Solvers

Harford County Crime Solvers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for the arrest and indictment of two men believed to be responsible for robberies at Harford National Bank in the 2900 block of Emmorton Road in Abington on Dec. 30 and Feb. 8.Police described one suspect as a black man, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing about 185 pounds and 25 to 30 years old. He was wearing a three-quarter-length dark brown coat with hood, a bluish gray scarf or bandanna...

I am a Baltimore police officer in what is often termed the "hood" in the Eastern District. It is an impoverished, predominantly African-American neighborhood where children often don't have enough to eat or live in apartments where the lights have been turned off. Some are homeless. In communities like ours, tension and distrust often characterize the relationship between law enforcement and residents. It is an unfortunate reality that can contribute to higher crime, unaccountable officers and witnesses afraid to come forward.

In a move designed to stop adults who permit underage drinking parties during the prom and graduation seasons, Harford County Crime Solvers will begin paying rewards for tips leading to criminal charges or civil citations against people providing alcohol to minors."

It is refreshing that Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot opposes an increase in the state's debt ceiling ("Franchot: Maryland can't keep borrowing and spending," Jan. 4). The impassioned "loyalty oath" to the Democratic Party contained in his letter to The Sun is illustrative of the dysfunction that is American politics and the cause of its political gridlock: A need in people to take sides and stubbornly, at times blindly, perpetuate this awful two-party system by avowing support for everything on their party's agenda.

Tips generated by the Harford County Crime Solvers program helped lead authorities to five men suspected of owing more than $60,000 in child support payments, Deputy Michael Becker of the Harford County Sheriff's Office said last week.All five were arrested in July and August, he said.The men and the amount they allegedly owe are:Herbert Lee Davis, 46, of the 400 block of Dembytown Road, $25,100; Charles Leonard Stein, 30, of the 2400 block of Johnson Mill Road, Forest Hill, $25,020; Mark Anthony Salmons, 37, of the 3500 block of Clayton Road, Joppa, $8,250; Geoffrey Joel Higgins, 33, of the 600 block of Sugar Hill Road, Joppa, $3,865; and Darin Alexander Washington, 30, of the 1700 block of Judy Way, Edgewood, $1,100.

$1000 reward offered for info on vandalsThe Harford County Crime Solvers is offering up to $1,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who damaged about 35 vehicles by throwing rocks and beer bottles at them in Joppatowne and Joppa.The vandalism occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. May 15 along Joppa Farm, Hanson and Old Philadelphia roads.Those with information may call the Crime Solvers hot line at (410) 877-STOP.5% Callers need not give their names or appear in court.

Reward offered in theft from construction trailerHarford County Crime Solvers, a group of concerned citizens, is offering a reward up to $1,000 for the arrest and indictment of the person or people who broke into a construction office trailer between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 in Edgewood.Items stolen included a Stihl saw of undetermined value, deputies said. Anyone with information about the incident should call the Crime Solvers hot line at (410) 877-STOP.Callers do not need to give their names or appear in court.

Crime Solvers offer cash for assistanceThe Harford County Crime Solvers are offering up to $1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person who broke into a private residence in the 2200 block of Price Road in Darlington.According to a description released by police, the suspect is a black man in his mid 20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighing 160 pounds.The suspect has short hair and, at the time of the break in, he was wearing a black cap and gray pants, the police description said.

Police seeking suspect in Bel Air market holdupSheriff's deputies are searching for a robbery suspect who implied he had a weapon under his shirt and held up the Maple Hill Farm Market in Bel Air on May 7.Witnesses said the suspect demanded money about 2:20 p.m. and fled the store in the 100 block of Tollgate Road with an undisclosed amount of cash.Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at (410) 838-6600.Sporting goods store robbed of merchandiseHavre de Grace police noticed a broken window in the front door of a sporting goods store in the 200 block of N. Washington St. on May 7.The owner told police that someone had stolen 28 baseball hats and seven T-shirts.

Harford County Crime Solvers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of two men who robbed the Bearsch's Exxon station in Abingdon.According to the group,the robbery occured at about 9:30 p.m., Jan. 16 as two men entered the station's parking lot, on 2920 Emmorton Road. One of them began talking with the attendant at the lot; the other entered the station office, where he removed cash from the register.Both men then fled on foot. One suspect is described as a stocky,white male, 20, and about 5 feet 9 inches tall.

4 sought in Harford home invasion, assault and robbery The Harford County Sheriff's Office is searching for four men in connection with an armed robbery, assault and home invasion Tuesday afternoon in the Whiteford area. The men forced their way into the home of Fred Arnold Ledford, 75, about 4:30 p.m., assaulted him with an undisclosed weapon and bound him in the living room, police said. Ledford's mobile home is on an isolated a stretch of Tabernacle Road, near the Pennsylvania line.

