.

LONDON - A group that advocates greater rights for fathers in child custody cases sent two of its operatives over the fence at Buckingham Palace yesterday, and one of them, dressed as Batman, scampered up a ladder to a ledge near the Queen's balcony, sparking a security alert and a tense standoff with police. Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family were said to be vacationing at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The intruder, identified as Jason Hatch, 33, unfurled a banner on the British monarchy's state residence that read "Super Dads Of Fathers 4 Justice, fighting for your right to your kids."