North Point

A man suspected of holding a woman hostage in North Point State Park on Sunday afternoon has been charged with multiple offenses, including assault, Baltimore County police said yesterday. About 5:30 p.m., the woman told police that she had escaped from the man and that he had fired shots as she fled into the woods. Police blocked off North Point Road and other roads leading into the park and searched for the man. Scores of motorists in the area were forced to wait until the search was over.

A mostly volunteer group poked, prodded and swept the dirt of a vacant lot in eastern Baltimore County this weekend, searching -- across the street from such incongruous landmarks as a Citgo station and 7-Eleven store -- for artifacts of the 1814 Battle of North Point.More then a dozen people using metal detectors and shovels turned up a metal button and six musket balls at the site where, they say, Baltimore's defenders fought British soldiers marching on the city during the War of 1812.

In an unprecedented move for the company, Wal-Mart -- one of the nation's largest retailers -- is allowing an archaeological survey on historically sensitive land near Dundalk before building a mega-store there.The decision comes on the heels of abortive attempts by Wal-Mart to locate in historic areas in other parts of the country."If they agreed to allow an archaeological excavation, I think that's good. They're not easy," said Constance E. Beaumont, director for state and local policy for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

A 30-year-old Baltimore County man was arrested last night after a standoff of more than two hours that began when he pointed a rifle at police and an officer shot at him, police said.Sgt. Kevin Novak, a county police spokesman, said two men were fighting about a woman outside a house in the 7600 block of Old Battle Grove Road in North Point about 7 p.m. when one of them ran inside and got a small-caliber rifle.Police were called, and the man pointed the rifle at three officers who arrived to investigate, Novak said.

Baltimore County police said yesterday they are seeking a small black dog that bit a 13-year-old boy as he was walking to Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in the 8100 block of Wise Ave. this week.Police said the boy's mother told them that they were at North Boundary and Stokesley roads in the North Point area about 7: 20 a.m. Wednesday when the boy was bitten on both hands by the dog, which was wearing a red leash.The boy's skin was punctured. The owner then called the dog and the man and his pet ran down an alley.

Councilman Martin O'Malley postponed a vote yesterday on a bill that would give Wyndham Inner Harbor East Hotel $25 million in tax breaks.The City Council was expected to vote on the measure yesterday. But O'Malley, a 3rd District Democrat, said that he postponed bringing the bill to the floor because he wanted to give hotel opponents another week to make their case for defeating the measure.The Wyndham, a $134-million, 750-room hotel, has stirred controversy for months because its developers, led by bakery mogul John Paterakis Sr., told city leaders that they won't build without the tax breaks.

Baltimore County police have identified 17-year-old Timothy Adam Smith as the bicyclist who suffered fatal injuries Sunday when he was struck by a car while crossing North Point Boulevard from Eastpoint Mall.Smith, a resident of the 7900 block of Lansdale Road in the Colgate community, had left the mall about 1: 40 p.m. Sunday on his Huffy bike, police said, and was crossing the northbound lane of the 1000 block of North Point Blvd. against a red light when he was hit by a 1980 Cadillac.Police said Smith's failure to obey a traffic signal contributed to the accident and that no charges were placed against the driver.

As Wal-Mart prepares to break ground for a store near Dundalk, preservationists are pressuring the company to allow an archaeological survey of the property -- the site of British and American activity during the Battle of North Point in 1814.The 11th-hour request -- the latest in a series of skirmishes between developers and Baltimore County preservationists -- stems from local historians' realization that a rambling white house earmarked for the retail store's parking lot could contain a historic tavern.

NORTH POINT -- County police were attempting to identify a bicyclist who died after he was struck by a car yesterday while crossing North Point Boulevard from Eastpoint Mall yesterday afternoon.The cyclist was crossing the 100 block of North Point Blvd. against a red light when he was struck by a northbound 1980 Cadillac about 1: 40 p.m., police said. He suffered injuries to his head and upper body and was airlifted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore City, where he died at 2: 10 p.m.Police described the victim as a white male between 15 and 20 years old, who wore dark shorts, a multicolored shirt, and a red and blue baseball cap.Pub Date: 7/14/97

150 years ago in The SunSept. 14: The Anniversary of the Battle of North Point -- The Celebration Yesterday -- Every part of our city yesterday morning showed that the citizens of Baltimore were still alive to the memory of the day which exhibited to the world that her citizen soldiers were able to meet a haughty foe and turn him back from her borders.100 years ago in The SunSept. 14: SAVE THE NATIONAL GAME -- A subscriber writes as follows to The Sun: Your article Monday stating that several Chicago newspaper men were responsible for the statement that the Chicago pitchers have been offered $500 for each game they win from Baltimore suggests a phase of the situation which, if true, means the overthrow of baseball as a national game, and, in fact, as a game of any decency whatever.

