Westminster Police

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office has been pushing for years for a consolidated dispatch center to streamline emergency communications on one channel and under one roof. But the commander of the state police's Westminster barracks said in-house dispatchers have no problem handling 911 calls for the resident troopers and officers from the Hampstead, Manchester, Sykesville and Taneytown municipal police departments. Lt. Dean Richardson, commander of the Westminster barracks, said one integrated system would require more dispatchers and a larger county emergency call facility.

In Westminster, Sam Rinehart Leppo was chief of police, but in his nearby hometown of Union Bridge, he was remembered yesterday as "Sam, just Sam" -- friend, neighbor and family man."Unless you really knew Sam, you wouldn't know he was a police chief," said Will Farver, as he stood outside the Union Bridge volunteer fire station to pay his respects to Mr. Leppo, 53, who was killed in an automobile accident Wednesday afternoon in Frederick.Farver was one of about 1,000 people, including 400 uniformed police officers and firefighters from across the state, who gathered at the fire station and lined the streets of the tiny Carroll County town for Mr. Leppo's funeral.

Maj. James Melvin Austin will work his last shift for the Westminster Police Department in 12 days and mosey into retirement, never having missed a day in 30 years.In case anyone is counting, the 61-year-old officer hasn't missed a day of work or school since 1947, when he was 10 years old. He drove a bread delivery truck for 12 years before joining the police force in 1969.He also worked on a milk truck before before going to classes at the former Taneytown High School. He graduated in 1957.

Westminster Police Chief Sam R. Leppo, who died Wednesday in a three-vehicle crash in Frederick County, was remembered yesterday as a firm and compassionate leader, committed to the safety of his officers and the citizens he served.The state flag flown at half-staff and black bunting outside the entrance to police headquarters served as a silent tribute to the memory of the 53-year-old chief who lived in Union Bridge. He joined the Westminster force 32 years ago and was appointed chief in 1976.

Two more suspects -- believed to be the last of six -- were arrested yesterday in connection with the beating of two men with baseball bats in Westminster last week, authorities said.A 15-year-old Westminster boy was charged as a juvenile on 11 counts, including two counts each of attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a deadly weapon with intent to injure and one count of malicious destruction of property, Westminster police said.The boy, who was not named because of his age, was turned over to juvenile authorities to be held at the Charles P. Hickey School in Baltimore, pending further action by juvenile authorities, said Capt.

Westminster Police Chief Samuel R. Leppo was killed yesterday in Frederick County when the pickup truck he was driving was struck by two vehicles, state police said.Leppo, 53, of Union Bridge was off duty. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident in Walkersville, police said.Police said Leppo was driving a 1995 Mazda pickup south on Route 194 about 2: 45 p.m. when a 1988 Dodge Aries pulled onto Route 194 from eastbound Fountain Rock Road and struck the passenger side of Leppo's truck.

The Westminster Police Department has asked the Carroll County commissioners to enter into a mutual-aid agreement that would clarify the roles of officers when they work outside the city limits."

Carroll County kids -- the first 100 who sign up -- will have the opportunity to learn about drug and alcohol abuse from a police perspective this summer at Camp COPS.The free program, set for July 12-16 at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster, aims to provide soon-to-be seventh-graders a healthy dose of physical activity within a police-academy atmosphere, says Tfc. Wendy Bernhardt, camp director.COPS -- Courage to be Outstanding with Pride and Self-confidence -- places emphasis on self-discipline and teamwork.

Westminster police are investigating the robbery yesterday of the East Main Street branch of Carroll County Bank & Trust Co., where a man fled with an undisclosed amount.No one was injured and no weapon was displayed during the robbery, police said. The suspect was described as a white man with a goatee, tattoos on both arms, about age 30, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 200 pounds and wearing a white shirt, baggy shorts, white socks and work boots, police said.A police dog unit searched the area soon after the robbery at 10 a.m. without success.

A Baltimore armored truck guard has been charged in the theft of money from a Westminster discount store, police said.William Royce Groves, 48, of the 4200 block of Elsa Terrace in Medfield was accused of picking up two deposit bags from Target in the 200 block of Malcolm Drive in Westminster on Aug. 30.Westminster police said one bag contained checks for deposit, and the other contained cash.Store officials discovered only one bag was delivered to the bank. The bag with cash was missing.

