Wackenhut

For the second time in less than three weeks, Howard County police were forced to use a helicopter and K-9 units to try to capture a suspect who had escaped from custody. Police had arrested David Batiste Gray, 19, in the Midway Trailer Park at 6800 block of Midway Ave. in North Laurel about 4 p.m. Monday and accused him of assault. Gray was taken to the Southern District station in Scaggsville for booking. On arrival, Gray, who was handcuffed, broke free from officers and ran across U.S. 29 into a construction zone, said Cpl. Paul Yodzie, a spokesman for the county Police Department.

J.C. Porter, who escaped barefoot from police Monday afternoon while awaiting a bail hearing at Howard County District Court in Ellicott City, was still at large late yesterday. Porter's criminal record includes an October 1999 conviction for setting ablaze the kindergarten classroom of Deep Run Elementary School. Dispatchers broadcast Porter's description over police radios periodically yesterday: "He was last seen wearing tan nylon cargo shorts, and bare feet ... shackles, handcuffs and a prisoner belt.

A security guard working an overnight shift at the Bank of America building in downtown Baltimore was shot and killed early Saturday when police said he tried to quell a dispute over a woman that erupted between a friend and several other men who had just left a nightclub. Police identified the guard as James Ball, 38. He had worked for Wackenhut, a private security company hired by the building's owners. He died at Maryland Shock Trauma Center shortly after being shot twice, at least once in the chest, according to police.

4 from Chamber of Commerce get community service honorsFour members of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce have been recognized for their community service during the past year.Honored with the President's Award at last week's chamber meeting were Randy Box of C. W. Amos and Co., Mary Bierley of Signet Bank, Al Thyr of AB Advertising and Barbara Wise of Citizen's Bank."The award is for the outstanding unsung heroes of the chamber, the behind-the-scenes worker who doesn't get a whole lot of credit but who does a whole lot of work," said Pamela Kaiser, chamber office manager.

WASHINGTON - -U.S. officials are planning to add up to 14,000 combat troops to the American force in Afghanistan by sending home support staff and underutilized soldiers and replacing them with infantry units, Pentagon officials said. The plan represents a key step in a drive to beef up U.S.-led forces as the Obama administration presses to counter Taliban gains and demonstrate progress in Afghanistan amid crumbling American public support for the war effort. Forces that could be swapped out include units assigned to noncombat roles, such as guards or lookouts or those on clerical and support duty.

The Baltimore County government has wisely shed two more tasks once done entirely with county tax dollars by county employees.Last week, the County Council approved a pair of measures, originally submitted by the administration of County Executive Roger Hayden, that would privatize the transporting of prisoners to District Court and the writing of parking tickets in the jurisdiction's business centers.The likely upshot? Some extra income for the county and the equivalent of 17 police officers added to street patrols.

Thousands of people poured into the Baltimore Convention Center yesterday afternoon for a day-before-Thanksgiving feast that for some might be their only taste of holiday turkey. Goodwill Industries held its 46th annual dinner, with 275 volunteers serving turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and sweet potato pie to an estimated 3,000 people. Besides the dinner, Goodwill held a job fair with representatives from more than 20 local service agencies and employers, including Maryland Job Service, Bon Secours Family Support Center and Wackenhut Security.

Area police agencies were looking last night for two county detention center inmates who escaped after arriving at District Court in Annapolis for trial.Anthony James Freeland, 20, whose last known address was in the 1700 block of Richfield Road in Severn, and Donald Leander Curtis, 21, whose last known address was in the 7800 block of Windborne Drive in Glen Burnie, had just been brought to District Courtwhen they bolted from a van, police said.County police spokesman Officer V. Richard Molloy said the fugitives had been taken from the jail for trial.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Carlson will make his first NFL start today against the Chicago Bears, replacing the injured Vinny Testaverde.Coach Richard Williamson said yesterday that Testaverde, who strained lower back muscles this week and did not practice, isn't ready to play against the Bears.Carlson, a second-year pro, has played in two games this season. He has completed 23 of 47 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown. He's also thrown three interceptions and been sacked seven times.

Trespassing suspect escapes during transferA man arrested while allegedly trying to break into his mother's Anne Arundel County home in search of a gun escaped from a prisoner transport officer early yesterday outside the office of the court commissioner in Glen Burnie.Mark Hugh Davis, 36, got away when the officer from the Wackenhut Security Services company was handcuffing another prisoner, police said.County police said officers arrested Mr. Davis Saturday night at his mother's home in the 100 block of Olan Drive in Glen Burnie.