The redcoats descended on North Point Sunday morning, ready to challenge American soldiers and militiamen standing between them and Baltimore. "We're here to reclaim what is rightfully ours," said Matt Moore, of Aston, Pa., who was dressed in British military garb from the period and toting a musket. Moore and several other men donned British and American uniforms to re-create the Battle of North Point, which took place Sept. 12, 1814 - one day before the famous Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry - during the War of 1812.

Expectations were high for sixth-ranked River Hill entering the season because of the return of three solid starters and a dominant inside game. The Hawks are living up to them, as they reeled off their 26th consecutive victory last night by dismantling North Point from Charles County, 63-42, in the Class 2A South regional final. Ryan Dannelly and Alex Vega each scored 19 points for River Hill. The Hawks (26-0), who are shooting for their second state title in the past four years, advanced to the semifinals Friday at UMBC against the winner of last night's Edgewood-Parkside game.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southeastern Baltimore Armed robbery Police were seeking two men, one armed with a handgun, who robbed Sam's Food Mart in the 2300 block of E. Fairmount Ave. of an undisclosed sum of money about 6 p.m. Thursday. The men forced an employee to remove money from a cash register before putting the cash into a plastic bubble gum container. Robbery Two men entered Western Union in the 3200 block of E. Baltimore St. about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, shoved the female clerk to the floor and took an undisclosed sum of money from a cash register.

On November 28, 2008, RONALD YOUNG. On today, friends may call Galilee Baptist Church, 2440 North Point Road, where the family will receive friends from 4 to 8 P.M. On Wednesday, services will be held at Galilee Baptist Church, 2440 North Point Road, where the family will receive friends from 10 to 10:30 A.M with services to follow. Inquiries to (410) 433-7500.

Two men were killed during yesterday's morning rush hour after a contractor's van crossed the median of Interstate 695, became airborne, and landed on top of a sedan traveling in the opposite direction, Maryland State Police said. The crash occurred in the Eastpoint area of Baltimore County. The van for J.T. Waterworks Inc. in Essex was traveling on the outer loop of the Beltway near North Point Boulevard about 7 a.m. when it crossed the median and landed on top of a 2001 Oldsmobile sedan on the inner loop, said Sgt. Arthur Betts, a state police spokesman.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore and Baltimore County. Baltimore Northwestern Shooting : A woman was shot in the side of the body about 2:20 p.m. yesterday in the 4400 block of Park Heights Ave. by an unknown assailant and was taken by a city Fire Department ambulance to Sinai Hospital. Police said the woman was expected to survive and that details were not available. Eastern Shooting: A man, 20, was shot in the lower back inside a house in the 900 block of N. Broadway about 8 p.m. Wednesday and was taken by a friend to Johns Hopkins Hospital.

As the National Park Service begins a process for developing a War of 1812 historical trail, agency officials said this week that they intend to include long-neglected sites associated with the Battle of North Point. On Monday, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin and Rep. John Sarbanes will be among the dignitaries attending an event at Fort McHenry celebrating passage of their measure to create a Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. It was signed into law by President Bush last month. The trail, which will trace key events in the War of 1812 in Maryland, Washington and Virginia, is expected to be completed in time for the war's bicentennial.

In the front yard of a small white house in eastern Baltimore County, a monument stands to a young man who gave his life defending the country. It is a few hundred yards from a show bar called Dreamers where a neon sign in the window proclaims "girls girls girls." Not far away, across the street from a garden shop, bushes choked with poison ivy obscure a stone that marks where wounded Americans and their enemies were treated side by side during the battle, which occurred during the War of 1812.

A man suspected of holding a woman hostage in North Point State Park on Sunday afternoon has been charged with multiple offenses, including assault, Baltimore County police said yesterday. About 5:30 p.m., the woman told police that she had escaped from the man and that he had fired shots as she fled into the woods. Police blocked off North Point Road and other roads leading into the park and searched for the man. Scores of motorists in the area were forced to wait until the search was over.

A 76-year-old Baltimore County man has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a 5-year-old neighbor girl over an undetermined period in his home, police said. Kezia Twinkle McNeal of North Point was arrested May 25, a day after the girl's mother reported noticing something physically wrong with the child while bathing her, police said. Police said the child told her mother that a neighbor abused her while they played hide-and-seek in his home, and that he gave her ice cream and juice to lure her there.