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Crime & Safety

The Week's Best of Police and Fire Reporting

Patch reports on cops, crime and occasional chaos in your community.

See which police stories unfolded in central Maryland this week:


Police say an Ellicott City resident who drove head-on into a tree may have suffered from an undisclosed medical condition. Ellicott City Patch has the story.


After a reader inquired about a body that was found near her backyard, Anne Arundel County police told Laurel Patch that the body of an adult male in his 20s was found along Carriage Walk in Russett shortly before 2 p.m. Friday. To learn more about the investigation, go to Laurel Patch.


The Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company is one of the busiest in the county but it needs funds to meet a $68,000 budget deficit. It's hoping a weekend carnival fund-raiser will help with that. Details of what you can do are on Owings Mills Patch.


When Phish--an improvisational jam band in the tradition of the Grateful Dead--comes to town, Merriweather event organizers work with police to beef up security. The results?  Numerous arrests and even more citations. Read how the  does it, on .


School officials placed Bryant Woods Elementary School on modified lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a student told officials a man tried to speak to children playing outside. It’s a good reminder to parents to talk to their children about dealing with strangers, warn police. For more details, visit Columbia Patch.


Sue Bowers, 43,  pleaded guilty to a felony theft scheme for stealing $228,000 from South Carroll High School. She was originally sentenced to five years in jail with all but 15 months suspended. Now a work release may be in her future. Details are on Eldersburg Patch

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