Maryland Transit Administration Police

Maryland Transit Administration Police have charged an MTA bus driver with assault after an early Saturday morning altercation with a passenger near Eastpoint Mall in Baltimore County, according to a police statement. The passenger, Ricardo Devon Hale, was stabbed on the bus in the 7800 block of Eastern Avenue, the release said. Hale, who is 44 years old, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The 28-year-old bus driver, Brian Jamal Marshall, was hired by the MTA in 2006.

A fight among a group of teenagers and one man Wednesday afternoon at the Upton Metro Station sent two people to the hospital and closed the station for about three hours, according to Maryland Transit Administration Police. The fight caused chaos in the station, as the teens threw yellow cones, a mop and a trash can at the man as they moved through the station, according to Sharon Allen, an Upton resident who witnessed parts of the fight. "It was pandemonium, so you really didn't know what was going on," Allen said.

Although many of us of us are affected by the current economic doldrums, the Maryland Transit Administration Police are raising the bar to challenge those of us who are able to take care of ourselves and our families. Recently, 15 families at Northwood Elementary School in Baltimore City benefited from the generosity of the MTA Police. Under the leadership of Officer Stan Smith and with their own money, these officers gave these families among the best holiday seasons ever. Every wish list of every child was filled with major gifts such as bicycles, computers, Wii video game systems, art supplies, clothing, scooters, athletic equipment, dolls and games.

Although many of us of us are affected by the current economic doldrums, the Maryland Transit Administration Police are raising the bar to challenge those of us who are able to take care of ourselves and our families. Recently, 15 families at Northwood Elementary School in Baltimore City benefited from the generosity of the MTA Police. Under the leadership of Officer Stan Smith and with their own money, these officers gave these families among the best holiday seasons ever. Every wish list of every child was filled with major gifts such as bicycles, computers, Wii video game systems, art supplies, clothing, scooters, athletic equipment, dolls and games.

Investigators looking into a light-rail accident in Cockeysville released the names Wednesday of the three drivers involved, and said charges were pending against the operator of the tractor-trailer that crossed the train's path. The truck driver in Tuesday morning's crash was identified as Mark Szurek, 53, who was behind the wheel of a 2007 Volvo cab pulling a Wabash trailer filled with plastic bottles. Szurek was driving for John W. Ritter Trucking Inc., based in Laurel. A preliminary investigation showed that Szurek drove into the path of the light-rail train at a signaled crossing, according to a Baltimore County police spokesman, Cpl. Michael Hill.

Investigators looking into a light rail accident in Cockeysville said Wednesday that they expect to file charges against the driver of a tractor-trailer that crossed the train's path. The truck driver was identified by police as Mark Szurek, 53, who was behind the wheel of a 2007 Volvo cab pulling a Wabash trailer filled with plastic bottles when the crash occurred Tuesday morning. Szurek was driving for John W. Ritter Trucking Inc., based in Laurel. A preliminary investigation showed that Szurek drove into the path of the light rail train at a crossing that had a traffic signal, according to a Baltimore County police spokesman, Cpl. Michael Hill.

A fight among a group of teenagers and one man Wednesday afternoon at the Upton Metro Station sent two people to the hospital and closed the station for about three hours, according to Maryland Transit Administration Police. The fight caused chaos in the station, as the teens threw yellow cones, a mop and a trash can at the man as they moved through the station, according to Sharon Allen, an Upton resident who witnessed parts of the fight. "It was pandemonium, so you really didn't know what was going on," Allen said.

The state Board of Public Works approved a $1.5 million settlement Wednesday in the case of two teenagers who were hit and killed by a light rail train in July in Lutherville. The board - made up of Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter R. Franchot and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp - did not discuss the payment, which was ratified unanimously with half a dozen other items. Jarrett Connor Peterson and Kyle Patrick Wankmiller, both 17, were fatally struck July 5 by a northbound train while walking along the tracks that are normally used for southbound operations.

For nearly as long as there has been motorized travel, there have been shutterbugs taking pictures of trains, planes, automobiles and the like. And surely no form of transportation is more romanticized — or attracts a more dedicated fan base — than rail travel. So how is it that twice this year tourists taking pictures of light rail have been detained and hassled by Maryland Transit Administration police for the purported crime of photography? Worse yet, in both instances the victims were repeatedly told that it was illegal to take pictures of light rail trains while standing on public property.

Two photographers who were detained by Maryland Transit Administration police this year and told they were forbidden to take pictures of MTA facilities expressed relief Wednesday after the head of the agency flatly repudiated the officers' actions. Administrator Ralign T. Wells disavowed police efforts to restrict photography on or around MTA property and said he would take action to head off a threatened lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland before it can be filed.

Maryland Transit Administration Police have charged an MTA bus driver with assault after an early Saturday morning altercation with a passenger near Eastpoint Mall in Baltimore County, according to a police statement. The passenger, Ricardo Devon Hale, was stabbed with a knife on the bus in the 7800 block of Eastern Avenue, the release said. Hale, who is 44 years old, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The 28-year-old bus driver, Brian Jamal Marshall, was hired by the MTA in 2006.

For nearly as long as there has been motorized travel, there have been shutterbugs taking pictures of trains, planes, automobiles and the like. And surely no form of transportation is more romanticized — or attracts a more dedicated fan base — than rail travel. So how is it that twice this year tourists taking pictures of light rail have been detained and hassled by Maryland Transit Administration police for the purported crime of photography? Worse yet, in both instances the victims were repeatedly told that it was illegal to take pictures of light rail trains while standing on public property.

Two photographers who were detained by Maryland Transit Administration police this year and told they were forbidden to take pictures of MTA facilities expressed relief Wednesday after the head of the agency flatly repudiated the officers' actions. Administrator Ralign T. Wells disavowed police efforts to restrict photography on or around MTA property and said he would take action to head off a threatened lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland before it can be filed.

Investigators looking into a light rail accident in Cockeysville said Wednesday that they expect to file charges against the driver of a tractor-trailer that crossed the train's path. The truck driver was identified by police as Mark Szurek, 53, who was behind the wheel of a 2007 Volvo cab pulling a Wabash trailer filled with plastic bottles when the crash occurred Tuesday morning. Szurek was driving for John W. Ritter Trucking Inc., based in Laurel. A preliminary investigation showed that Szurek drove into the path of the light rail train at a crossing that had a traffic signal, according to a Baltimore County police spokesman, Cpl. Michael Hill.

Investigators looking into a light-rail accident in Cockeysville released the names Wednesday of the three drivers involved, and said charges were pending against the operator of the tractor-trailer that crossed the train's path. The truck driver in Tuesday morning's crash was identified as Mark Szurek, 53, who was behind the wheel of a 2007 Volvo cab pulling a Wabash trailer filled with plastic bottles. Szurek was driving for John W. Ritter Trucking Inc., based in Laurel. A preliminary investigation showed that Szurek drove into the path of the light-rail train at a signaled crossing, according to a Baltimore County police spokesman, Cpl. Michael Hill.

The state Board of Public Works approved a $1.5 million settlement Wednesday in the case of two teenagers who were hit and killed by a light rail train in July in Lutherville. The board - made up of Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter R. Franchot and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp - did not discuss the payment, which was ratified unanimously with half a dozen other items. Jarrett Connor Peterson and Kyle Patrick Wankmiller, both 17, were fatally struck July 5 by a northbound train while walking along the tracks that are normally used for southbound operations.