Extradition delayed in hit-and-run death The Maryland man charged in a fatal hit-and-run in Carroll County refused to sign documents for his extradition from New York, Westminster police said Tuesday. During an extradition hearing in Nassau County on Monday, Shawron Gabriel Bibbs declined to sign documents allowing his return to Maryland to face three felony counts in the Feb. 6 crash in Westminster that killed a McDaniel College student. Another hearing has been scheduled for April 7 in New York, police said.

2 fatally shot are identified Police have identified two men who were fatally shot Tuesday night at a carryout in Better Waverly. Adrian Mortise, 24, and Anthony Bailey, 20, were among three men inside Yau Brothers Chinese Food about 10 p.m. when two assailants opened fire. The third man, who survived, ran out of the store and collapsed outside, where he was found by responding officers. He was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was treated and released. Police have not identified him because he is a witness.

2 students stabbed in separate incidents A student at Baltimore Talent Development High was stabbed in the left shoulder on a basketball court outside the school yesterday morning, school officials said. Officials said his injuries were not life-threatening. Two boys enrolled at Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts - a high school in the same Harlem Park complex as Talent Development - were taken into custody in connection with the incident, said Edie House, a school system spokeswoman.

Hagerstown man critically injured in Glenelg crash 1 A Hagerstown man was critically injured early yesterday morning when his vehicle crashed into a guardrail on Route 32 in Glenelg, Howard County police say. The motorist, identified as Lawrence Elliott Black, 26, was driving northbound on Route 32 near the Burntwoods Road interchange at about 2:45 a.m. when his 2005 Hyundai drove off the right side of the roadway, according to officials. At impact, Black, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle.

Police and U.S. Postal officials are investigating several letters sent to Carroll County department stores threatening a shooting incident, authorities said. The Boscov's, Wal-Mart and Target stores in Westminster, as well as Wal-Mart stores in Eldersburg and Hampstead, each received a letter Monday that contained similar threats, said Westminster City Police. As of yesterday, investigators had no more information on the letters or who might have sent them, said Capt. Pete Dantuono of the Westminster police.

A Maryland State Police trooper was critically injured early yesterday when his cruiser slid off a road, crashed into a utility pole and landed upside down on the concrete porch of a home in Hampstead, police said. The accident on Route 30 in Carroll County sent Trooper Kendell L. Clagg, 35, to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. In a statement, police said he suffered "massive facial and brain injuries." Last night, Clagg was in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. Clagg has been with the state police about 18 months, police said.

Westminster police are seeking three men in connection with an armed robbery at McDaniel College. About 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, the men entered a dorm room in Rouzer Hall, police said. One displayed a handgun and demanded money and personal property from the two students in the room, city police and a college official said yesterday. "One of the suspects displayed what the students described as a revolver, and made threatening statements against the students," said Michele Leiberman, a spokeswoman for McDaniel.

"You cannot ride your bikes on the sidewalks of a business district," Cpl. Jesse Clagett yelled to two young men pedaling onto the brick path of Locust Lane, pausing as he filled out tickets for two other males who had repeatedly ignored his warnings. Clagett, who patrols downtown on a bike for the Westminster Police Department, has increased his surveillance hours along this central courtyard across from the city's public library branch in the past week. Some Westminster residents and business owners seem to think it's making a difference.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office has been pushing for years for a consolidated dispatch center to streamline emergency communications on one channel and under one roof. But the commander of the state police's Westminster barracks said in-house dispatchers have no problem handling 911 calls for the resident troopers and officers from the Hampstead, Manchester, Sykesville and Taneytown municipal police departments. Lt. Dean Richardson, commander of the Westminster barracks, said one integrated system would require more dispatchers and a larger county emergency call facility.

Baltimore man, 31, convicted of killing Jason Beau Moody - accused of fatally shooting a Baltimore man in front of the man's young son - has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter and weapons charges but acquitted of the more serious charges of first- and second-degree murder. Moody, 31, is to be sentenced next month. The 10-year-old boy who witnessed the shooting was among the witnesses who testified. So, too, was Stephanie Madariaga, the boy's mother, who was also there and who pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the killing.