Major Crimes

Residents and visitors of the popular Dewey Beach resort north of Ocean City in Delaware were shocked this week when police announced they were investigating the first murder in the town since it was incorporated in 1981. Early Tuesday, Delaware State Police were searching for Pawan Kumar, 26, of Wilmington, Del., in connection with the alleged first-degree murder of Danielle Mehlman, 26, of Bensalem, Penn., in a Coastal Highway motel room police believe they were sharing.

When Thiru Vignarajah left the Maryland U.S. attorney's office to lead a new unit of the city prosecutors, there was the matter of putting together a new team of lawyers to pursue major crimes, bolstering relationships with police and other law enforcement agencies, and identifying the city's most violent criminals. There was also another matter: painting the office. To help create a sense of ownership over their work, he encouraged his new prosecutors to pick out their offices and paint the walls with the color of their choice.

Their silence was atypical.So, Mary K. Edmondson went to the Reservoir Hill home to seek out the daughter and granddaughter she had not heard from for days. She climbed the brick rowhouse's steps to their apartment and used the landlord's key to let herself in.She found what she dreaded she might: her daughter and grandchild bound and stabbed to death.They were the second pair of women slain in the neighborhood in five weeks this summer, leaving residents -- especially women -- wary.Some consider the four killings an unfortunate fluke, but others wonder if the deaths are a sign that the battle their community is waging against violent crime is being lost.

Laurel police report felonies, arrests and property crimes. Prince George's County police report violent crimes and property crimes. Howard County police report major crimes, break-ins and car thefts. City of Laurel Fourth Street, 14900 block, Feb. 11. Theft. Fort Meade Road, 200 block, Feb. 11. Theft. Fenwick Court, 8100 block, Feb. 11. Theft. Spring House Lane, 9300 block, Feb. 12. Theft from motor vehicle. Shiloh Court, 14700 block, Feb. 13. Theft from motor vehicle.

Anne Arundel County police report major crimes. Howard County police report major crimes, break-ins and car thefts. Laurel Police and Prince George's County Police did not release crime reports before the Leader's deadline this week. Anne Arundel County Laurel Fort Meade Road, 3400 block, 8:30 p.m., June 24. Armed robbery at Garden Inn. A male and another person approached by a male in poorly lit area of hotel, who placed object against victim's back implying a weapon and demanded property, removed the victim's wallet from rear of pants and ran away.

Laurel police report felonies, arrests and property crimes. Prince George's police report violent crimes and property crimes. Howard County police report major crimes, break-ins and car thefts. Anne Arundel County police report major crimes. City of Laurel Claiborne Farm Place, 7600 block, June 10. Four tires and rims stolen off sport utility vehicle. Rosemore Lane, 14400 block, June 9. Entry gained through side door; nothing reported stolen. White Way, 1200 block, June 9. Entry gained through basement door.

A 36-year-old man died at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center after being shot early Friday morning in his driveway in Laurel, Anne Arundel County police said. Officers from the county's Western District responded to the 8000 block of Ians Alley shortly before 2:30 a.m. Friday for the report of a shooting, police said. The victim, Gregory Robert Sears, told them he was shot after being approached by two men in his driveway, according to police. Officers searched the area for the men, but they were unable to locate them, police said.

The death of a 19-year-old woman whose body was found earlier this month in a Montgomery County state park is now being investigated as a homicide, Montgomery County police said Monday. An autopsy showed that Tannessa Victoria Taylor died from trauma to the body, police said. Taylor, whose address is not known, was last seen alive Dec. 31. State and county police responding to a report of human remains in Patuxent River State Park in Damascus on March 6 found Taylor's partially decomposed body in a shallow gave in a wooded area near the end of Brown Church Road.

Police raided a house in North Baltimore last night and seized $37,000, suspected narcotics and stolen property and an assault rifle, a police spokesman said.Sgt. Scott Rowe said charges were pending against a 63-year-old resident of the house in the 3500 block of Elm Ave. in Hampden.Lt. John D. Smith of the Northern District said members of the district's major-crimes unit and burglary squad detectives from headquarters entered the house about 8: 40 p.m. and seized a laundry basket containing suspected Dilaudid capsules, an AK-47 assault rifle and suspected stolen electronics and appliances.

Two plainclothes police officers taking a break at a Northwest Baltimore fast-food restaurant witnessed an armed robbery there yesterday, chased a man and caught him.Officer Terry Hipkins of the Northwestern District major crimes unit said he and Officer Tony Lansey were drinking sodas in the Burger King in the 6600 block of Reisterstown Road about 3: 30 p.m. when a female employee yelled out, "We're being robbed!"Hipkins said he and Lansey turned and saw a man run from the restaurant. He said the man had what appeared to be a handgun in one hand and money from the cash register in the other.