Armed with paper, pens, felt and glue, the middle-school girls could have very well set out to create pictures or simple crafts. Instead, sitting in small groups, they brainstormed, they problem-solved, they engineered. And they had a whole lot of fun. That's the message women's engineering students at the Johns Hopkins University tried to sell to more than 100 girls who attended a university program yesterday to promote the male-dominated profession to females. Participants were asked to develop solutions for disabled people - such as inventing shoes that a person without arms could put on or a sled that a person with a spinal cord deficiency could ride - and then construct a prototype.

The man strolled through the Bel Air jewelry store, scanning cases of diamonds and wedding bands along with other customers. He had bought his girlfriend a promise ring a few months back, JM Jewelers owner Edgar Milad recalled him saying, and now he wanted the real thing. He wanted to check with his fiancee before making a purchase, however, and told Milad he'd be back. Three hours later, he returned - with a gun. Police say the man and an accomplice made off with more than $500,000 in jewels Monday after forcing Milad into the store's bathroom, said Robert B. Thomas, a spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

If you grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries, your pulse may quicken to hear that Simon and Schuster is publishing a new, updated series. Thumbing through the new books will awaken fond memories. Bess Marvin and George Fayne are still Nancy's close chums. Ned Nickerson remains her "special friend," although his extracurricular activities include reading books at Emerson College rather than quarterbacking the football team. Nancy's father, Carson Drew, is still a hot-shot local lawyer, and Hannah Gruen -- the Drews' housekeeper -- continues to fret over Nancy's safety (albeit with considerably less cause in the modern books)

DRENCHED IN praise for their statesmanship, three of Maryland's most influential leaders offered a grim preview of the coming legislative frolic in Annapolis. To achieve any sort of positive outcome for the state, they'll have to be as "truly unparalleled," "superior" and "brilliant" as they were said to be. One of these worthies was said to have "a golden star above him." Surely they are skillful and accomplished. By their own candid appraisals of the state's political and fiscal posture, the usual skill level may not suffice this year.

Had Microsoft Corp.'s lawyers glanced at inventor Michael Doyle's artwork, one drawing in particular would have given them pause. Looking out from his life-size self-portrait is an inquisitive person with an unwavering gaze - someone who never gives up. Doyle will need his resolve to continue waging the legal fight of his life, which culminated Aug. 11 in a $520 million patent-infringement award, the second-biggest in legal history. If the federal jury's verdict is upheld over Microsoft's anticipated appeal, his tiny company, Eolas Technologies Inc., will have the legal power to enforce its Web browser patent to collect additional millions from a broad swath of Internet software players.

State police retriever is killed by vehicle2 The loss was estimated at $3,680, police said.Vandal broke taillight, scratched truckA Havre de Grace man told police that someone broke the rear taillight on his 1978 Chevrolet truck between 12:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Tuesday.The vandal also used a sharp object to scratch the left side of his truck, he said.@4 The damage was estimated at $1,000, police said.Reward offered in garage break-inThe Harford County Crime Solvers are offering up to $1,000 in reward for the arrest and indictment of someone responsible for breaking into a Fallston garage in the 800 block of Dellwood Road on Sept.

Havre de Grace police are searching for a man driving a late-model gray Ford truck with a double gasoline tank. The suspect filled up the tank at Woodie's Mobile Station in the 1100 block of Revolution St. on Tuesday, then drove off before paying $37.55 for the purchase.Reward offered in theft of jewelry and gunsHarford County Crime Solvers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for the arrest and indictment of someone who broke into a Darlington residence Dec. 4 and fled with more than $7,000 in jewelry and guns.

Harford County Crime Solvers will hold its 13th Annual Bull and Shrimp Roast from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 4 at Jarrettsville Gardens Hall, 3825 Federal Hill Road, Jarrettsville. Proceeds will be used to pay rewards from $100 to $1,000 to people whose calls into the group's anonymous hot line lead to an arrest or indictment. A bull and shrimp roast menu will be available from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Roast tickets are $30 a person. For more information, to purchase tickets or to reserve a table, call Helga Barnes at 410-557-7096; Sharon Ballweg at 410-638-2160, or Wendell G. Baxter Jr. at 410-638-4520.

While fellow eighth-graders watched ball games or comedy shows on late-night television, Donald C. Fry was glued to the Democratic and Republican national conventions. The man who will become president of the Greater Baltimore Committee next month knew at a young age that politics and public policy issues were his calling. "I live to solve problems, whether while practicing law, serving in the legislature or here at GBC," said Fry, 47, who has been GBC executive vice president and general counsel for 3 1/2 years.